Although the series The Morning Show’ exact adherence to actual events has diminished over the seasons, there are still echoes of well-known tales.
The fact that “The Morning Show” has the appearance and polish of a classy, prestige TV program only serves to increase the frustration of its detours into ridiculous scenarios and unbelievable turns. This star-studded serial might do better if it kept to soap-opera-style fiction rather than pitching itself as a “Succession” copycat in the third season of the Apple TV+ drama, which once again incorporates real-world events into its narrative.
Mercurial billionaires play a significant role in this season’s latest narrative, much like in that HBO series and Showtime’s “Billions,” which also features them. Here, billionaire fever takes the form of Paul Marks, a rocket-flying businessman who network head Cory Ellison (Billy Crudup, excellent as always) is desperately trying to woo as a buyer for UBA. He does this by using his high-powered anchors Alex Levy (Jennifer Aniston) and Bradley Jackson (Reese Witherspoon), who are both excellent in their respective roles.
In a season that delves into the high-stakes world of big business and includes the consequences from an email attack that runs the risk of exposing a variety of humiliating company secrets, the wrangling over the acquisition agreement ends up being the most fruitful and rewarding plot. This plot reflects what occurred at Sony in 2014 and offers a convincing fictional account of what happens behind the scenes amid a horrific PR situation.
The Morning Show
If only the show could continue to include highlights like that. Instead, the plot frequently veers off course into contentious storylines such as the Jan. 6 revolt (with Bradley being involved in those events), the early years of Covid, and the Supreme Court’s decision to overrule Roe v. Wade.
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Even though those circumstances ought to make for compelling storytelling material, the show keeps handling them in extravagant ways. For instance, it beggars belief that one of the anchors would be so gullible as to openly broadcast incendiary political material about the Supreme Court and then appear shocked when that became a topic of discussion on abortion.
Additionally, the network is churning out plenty of awkward professional connections, with large personalities and even greater feelings, such as Bradley’s affair with Laura Peterson (Julianna Margulies) and a fresh and potentially complex relationship for Alex.
In a way, “The Morning Show” achieved its goal right away by luring Aniston and Witherspoon (who also serve as producers), proving Apple’s then-emerging streaming service could compete with major league talent.
However, the end effect has been a lovely series with an exceptional cast that doesn’t always live up to that standard with its inside look at TV news and the organizations that control it. While the setting gave rise to classic films like “Network” and “Broadcast News,” it has been difficult for television shows to succeed. Aaron Sorkin’s “The Newsroom” showed a keen understanding of the workings of the news industry but became bogged down by its interpersonal dynamics before “Succession” blew it out of the water.
At one point, Alex remarks, “We can’t fight every battle,” which is hilarious considering that a big part of the allure of the show is how many different fights are being fought at once. The selection of bouts by “The Morning Show” is not the problem. But it needs to be more wise about picking its battles if it wants to compete with top-tier dramas rather than just a light distraction.
The third season of “The Morning Show” premieres on Apple TV+ on September 13.
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