Aaron Sorkin is fond of creating characters with arcs that give them room to grow, change, and develop, and Will McAvoy is no exception. Throughout the three seasons of this show, we see Will change from a rather cynical misanthrope to an idealist with a real concern for the people around him. Just look at his initial response to the questions posed to him in the series's opening scene. When asked what makes America the world's greatest country, Will attempts to dodge the question by answering, "the New York Jets." When pressed further, he tells a shocked audience that "It's not the greatest country in the world, Professor. That's my answer."
This exchange foreshadows the overall changes that we witness in Will's character over the course of the series. Much of this happens under the influence of Mackenzie McHale, Will's producer and former love interest. She comes to Atlantis Cable News with a mission to get Will back in line. Will says that "people choose the facts they want now." Mackenzie won't take this as an excuse not to report the news with integrity. She tells Will,
People will want the news if you give it to them with integrity. Not everybody, not even a lot of people: 5%. And 5% more of anything is what makes the difference in this country. So we can do better.
Over the course of this show, we see Will take this challenge to heart. We see him make a real effort to be more honest with his audience, his co-workers, and himself. He, with the help of Mackenzie and director Charlie Skinner, strives to report the news fairly and honestly, even when it is not the best thing to do ratings-wise. At first he sees this as a quixotic cause, but by the end of the first season, Will recognizes his mission as something truly worth pursuing, even if it means becoming what he calls "the greater fool." Perhaps Will's transformation is best summed up in a short exchange that he has with Leona Lansing, the company's owner, in the final episode:
Leona: You've made a career out of being likable.
Will: I'd like to make a career out of doing the news.
Other than Will, you might consider Maggie Jordan as a character who we see change significantly throughout this show. When the show begins, Maggie is like a lost fawn in the woods, and she is very unsure of herself. She cannot even make it through the day without a panic attack. Just as Will has Mackenzie, Maggie has Jim Harper to help guide her through difficult times. The following exchange illustrates this relationship well:
Maggie: How come no one's yelling at me?
Jim: You know how bad you screwed up, right?
Maggie: Yes.
Jim: Is there anyone who feels worse than you do?
Maggie: No.
Jim: Then I doubt it'll ever happen again.
Maggie grows significantly in self-confidence over the course of three seasons. We see her reach low points, like her descent into alcohol, promiscuity, and depression after her assignment in Africa. We also see her reach new heights, and by the end of the series, she is ready to confidently take a new job in Washington.
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