WARNING! This article contains SPOILERS for The Morning Show season 3, episode 9.
Article Overview
In episode 9 of The Morning Show, Cory's manipulative and impulsive actions finally catch up to him, leading to his downfall in season 3. The revelation of his improper relationship with Bradley, as exposed by The Vault article, poses a serious threat to his position as the CEO of UBA and could ultimately lead to his termination.
Cory's termination would have significant consequences for the plot in season 4, potentially resulting in major changes to the show's cast and focus.
Throughout season 3, The Morning Show has been hinting at Cory's downfall, but the conclusion of episode 9 may have sealed his fate as UBA's CEO. Billy Crudup's portrayal of Cory's descent into madness, fueled by his inflated ego and deceitful tactics, has been a standout performance among the talented cast of The Morning Show. For a long time, Cory has balanced between being excessively charming and repulsively slimy, but season 3 revealed him to be a true villain rather than the ambiguous anti-hero he was once perceived as.
Cory Being Escorted Out Of UBA Suggests He'll Be Fired In The Morning Show Season 3
With their own hidden agendas, the characters in The Morning Show often resort to throwing each other under the bus. Cory happens to be particularly adept and willing in this regard, which has resulted in him making numerous enemies. These adversaries have been biding their time, waiting for the perfect opportunity to take him down. It appears that they may have finally achieved their goal in the ninth episode of The Morning Show season 3. The shocking revelation has the potential to strip Cory of his position as UBA's CEO, profoundly impacting the trajectory of the series in the upcoming fourth season.
In the final moments of episode 9 of season 3 of The Morning Show, an explosive article was published by The Vault. The article alleged that Cory had manipulated Bradley and, upon her rejection and subsequent relationship with Laura, he exposed their secret to the media. Unfortunately, Cory didn't have the chance to address these serious accusations as security was already preparing to escort him out of the UBA building. Although the penultimate episode of The Morning Show season 3 ended before this imminent event, it wouldn't be surprising if Cory is terminated as CEO in the upcoming finale.
Cory's termination was already imminent in The Morning Show season 3 as part of Paul's scheme, however, the article provides a legitimate justification for it. Throughout the episode, Paul had been on a hunt for incriminating information about Cory, and although the CEO had committed numerous grounds for dismissal, his involvement with Bradley was an easy target. Considering UBA's history of inappropriate workplace relationships, it would prove difficult for Cory to maintain his position following the publication of The Vault article. Despite multiple characters attempting to thwart Paul's plans in The Morning Show season 3, this does not guarantee Cory's job security.
The Vault Article Explained: Did Cory Groom Bradley?
The focus of The Vault article revolved around Cory's revelation of Bradley and Laura's relationship, along with interviews from Archer Hotel employees, where Cory and Bradley resided during seasons 1 and 2 of The Morning Show. Throughout their intertwined history, Bradley and Cory have navigated a complex dynamic, where their friendship boundaries have become blurred due to Cory's romantic feelings for Bradley and his authoritative position as her boss. Exploiting his power, Cory has often manipulated Bradley to comply with his desires, as seen in episode 7 of The Morning Show season 3 when he coerced her into staying at his mother's house against her will.
Cory manipulates Bradley by playing the friend card whenever she points out his inappropriate behavior as her boss. When Bradley moved to New York for The Morning Show and struggled, Cory appeared to be an ally. However, their supposed friendship quickly turned into a manipulative dynamic, with Cory taking advantage of Bradley's needs for his own benefit. After an entire season, Cory will finally face consequences for leaking Bradley and Laura's relationship to The Vault in The Morning Show season 2, in order to prevent the publication of a damaging article about Hannah that Fred had commissioned.
Taking advantage of their outing together, Cory used the situation to boost The Morning Show's ratings, especially since the article was released while Bradley and Laura were co-hosting. Cory deceitfully expressed anger on Bradley's behalf and even offered to sue The Vault, pretending to be ignorant of his own involvement in the article. In the finale of The Morning Show season 2, Cory confesses his love for Bradley while she is vulnerable, fully aware that she is still in a relationship with Laura. His consistent disregard for Bradley's boundaries, combined with his persuasive manipulation of her, demonstrates that Cory has truly groomed Bradley on The Morning Show.
What Cory Being Fired From UBA Would Mean For The Morning Show Season 4's Story
There are several unresolved storylines that require further exploration in the fourth season of The Morning Show, particularly regarding Cory's employment. If Cory is let go, Stella emerges as the obvious candidate to succeed him as the CEO. However, Stella has already expressed her unwillingness to remain at UBA if Paul Marks assumes control. This leaves the CEO position open to multiple characters, although considering the number of departures from the network in the third season of The Morning Show, UBA might not even serve as the backdrop for season 4.
Editor's P/S
As a Gen Z netizen, I have mixed feelings about Cory's fate in The Morning Show Season 3. On the one hand, I understand that his actions were wrong and that he should be held accountable. On the other hand, I feel that his termination may be a bit too harsh.
I think it's important to remember that Cory is a complex character. He's not purely evil, but he's also not entirely innocent. He's made some bad choices, but he's also done some good things. I think it's important to take all of that into account when we're judging him.
I'm also concerned about the implications of Cory's termination for the show's future. Cory is a major character, and his departure will leave a big hole in the show. I'm not sure how the show will fill that void.
Overall, I think Cory's termination is a complex issue with no easy answers. I'm interested to see how the show handles it in the future.