The Morning Show

The Morning Show is set in the ostensibly glamorous world of America's most popular (fictional) breakfast TV show, with Jennifer Aniston's character Alex at the center of the action as the anchor who has made the show a huge hit over 15 years.

But the real theme of this series is anything but glamorous: it is a dramatic exploration of the issues that underpinned the #MeToo movement from 2017 - workplace sexual harassment in the entertainment industry, and the culture that permits it; the cancel culture that followed it; and the reaction to that cancel culture.

That's not a spoiler. The series begins with the TMS crew in shock after Alex's much-loved co-anchor Mitch (Steve Carrell) is marched out of the building, accused of inappropriate sexual behaviour. How true those accusations are or aren't, and what that means to everybody associated with the show, is the main narrative thread that is slowly unravelled over the course of Season 1. And it's quite a ride.

Reese Witherspoon enters as Bradley Jackson, a maverick reporter for another - much smaller - show who accidentally becomes a viral sensatiom, then a studio guest on TMS, then part of the show. So far, so predictable - although even this Act 1, establishing the main characters and ideas over the first 3 or so episodes, is packed with highlights. By that point, we the audience have enjoyed the fireworks around Bradley, learned and accepted that Jennifer Aniston really can act (who knew?) and found ourselves liking and empathizing with Steve Carrell's Mitch, unsure whether it will turn out that he is the (not entirely blameless) victim of cancel culture, or whether he's in fact more of a creep than he seems.

Such drama and ambiguity is possible thanks to some of the best dialogue writing and best acting I've seen since shows like the West Wing or early seasons of Billions. Seriously, it's a terrific job by everybody involved - no exceptions. Aniston and Carrell are both revelations in serious roles, actors like Jack Davenport and Mark Duplass are very well-cast, and Billy Krudrup kinda streals the show as the enigmatically brilliant Corey. Reese Witherspoon we've seen be excellent before - so it's no surprise that she's excellent here. Interestingly, she begins as the mian focus, but increasingly creates space for others to take centre stage as the story progresses.

It's near-perfect drama - brilliantly delivered and tackling a major theme of our time with deft integrity and plenty of intrigue.

Even if you have the self-discipline required to have avoided binge-watching the whole first Season in a single sitting, don't even think sbout starting the season finale unless you have time to finish it and absorb it. You have been warned.

Obviously, the following Seasons won't be as good. We know that, right? So this review is for Season 1. If you want to keep watching thereafter, that's up to you, but perhaps be realistic in your expectations.

I was never a big fan of either Anniston or Witherspoon but they are really, really good in these roles. Production values are excellent (product placement aside) and kudos to the writers for the nuanced approach to delicate social issues... and Billy Crudup has the best lines!

Apple TV+'s The Morning Show is a bold and intense drama that dives deep into the high-stakes world of morning television while tackling issues of power, media, and morality. With a powerhouse cast led by Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, and Billy Crudup, the series delivers compelling performances, sharp writing, and thought-provoking themes.

Positives

✔ Outstanding Performances: Jennifer Aniston shines as Alex Levy, delivering one of her most nuanced performances. Reese Witherspoon brings fierce energy as Bradley Jackson, and Billy Crudup steals scenes as the charismatic network executive Cory Ellison.

✔ Relevant and Thought-Provoking Themes: The series doesn't shy away from complex topics like the #MeToo movement, workplace politics, and journalistic integrity, making it more than just a show about television.

✔ High Production Value: From sleek newsroom sets to cinematic visuals, The Morning Show looks and feels like prestige television.

✔ Engaging and Fast-Paced Storytelling: The narrative is gripping, full of twists, personal conflicts, and moral dilemmas that keep audiences invested.

✔ Sharp Dialogue: The show's writing is smart and layered, balancing drama with moments of dark humor.

Negatives

• Occasionally Overdramatic: Some storylines lean into melodrama, which may feel excessive or unrealistic at times.

• Uneven Pacing in Later Seasons: While the first season is tightly plotted, later seasons have moments where the focus shifts too much between subplots, occasionally losing momentum.

• Not Always Subtle: The show sometimes spells out its messages too explicitly rather than letting them unfold naturally.

Conclusion

The Morning Show is a compelling, high-quality drama with top-tier performances and a willingness to tackle timely issues head-on. While it occasionally veers into melodrama, its strong writing, gripping conflicts, and standout cast make it a must-watch for fans of intense workplace dramas.

The Morning Show is a solid drama led by such an amazing cast. It takes you behind the scenes of a morning show and gives you a candid look at what makes the show go and the lives of the people involved in it. It may start a little slow for some but stick with it because it gets better as the show goes on. It seems like the entire cast has been nominated for an Emmy for their jobs on this show (Steve Carrel, Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, Billy Crudup, Mark Duplass, Jon Hamm, Holland Taylor, etc, etc.) and for good reason...they were all terrific! It's obviously a star studded cast but it's not only the stars that make this show so good, the writing is fantastic as well. Like most shows the first season is the best but even though the other seasons may not be quite as good as the first, they're still pretty darn good.

My girlfriend and I were discussing this and we've come to this conclusion. Overall, there were a couple episodes that were top-tier, would rate them in the high 9s. They were thought-provoking (mainly season 1), great cinematography, great acting, great score (esp season 3). But the other episodes would fall around a six or seven which is pretty solid. However the hour long run-time on those meh episodes just made it feel like it was dragging on for the majority of the episode just to reveal some big cliffhanger at the end (this is my gf's opinion not mine, i thought it built suspense nicely). So rounds out at a weak eight overall. Season one was the best, then three, then two.