The Morning Show’s Universe Remains As Ludicrous As Our Own

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If you already enjoy *The Morning Show*, there’s no better reason to watch the new season than this: Bradley Jackson is investigating dead birds. If you’re not familiar with the show, here’s the gist. Bradley Jackson, played by Reese Witherspoon, is a West Virginia news anchor who never quite makes logical sense. She started as an interesting character – a Republican who questions things like clean coal – and unexpectedly landed a job alongside Jennifer Aniston’s established, demanding anchor, Alex Levy. The first season began as a serious drama about the Me Too movement, but quickly became more outlandish, especially regarding Bradley Jackson’s storyline. Season two took place right before the COVID pandemic and had Bradley experience a romantic awakening with a fellow news anchor played by Julianna Margulies. The show really leaned into the craziness in season three, starting with Bradley going to space and ending with her turning herself in to the FBI for covering up her brother’s involvement in the January 6th events. It’s remarkable how the writers managed to connect all those plot points!

The creators of *The Morning Show* seem to be trying to outdo themselves with season three, and they’re doing it in a very *Morning Show* fashion: by transforming Bradley Jackson into a character reminiscent of Erin Brockovich. This happens when she stumbles upon disturbing video of countless birds falling from the sky.

The reason Bradley is investigating these bird deaths is a bit complicated. Her former network, now called UBN after a merger, wants to attract more conservative viewers and decides to rehire her, despite her past issues. She only agrees to return because she receives a tip about a possible cover-up involving a chemical plant owned by the network’s parent company. This plant is suspected of causing health problems in local residents and contributing to the mass bird deaths. While this new direction feels like a nod to ’90s conspiracy thrillers, it’s a complex setup that ultimately seems designed to give Reese Witherspoon something substantial to do on the show.

Looking at the bigger picture, *The Morning Show* often uses a complicated but straightforward storytelling style. For example, in the first episode, while interviewing an Iranian fencer, Alex Levy impulsively decides to help her and her father escape the country. This quickly turns the show from a workplace drama into a political thriller. Surprisingly, for a series about the news, the show rarely mentions current events-I only noticed one brief reference to the violence in Gaza, presented as just another item on a list of world issues. Ultimately, Alex’s decision to help the fencer seems motivated more by making Alex appear heroic and virtuous from a mainstream, liberal perspective.

The way *The Morning Show* is made is clear once you understand its process: the show starts with casting an actor, then figuring out a dramatic role for them, and only later worrying about whether it all makes sense. It’s obvious the writers, led by Charlotte Stoudt, are enjoying the freedom Apple TV+ gives them to hire talent and create exciting storylines. When Marion Cotillard joins the show as Celine Dumont, an executive at the merged UBN network, you might expect her role to tie into the upcoming Paris Olympics coverage. However, her character’s purpose is surprisingly different. Celine subtly argues that being politically correct isn’t good for business, and it’s clear she’s planning something. The show smartly utilizes Cotillard’s talent for playing cunning characters, though her plans unfold slowly and aren’t related to sports. Opposite her in meetings is UBN’s CEO, Stella Bak, played by Greta Lee, who’s gained significant recognition in recent years. The series acknowledges Lee’s talent by giving her a more prominent storyline, including Stella’s ambitious plan to use deep-fake technology for news anchors and a romantic connection with Aaron Pierre’s Miles. This connection adds a new level of sensuality to the show, as Miles is also Celine’s husband. Previously, the most intense romantic dynamic involved Jennifer Aniston’s character and a Jeff Bezos-like figure played by Jon Hamm, who was revealed as a villain last season. You might think he’s gone, but the writers found a way to bring him back – after all, who else would Aniston’s character flirt with?

If you look beyond the celebrity focus of *The Morning Show*, some interesting themes come to light. Originally about the start of the #MeToo movement, the show now explores what happens after – how those in power, specifically the female executives at UBN, try to maintain control, even if it means shifting the network to the right. A new character, Bro, a popular and provocative podcaster played by Boyd Holbrook, represents a growing concern within traditional media about the influence of radicalized men. He’s incredibly successful with advertisers, allowing him to operate with little consequence. While the storyline isn’t groundbreaking, the show subtly suggests that Bro must have redeeming qualities simply because he’s a handsome, brooding white man – mirroring a tendency in the media to give such figures the benefit of the doubt. Meanwhile, the show often sidelines its women of color. Karen Pittman’s character, Mia, is repeatedly overlooked for promotion, and Nicole Beharie’s Christina faces a manufactured scandal, partially fueled by Bro. It’s becoming a pattern for *The Morning Show* to give Beharie a powerful episode, then largely ignore her character for the rest of the season.

Adding to everything else, the new season of *The Morning Show* also tackles the rise of new technology. While it’s an Apple TV+ show, the series has consistently been critical of tech billionaires, and generally supportive of traditional media. The UBA/UBN employees are shown as bravely defending their work against Silicon Valley’s influence, even if those tech figures are portrayed as attractive and likable. This season continues that trend by exploring the dangers of AI-generated content in the news, starting with a demonstration of deepfake technology used to make Alex Levy appear to say things in multiple languages. Later, the show dives into the dramatic potential of AI gone wrong when a tech demo at an industry panel (with a cameo by Kara Swisher) malfunctions and reveals private information about a character’s love life. It’s not really satire, but rather another example of the show taking mainstream liberal ideas to an extreme, all at the speed of a typical prime-time soap opera. The series suggests that progressive values and Silicon Valley’s vision of the future don’t always align – not a groundbreaking idea, but it’s made much more entertaining thanks to the clashes between Marion Cotillard and Greta Lee.

The show accurately portrays how technology is disrupting traditional media, illustrated by the power dynamics between the characters played by Jon Hamm and Jennifer Aniston. It also offers a sharp look at the changing Hollywood landscape, specifically through the character of Billy Crudup, a former network executive trying to reinvent himself. While the series is over-the-top, it mirrors the absurdity of real-world events – like the possibility of someone like Bari Weiss leading CBS News – making it surprisingly captivating. It raises questions about what gets lost when news organizations prioritize personalities over actual reporting. A central storyline involving Bradley Jackson’s investigation into a chemical plant often feels sidelined by the intense personal lives of the characters. The show leaves you wondering if her journalism will make a difference, or if the environmental disaster will be ignored, and whether television news can truly achieve anything meaningful. It’s a compelling watch, and you’re left genuinely curious about the outcome – not just for the characters, but for the larger issues at stake.

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2025-09-17 18:55