By Spencer Coile
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It feels as though we’ve been discussing The Morning Show for years already. And how could we not? It was a main event for the latest streaming service, Apple TV+. It was headlined by Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, and Steve Carell - three television titans. Plus, its behind-the-camera team - including Aniston and Witherspoon with producing credit, not to mention Mimi Leder and David Frankel directing the first three episodes - was enough to have television and film fans salivating for more.
The only problem is, The Morning Show was talked to death before it even premiered... hence the past tense of this intro...
Now that it’s here, the critical reaction borders on vitriolic with a side of apathy. Following the show’s trajectory, in many ways, is enough to give you whiplash. It is a righteously angry show, and it is most definitely a messy show. But for some, including as you may have guessed me, The Morning Show may win you over and also offer some catharsis.
Following accusations of sexual misconduct from her co-anchor Mitch Kessler (Carell) on their morning talk show - also called "The Morning Show" - Alex Levy (Aniston) is sent into a tailspin. Not knowing what to believe or who to trust, she’s left questioning her 15 year-long working relationship with Mitch, as well as who will replace him as co-anchor. Enter: Bradley Jackson (Witherspoon), a conservative correspondent prone to outbursts. A video of Bradley berating a protester at a rally in support of coal miners goes viral, landing her a coveted interview with Alex shortly after Mitch is fired.
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If that sounds like a lot of plot, please know that that's only the first episode! The Morning Show mov a break-neck pace, rarely letting you catch your breath. And did I mention that Mark Duplass, Billy Crudup, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Karen Pittman, Bel Powley, Jack Davenport (Smash fans rejoice!), and so many others round out the ensemble? Keep an eye out for Marcia Gay Harden and Mindy Kaling in guest roles as well. It is, without a doubt, one of 2019’s busiest shows.
That is both to is credit and detriment.
Certainly, The Morning Show has a lot on its mind. On its surface, it presents a complicated depiction of the #MeToo movement from those who abuse their power (and in Mitch’s case, not even understanding the power he wields) to those who watch the abuse unfold and do nothing to stop it. At the same time, it’s working to expose the blatant sexism and ageism that manifests in toxic working environments. The thru-line is Alex rediscovering her passion for journalism, after years of coasting on charm, to fight back against the men in power who think they know better than her. Aniston really sinks her teeth into those particular scenes.
At the same time, though, despite so much happening, it's difficult to get a firm handle on what the show is actually trying to say. With so many characters buzzing around, we’re not given much of a chance to connect with them. Even one of the leads, Witherspoon’s Bradley, remains an enigma. Although regarded as conservative, her character’s political ideologies are rarely touched upon, leaving us to wonder if that is a character point left to the wayside or one that will crop up much later.
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However busy and messy the series may be, at its core The Morning Show is a show about angry women. And Apple TV+ has really put their muscle behind it. The show stars women, is about women, and is produced, written, and directed largely by women. Aniston is the show’s beating heart, giving her finest performance. Notice, I didn’t put an addendum there; I didn’t say “since” or “in years.” No, this is Aniston at her finest. Alex is a prickly character, noted by many characters as an “ice queen,” but at the same time, she's America’s “mother.” It’s a tightrope performance, allowing Aniston space to pull out various complexities. Any time she berated a man in power (which, trust me, happens a lot), I found myself holding my breath in anticipation; taking a long sigh of relief once she was done monologueing.
The rest of the cast aren't exactly slouches, either. Witherspoon, despite a confusing character and a rocky start (let's not speak about the accent), eventually gets in touch with Bradley’s anger and fear. Keep an eye out for Billy Crudup’s delicious turn as Cory Ellison, the new head of the network. Sneering and sleazy, Crudup rarely needs to raise his voice to make an impact -- he's the perfect foil to Aniston and Witherspoon, a calculated villain, slowly revealing layers to be peeled away. At opportune moments, he discloses seemingly insignificant details about his life, but is it to express vulnerability or is it to garner sympathy that he can take advantage of later?
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With Aniston and Witherspoon dominating their screen time, and Crudup stealing his scenes, it’s a letdown seeing what Carell is doing. His performance and his character feel very nearly like afterthoughts in a series that so bustling with characters and story threads. After being fired, Mitch isolates himself in his own home, a misery of his own making. Rarely does he interact with any of the major characters - in the first three episodes, he only gets one confrontation with Alex, but even that feels underdeveloped. Mostly, Mitch is left to condemn those who accused him of sexual misconduct (he swears he did nothing wrong) and pontificate the flaws in the #MeToo movement. Give the lack of depth to the characterization, it's hard to care about these scenes and not interpret them as mere childish rants. Carell is plainly capable of playing both comedy and drama simultaneously, but because Mitch is portrayed as predatory at worst and toddler-angry at best, there isn’t anything comedic about his outbursts. They’re just cloying.
Clearly, there is a lot about The Morning Show that doesn’t coalesce yet. But I have confidence that it will since it gets progressively better with each episode. With so much television out there, will viewers wait for it do that or abandon ship? Still, considering the creative team, the show's pop culture salience, and its editorial appeal (positive and negative think-pieces are circulating ad nauseum), you should give it a shot.