The struggle of the 'New' and 'Tried and Tested'; Optics of the Optics, ABC's latest PR comedy ( or is it?)

This weekend, while straddling the flood fears and gearing up for life and death with FNQ wet season in it's beast mode; I somehow got sidetracked and PRed to watch ABC's most recent drama; Optics ( all 6 epis in one go); All this was done while refreshing Cairns Disaster Dashboard, hence my fear and heartache all took one form; living the bygone reality of someone else's drama; the life story of a PR professional.

The quick spinning drama is set in the high-stakes realm of public relations, where perception is not just reality but also the highest trading currency; Optics provides an unwavering and shrewd depiction. The show dives deep into the murky seas of Crisis and reputation management, power struggles, and the delicate dance between influence and truth rather than merely gliding the surface of media spin. As someone who breathed this drama, for me Optics was the ideal show not just because it was relevant for for both media enthusiasts and public relations professionals due to its tone, but also because it was speaking my language ( side bar; many of my friends are for some reason engineering grads and they have the eerie habit of talking engineering which puts me in a blank space, i was thinking of making them watch Optics as that would put them on my shoes, cos they will also not get what on the world the drama is about), in addition i loved the fact that the story alternated between slick satire and intense ( the reality of the PR professionals) drama.

The Gap: Traditional vs. Modern Warfare

For me, Optics' in-depth examination of the generational divides within the industry is what makes it particularly compelling. While the new media fighters play a whole different game—one dominated by memes, viral moments, and an audience that wants authenticity at warp speed—the PR "boomers" cling to the polished press releases and 'PR Playbooks' of the past. I felt a tad bit sad when the clients who believed the so called 'boomer playbooks' were further squashed to make way for the modern day heroes to stay put, kinda felt an invincible stab in my chest as past couple of years, as a professional I got so misplaces in the 'EVOLVING' industry. To match myself as a 'proper comms expert' I had to polishup my Digital, or take a makeover as a Digital Expert and forget my strategist heart. Why is it hard, if you may ask, cos PR is Drama, Digital is NUMBERS ( for me), it just lacks proper drama.

So what were the parts I loved? well it was definitely how they served PR nightmares on a Silver Plate. in my POV Optics gives you a smorgasbord of real-life PR catastrophes with a side of scathing sarcasm, ranging from influencer implosions to billionaire scandals. The show accurately addresses the life blood of the industry, Crisis, Crisis, Crisis!

• Understanding the narrative in the age of social media; I mean if u are still drafting, You might as well forget it, cos TIME is of essence.
• They also tell you how to play, ethical Gymnastics: When does "shaping the narrative" turn into outright deception?
• The Influencer Arms Race: Who is truly in control; the cancel culture that is hardwired to control a brand's reputation, tiktok weaponisation at its best.
• Reputation Rehab:Can a well-run public relations campaign actually save someone's career in a time when a single tweet may ruin it? did we learn anything from 'Ends with Us?'

Beyond the drama, in my humble two cents, Optics is a flash flood of PR strategy. It incorporates just enough outrageous moments to keep viewers interested while nailing the clumsy decision-making that characterises the field. I found the writing to be elegant, the performances razor-sharp; if i may add, "Ian, I see you bro, I see you,", Of course the issues and innuendos are incredibly relevant. Whether you work in public relations or are simply interested in the craft of media manipulation, optics is a must-watch.

MY Conclusion,

Astute, Quick, and Delectably Cunning, with its intense narrative and incisive criticism on contemporary PR, Optics does more than just amuse; it also informs, provokes, and occasionally unnerves. It's a modern, fashionable analysis of the sector that influences everything we see, hear, and think.

In my perception, perception is crucial in the PR game, and Optics is an expert at it.

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