THE STORY – An inside look at the people who help Americans wake up each day, exploring the challenges faced by the people who work in morning television.
THE CAST – Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, Billy Crudup, Mark Duplass, Greta Lee, Marion Cotillard & Boyd Holbrook
THE TEAM – Jay Carson (creator) and Kerry Ehrin (developed by)
There comes a point when even the most successful shows need to know when to bow out gracefully. Walking away is never easy, especially when there’s still money on the table and a powerhouse cast behind the scenes, as is the case with “The Morning Show.” But despite its pedigree and AppleTV+’s deep investment, it feels as though that moment has arrived (some may argue it arrived three seasons ago, but that’s another article for another time). And so we arrive at season 4, set two years after the chaotic season 3 finale (though somehow it still lags behind real life…why the time warp?). It’s now spring 2024, and we’re once again dropped into the high-stakes, occasionally soap opera-esque world of “The Morning Show” and its ever-dramatic ensemble.
Two years after the merger, the fallout lingers and tension remains high. Alex (Jennifer Aniston) is struggling to maintain control over the TMS team after endless layoffs and a looming pivot toward AI-driven operations (sound familiar?). Conflict simmers beneath the surface, and it’s only a matter of time before the rank and file begin to revolt from within. Stella (Greta Lee) is charging ahead, determined to carve out her place in the future, even as she tries to solidify her role in the present. Meanwhile, Cory (Billy Crudup) is back to wheeling and dealing, now operating as a big-time Hollywood producer, and still pulling strings behind the scenes. Bradley (Reese Witherspoon) has inexplicably struck a deal with the FBI and returned to the simple life, but you can’t unring a bell. Is she being pulled back by her own relentless ambition, or is someone else nudging her toward uncovering the truth from the inside? Over the past two years, our main characters have drifted apart, but by unbelievable circumstances (seriously, we’re stretching plausibility here), these characters have been pulled back together again.
Beyond AI, the subplots are sketched so thinly that the writers make little effort to help us understand or invest in them; only that some shadowy cover-up is underway and Bradley is determined to uncover who’s complicit, even if she hasn’t worked at the network in two years. Also, the Olympics are coming. A few new characters join the crew, led by the criminally underutilized (for most of the season) Marion Cotillard as the sexy and ethereal new chairman of the board. Another new addition is unsubtly named “Bro,” a caricatured MAGA-style podcast host whose ambitions seem limited to 1) making a shit ton of money and 2) antagonizing Alex. Boyd Holbrook injects as much charm as he can into an otherwise one-dimensional Bro, and his chemistry with Aniston is engaging, but it fails to live up to the undeniable connection she had with Jon Hamm’s Paul Marks in season 3. Bloated yet underdeveloped, the show shortchanges itself by cramming seven+ characters into sub-hour episodes, leaving little room for consistent depth or growth.
With talents like Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, Greta Lee, and Billy Crudup in the cast, the performances have never been in question. In season 4, they all still show up strong, even if they don’t fully believe in what they’re selling. Apple’s decision to cast some of the biggest – and most reliable – names on television is undoubtedly what keeps viewers returning season after season, but at some point, even the most seasoned of professionals can slip into autopilot. The heftiest emotional scenes fall to Aniston and Crudup, and both deliver with remarkable intensity. While the performances remain compelling, there’s a palpable sense of fatigue; everyone seems wary of jumping the shark once again. But we’re not watching for the complicated storyline about cover-ups or the intricacies of breaking the news; we’re tuning in to watch Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon team up and tear each other down in the same breath, which is something that rarely gets old.
Since its strong debut, “The Morning Show” has struggled to maintain its footing, weighed down by plot bloat, convoluted storylines, and themes that often feel more performative than thoughtful. The show still tries to stay relevant by tackling real-world issues like COVID-19, racial reckoning, misinformation, and now, artificial intelligence. Apple’s decision to cast AI as the looming existential threat is a bold, if predictable, move. Yet while the company’s attempt to stay culturally relevant is clear, its forays into topical issues often come across as contrived rather than convincingly developed. In season 4, “The Morning Show” once again attempts to take on a culturally controversial topic while layering in emotional depth, but it falls predominantly flat. Guilty more often than not of telling the news versus shaping the narrative, “The Morning Show” can’t help but plod along for another talented yet overstuffed season.
THE GOOD – The big names are the draw, and they mostly deliver. The chemistry and the drama between the characters remain strong, even if the stories don’t.
THE BAD – Performative themes, bloated plots, and too many characters to keep track of – the series suffers when it crams too much into the season.
THE EMMY PROSPECTS – None
THE FINAL SCORE – 5/10