Character Relationship Map: Shock and Awe

Characters

• Jonathan Landay (played by Woody Harrelson) — protagonist

  Knight Ridder reporter who investigates U.S. government claims regarding Iraqi WMDs post-9/11. Pursues the truth amid a patriotic media landscape and challenges the prevailing narrative.

• Warren Strobel (played by James Marsden) — protagonist

  Knight Ridder reporter who joins the investigation into the Bush Administration's rationale for military action against Iraq. Navigates Washington and gathers information from anonymous insiders to ex...

• John Walcott (played by Rob Reiner) — supporting

  Editor-in-Chief of Knight Ridder who initiates the team's investigation into the Iraq WMD claims. Uncovers mounting evidence suggesting the Bush Administration's motives are deceptive and pushes repor...

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Jonathan Landay → Warren Strobel (Professional Investigative Partners) — They work together to examine the case for invading Iraq and pursue reliable information despite mounting pressure.

  The plot describes Jonathan Landay and Warren Strobel continuing to investigate what is true about the claims used to support war.

• John Walcott → Warren Strobel (Professional Editor And Reporter) — Walcott initiates the investigation that Strobel joins, as the newsroom weighs how to report the case for war.

  John Walcott is identified as Knight Ridder's editor-in-chief who initiates the team's investigation, and Warren Strobel is one of the reporters condu...

• John Walcott → Jonathan Landay (Professional Editor And Reporter) — Walcott initiates the investigation, while Landay reports on the disputed claims and challenges the prevailing narrative.

  John Walcott is identified as Knight Ridder's editor-in-chief who initiates the team's investigation; the journalists challenge editors who favor stor...

Story Analysis

Journalists investigate disputed claims used to support an Iraq invasion as the human costs and pressure to go to war come into view.

Plot Progression

1. A Veteran's Costly Testimony — A retired Army veteran recalls enlisting at nineteen and being gravely injured shortly after arriving in Iraq. His testimony makes the human consequences of a government decision central to the accoun...
2. Questioning the Case for War — Landay, Strobel, and Walcott investigate the administration's interest in invading Iraq after the attacks on the United States. Vlatka Landay's recollection of nationalism and warnings from officials...
3. Claims Under Investigation — As the administration makes its case to the public and presses Congress and the United Nations, the reporters examine WMD claims, alleged terrorist connections, and disputed intelligence. Conflicting...
4. Pressure Before the Countdown — Concern rises that questionable intelligence is being promoted while contrary assessments are pushed aside, and the reporters challenge editors favoring pro-war stories. With war seeming increasingly...