The Morning Show ignites tension in its three seasons
Kai Mekari/Prowler
“The Morning Show” is a television program on Apple TV centered around the goings on of a Morning News program, full of drama, tension, humor and narcissism. The show encompasses the complexities that come with various jobs in a new station. It visualizes news stations on and off camera, resulting in it being unique in its perspective. And beyond that, it takes a look into some of the corporate sides and complexities that many people would hardly be conscious of otherwise.
“The Morning Show” recently completed its third season, with each season focusing on a few subthemes, subplots, main themes and plots. In 2019, the first season aired being based on former “The Today Show” host Matt Lauer being fired for “inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace,” as stated in a 2017 press release from NBC. The show covered the ramifications of such behavior on co-workers whether or not the victims, enablers or people who were unaware.
“The Morning Show” anchors were initially Alex Levy (played by Jennifer Aniston) and Mitch Kessler (played by Steve Carrell). We get immediately introduced to such a cutthroat and stressful world behind the scenes, just after Kessler was fired. Eventually a hot-headed reporter from West Virginia is scouted to replace Kessler.
A consistent theme of the series is though some characters were personally hurt and traumatized by Kessler’s actions, the majority of them just used the situation for their own gain, which becomes an even larger overarching theme even beyond season one. Every character (almost) plays everyone to get what they want, no loyalty is worth more, no morals are worth more, they will do whatever they have to do to win.
Season Two covers the pre-pandemic world, the build-up, slow and anxiety-driven events that eventually led to the whole world shutting down in March. We also see roles shift in the Network that owns TMS, “The Morning Show”, UBN as well as TMS itself after the dramatic and dramatically climatic finale of the prior season. As people continue to play games, we also see Kessler hiding in Italy, beginning the slow journey to which hopefully leads to him understanding how his actions affected people. And finally, a book is being written about the whole Mitch ‘situation’ by well-renowned and powerful author, Maggie Brennar (played by Marcia Gay Harden), which threatens the careers of many employees at UBA and TMS.
And, in the third season, we find our anchors, with a new member to the team, Christina Hunter (played by Nicole Beharie) as they are about to launch one their members into space in a rocket provided by Elon Musk-esque billionaire Paul Marks (played by Jon Hamm). There is a potential deal on the books for Marks to buy UBA, being central to the plot. The plot later delves into a cyber-attack, with hacks and ransoms. Leading the Network into more controversy, social and moral dilemmas, women’s rights as well as the outing of systemic racism in the workplace.
“The Morning Show” is beyond fantastic and entertaining. Each character is played by a member of the beyond excellent cast. The characters are also not simple nor black and white, each character is complicated. Everyone has goals, varying lines of morals and ethics and a strong will for self-preservation. They are characterized so well that it makes them extremely human. Each character has strong flaws, yet likable qualities, allowing for the viewer to still like and root for the rudest and most selfish characters. The writing is fantastic, witty and bone dry, the plot is laid out excellently, allowing for the perfect amount of increasing tension to build-up while also letting massively dramatic things to still happen each episode.
I have never quite seen such an entertaining show, where none of the characters are likable, per say, but still make for great television. The world is so stressful, dramatic, and fast-paced, just as one problem is solved, 15 more pop up. Each character is complex and scheming to get what they want. It perfectly visualizes what you never see when the camera is not rolling.
