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.
