Season 2 of The Morning Show has left many fans feeling disappointed. After a successful first season, the bar was set high for the Apple TV+ series, and many awaited its return — critics included, because although reviews for season 1 are polarized, everyone could agree that for better or worse, The Morning Show was one hell of a ride. Until recently (Friday) when season 2 ended, it seemed that this was the worst The Morning Show could do. Be so chaotically bad, that it was good. But as it turns out, it could do so much worse; it could be dull.
Season 1 focused on disgraced news anchor, Mitch Kessler (Steve Carell), who, in the first episode, is fired from his job at the fictional Morning Show for sexual misconduct. Playing Mitch’s co-anchor, Alex Levy, is Jennifer Aniston who spends season 1 reckoning with the fact her long-time friend, and past fling is a sexual predator. Replacing Mitch as Alex’s co-anchor is Bradley Jackson (Reese Witherspoon), who, in many ways, is the antithesis of Alex.
Whereas Alex is deceptively perfect, professional, and guarded, Bradley is a self-confessed mess who, despite her inexperience, sweeps into UBA’s The Morning Show like a hurricane and causes all kinds of trouble. A whistleblower by nature she encourages Alex to acknowledge the network’s damning complacency, and to look within: she, Alex, isn’t as innocent as she thinks. This revelation amounts to a climactic on-air exposé by Alex, prompted by the death of one of Mitch’s victims, Hannah (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) in the finale. Season 1's mission was aspirational, yet simple enough: to demonstrate the complexities of the #MeToo movement. And it succeeded in doing so, offering some enlightening commentary on workplace racism and sexism along the way. Melodramatic at times, it was part fun/funny — thank you, Cory Ellison (Billy Crudup) — and part feeling. Unfortunately, season 2 was not quite either. Perhaps doomed from the outset (how could it live up?) here’s where the latest season went wrong.
Too Much To Discuss, Very Little To Say
A blaring criticism from season 2 is that it tries to say too much and ends up saying very little. To their own detriment, the producers set their sights high this season in wanting to tackle so many themes: sexual misconduct, racism, sexism, homophobia, cancel culture, and Covid-19 to name a few. With only ten episodes to play around with, and too many focusing on the (straight, white) character’s personal problems, commentary on the above is sporadic. Episode 1 began with a 2020 New Year’s party sealed with an ominous cough which set the scene for pandemic exploration. For a while after, Covid was mentioned in whispers around the office, and then, like most of the themes eventually, it disappeared into the background until the finale.
Episode 4 seemed to be headed in an interesting direction when naïve weatherman, Yanko (Nestor Carbonell) is called out and suspended for making a culturally insensitive comment on-air. “Oh, so it’s about cancel culture then?” viewers questioned; “Not exactly,” TMS answered. After a telling off from boss, Stella (Greta Lee), Yanko, along with his storyline, is discarded to allow TMS to divert attention onto the wider issue of racism. To its credit, season 2 explored this theme slightly better than the first, exploring racism in and out of the workplace. One particularly effective scene has Stella become a victim of an anti-Asian hate crime. It is abrupt and horrifying, as it should be, but forgotten about all too quickly. On the cusp of really saying something, TMS shifted its focus. Again.
Confusing Morals
Season 1 stood out for its nuanced portrayal of Mitch Kessler. An ambiguous character for most of the first season, viewers were encouraged to make up their own minds about the accused sexual predator. Of course, they expected him to be guilty (the alternative would’ve been highly controversial) but the question of “what if?” lingered. Mitch himself, adamantly denied the charges and appeared genuinely confused by the allegations. Granted, not enough to believe the accused. But that combined with the fact Mitch looks like lovable Steve Carell and is spoken highly of by main character, Alex (whom audiences identify with), led to doubt; a doubt which taught viewers an invaluable lesson: never judge a book by its cover.
As the series progressed it became clear that Mitch was, indeed, a villain of sorts. It's clear that he is responsible for all of his bad deeds and should be held accountable for his actions. At least, that is the message season 1 gives. Season 2 gives a very different one. Living in Italy now, Mitch has found a haven in the country, and in love interest, Paola (Valeria Golino).
Through spending time with this character, he has somewhat of an epiphany, and goes from being the most hated character, to (concernedly) one of the most empathetic. Considering his redemptive arc is the focus of an entire episode, it appears TMS writers want viewers to forgive Mitch, and to that, many ask why? Doesn’t this counteract exactly what season 1 was trying to say? TMS’ moral positioning is questionable at best, and further complicated by the character's eventual suicide in episode 7.
Bad Characters
Season 2 also suffered because of its characters; not the new ones, though — in fact, Laura (Julianna Margulies), Paola, and Stella are all welcome additions to TMS. It is the returning characters that let the season down. Alex shined in season 1 as everybody’s love-to-hate leading lady. She had her bad traits — selfish, argumentative, and such — but behind them was a very loveable person who was overworked and misunderstood.
This season, however, Alex was near-insufferable, and too many scenes were wasted on her complaining. Even when these complaints were justified, it was hard to sympathize with her given how poorly written she was this season. And the same goes for Bradley Jackson; season 1’s Bradley was a much-needed breath of fresh air, but in season 2 she is just another Alex Levy, highlights and all. Attempts to make Bradley relatable — she struggles with her addict brother and her sexual identity in season 2 — are commendable, but not enough to redeem the damage already done. She is not the same firecracker as before, and the series is worse off for it.
Fan-favorite, Cory is also a changed man in season 2, transitioning from antihero to plain villain after he (presumedly) outs Bradley as bi/pan. Optimistic fans hold out hope that he isn’t the person who broadcasted Bradley’s relationship with Laura, and TMS would be wise to follow this narrative because if there is one thing that will save the series, it is the wisecracking, Cory Ellison. Or Bradley sans highlights.
The Morning Show is available to stream on Apple TV+.