'The Morning Show' Season 3 Review: The Next 'Succession'

After two long years, The Morning Show is finally back, even if only one of the characters hosts the main program, part-time. While the second season took place in 2020 and covered the early days of the pandemic, the third season time jumps to 2022 (with the exception of a mid-season flashback, but we'll get to that later). Alex (Jennifer Aniston) has long since recovered from COVID, she's more popular than ever and hosts a successful UBA+ interview series called "Alex Unfiltered." Despite his breakup with Laura (Julianna Margulies), Bradley (Reese Witherspoon) thrives in the late-night newsroom, earning praise for his coverage of the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol. Things seem to be going relatively well for everyone involved. But it doesn't last long: it is the Morning Show, after all.

The main drama comes from the fact that UBA is struggling to keep the lights on. . Cory (Billy Crudup) thinks he's found an answer in Paul Marks (Jon Hamm), the CEO of space exploration company Hyperion, who gives off strong Elon Musk vibes, but not everyone likes him, nor does he like his plan . The result is a years-long succession battle for control of the company and its future. There are clandestine deals and betrayals, there are espionage and kisses, and there are some breathtaking moments that will make you roll your eyes. There's still a lot of story going on (a common criticism of the first two seasons), but it feels like the film has almost found its balance and focus, and while it still tries to do too much, at least none of that. they're boring.

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The third season of "The Morning Show" deftly examines current events.

The Morning Show has always been known for reflection Real life. The first season was about the #MeToo movement, while the second season was about the onset of the pandemic. And although he was always aware of the present moment, the degree of effectiveness with which he addressed these problems was inconsistent.

The third season of The Morning Show covers a lot, but it does a good job of breaking it all down and the way the topics are discussed feels natural. (Unlike the confusing "Mitch in Italy" plot around which much of season two revolved.) The political climate forces Bradley to face uncomfortable truths about her past, and, once again, she's torn between her party loyalty conservative. her family and her love for him. I still have it for Laura. She and all the women, especially new anchor Chris (Nicole Beharie), must struggle painfully to figure out how to cover abortion stories, a task that will become more difficult when Roe v. Wade will come to an end. Wade was soundly defeated.

Season 3 of 'The Morning Show' needs to fix this big problem

Speaking of Chris, she and Mia (Karen Pittman) is affected by the BLM protests, as well as misogyny and pay inequality in the workplace. The war in Ukraine affects Mia in unexpected ways and it's nice to see Pittman (consistently one of the best parts of the series) explore Mia's personal life more.

thematic series that span the entire season and touch every character in one way or another couldn't be more timely. The threat of Big Tech and the power of billionaires to buy and dismantle companies is eerily familiar to Elon Musk's purchase of Twitter/X. The issue of the future of traditional media, the corruption of the UBC board of trustees, and staff frustration with working conditions could not be more relevant in light of the WGA and SAG strike.

The strongest of these, however, may be an echo of where The Morning Show began with the #MeToo movement. This season explores different facets by telling a richer story for Stella, rising powerhouse Greta Lee, as she constantly juggles doing what's best for the company and herself. One of the most memorable and terrifying moments comes when Stella must make a painful decision between following her morals or making a big deal with two powerful sexist advertisers that will profoundly affect her and have repercussions on how she will feel if she is hired. - become increasingly important. Danger. able to do similar things repeatedly. Alex must also confront her precarious sense of power when she becomes involved with an influential man. There are so many complexities and double standards and The Morning Show does a good job addressing them in an interesting and nuanced way.

The third season of "The Morning Show" is at its best when it focuses on female dynamics.

The greater charm and attention of The Morning Show in the first season is focuses on complex issues. relationship between Alex and Bradley. The constant back and forth between the enemies was captivating, and watching Aniston and Witherspoon clash and find common ground was a fascinating sight. So it's curious why The Morning Show seems to insist on downplaying what the show originally sold. As in season two, the two spend much of their time frustratingly apart. It's a shame, because when they come together meaningfully, almost like clockwork, in the premiere, midseason episode, and finale, it's thrilling and reminiscent of what the series was about. Work to get started.

Fortunately, The Morning Show is spending this season investigating some equally intriguing new relationships. Perhaps the most surprising and fascinating thing is the friendship between Mia and Stella. From conversations about business matters, to advising each other at their most vulnerable moments, to an absolutely explosive scene where they get drunk in a bar to blow off some steam, it's refreshing to see this subtle, supportive relationship develop between two characters who have thus far been, disappointingly , relegated to the background.

One of the most exciting developments of the second season was Bradley's exploration of his sexuality and the beginning of a relationship . Relationship with fellow journalist Laura Peterson. Calm, logical, and a firm believer in therapy, Laura couldn't be more different from Bradley, and their opposites attract dynamics that create a rich yet complex romance. One of season three's strongest episodes takes us back to 2020 to see how and why their relationship fell apart during quarantine. It's a risky move because dedicating an entire episode to backtracking could easily kill the momentum, but it's so fascinating and entertaining to watch them clash that it's worth it. It also provides the audience with important context that becomes crucial after a shocking revelation that changes the course of the second half of the season.

Another notable episode of the season is episode 3, which deals with a scandal after a hacker discovers an email from board member Cybil (Holland Taylor) who made a racist joke at the expense of Chris. Beharie gives a masterclass in how to try to walk the line between standing up for yourself and being accountable to Cybil and the network without giving the world a reason to stereotype you as an angry black woman. It's easy to root for Chris right from the start, as Beharie gives him a lot of dimension and always delivers a subtle, lively and often moving performance. Taylor also adds depth to Cybil, making it a thoughtful character study of a flawed woman desperately clinging to her family's legacy.

'The Morning Show' it still has so many characters and often focuses on the bad ones.

The Morning Show has a strong cast, which is both a blessing and a curse, because you simply don't have time to do it justice. characters. despite its heavy nature. Each episode is usually almost a full hour long. After spotlighting Chris earlier in the season, he gradually takes a backseat to Yanko (Néstor Carbonell), who once again has absolutely nothing to do. While Paul is new to this season, he's a smart addition because his story is strong and surprising, but he also gives us more structure and insight into more established characters like Stella and Cory.

But I wonder if we need as much information on Cory or if we need as much Cory as possible. At times, especially at the beginning of the season, she takes on the role of the protagonist, a strange and frustrating choice for a series that begins with two female protagonists. Crudup is an incredible actor, but the stories of characters like Cory have been told countless times. The insistence on making it as much of a priority as The Morning Show, rather than highlighting other more interesting characters, is lazy. The layers the show tries to put on her end up feeling false and empty, and her relationship with Bradley becomes repetitive and escalating at this point.

Too many characters is a problem The Morning Show has faced since the beginning, and while it unfortunately doesn't seem to have learned from its mistakes, it hasn't lost the elements that made it great. none of them. There are still a few jokes that add a touch of comedy and humor to the series and show that, despite its elegant look and heavy themes, it doesn't always take itself so seriously. In addition to the new supporting characters, we also have June Diane Raphael, in a small recurring role as a sassy conservative news anchor. Even the embroidery remains impeccable: “Pay Your Way in Pain” by St. Vincent and “Lazarus” by David Bowie are particularly memorable and effective in marking the great moments.

The “Morning Show” tries to do a lot this season, but for the most part it succeeds impressively. By integrating themes naturally and introducing charming friendships, romantic relationships, and power struggles, it gives most of its characters moments to shine. Even though the central themes have evolved over time and most of the characters have moved away from the show's fictional morning show, it's still the morning show we fell in love with.