Netflix Just Released a New Must-See docuseries with Four Episodes
“The Comey Rule,” the Netflix video and “A Higher Loyalty,” Comey’s Book, go Hand-in-Hand
My wife purchased the Comey book, “A Higher Loyalty,” by James Comey in 2018 for my 56th birthday. I read the book in a month, which, by my standards, is fast. I imagine I carried the book around with me and read at every free moment. As I sit here today, taking a mandatory mental-break to watch a video, I came across the new Netflix docuseries on James Comey entitled, “The Comey Rule.” Otherwise, I would be writing all day. I am attempting to not over-publish on Medium.com/@juliusevans.
I am a documentary buff. I subscribe to anything that feeds me free documentaries. In addition, I consume political biographies, autobiographies and historical political true-stories. It’s just that there are so many of them, no one person could possibly read them all. I did, however, take a keen interest in the political landscape between 2016–2020. This was the closeout of the Obama years and the ushering-in of the Trump years.
In reflecting on what I read in the book, I was surprised to learn a few new things about the entire Comey Affair in the docuseries. It took a close and personal look at many things that simply weren’t covered in news reports or in the book. Let’s face it, we are talking about National Security and the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigations. It stands to reason that many factors would be redacted, factored-out and just plane skipped over. Leave it to Netflix to uncover the cement that held the story together.
For instance, some of the discussions key personnel in leadership roles had about some of their staff were fascinating. Having the hindsight of knowing the outcome of the facts behind those discussions, lends itself to the overall docuseries. It appears that Netflix did a painstakingly thorough job in uncovering what took place in close-hold meetings.
But it’s great to be able to see how material evidence developed into full-blown, separate newsworthy stories.
Like the 375 text messages released by Deputy Attorney General Rod J. Rosenstein between FBI Agent Peter Strzok and FBI Lawyer Lisa Page. To hear the closed-door discussions recreated in the FBI conference room was earthshattering, at least to those of us who follow the news closely.
For context, what ‘follow the news closely’ means, is watching news on the news multi-channel. At my house, on DirecTV, the news ‘sports package’ if you will, is on channel 71. That way, I can tune in to FOX News, MSNBC, CNN, BBC World News or even the Weather Channel if necessary. But I also get OAN (One American News) on the Wealth of Entertainment channel — 387.
Every morning, as I drink my coffee and have breakfast at my desk, I read through the headlines of world newspapers. I receive news clip services from the Pentagon and the Department of the Navy, and I also create my own clips. If it’s happening in the world and has been reported in newspapers somewhere, chances are, I have read it. For context, that’s what I mean when I say I closely follow the news.
The docuseries goes through a thorough examination of Comey’s decision to announce that the previously closed Hillary Clinton email investigation was going to be reopened. He and his team brainstormed on the various potential outcomes of making that announcement. As I joined in on the discussion, I wondered why he didn’t just delay announcing the reopening of the investigation — but that was also discussed in the show.
Reliving the results of the 2016 election through this Netflix video produced a reaction unlike when Obama was elected the first time and then reelected. We’ve heard it often — decisions have consequences. You owe it to yourself to watch this video on the streaming service.
Your commitment will be a little over three and a half hours to watch the four episodes that span about 51 minutes each. You will receive a behind-the-scenes view of what the people involved were thinking, their reaction to certain events and how all the elements of the day’s events back then played out, and their lasting results of today.
No one can deny that even today, we still feel the effects of the 2016 election. Tell me if you will watch the show and then, after you have watched it, come back and let me know your thoughts.
About the author
Julius Evans has a Master of Arts degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College, Newport, RI; a Master of Arts degree in Strategic Communication and Leadership from Seton Hall University, South Orange, NJ; a Bachelor of Science degree in Mass Communication and Journalism from City University, Bellevue, WA and an Associate of Arts degree in Liberal Studies from Central Texas College, Killeen, Texas.
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