The Morning Show Season 3: Revolutionizing and Revitalizing the Series

Summary

The Morning Show season 3 is a significant improvement over season 2, resolving many of its previous problems and delivering stronger episodes.

The series is now putting a greater focus on its minority characters, crafting storylines that revolve around them and acknowledging its past mishandling of racial issues.

In season 3, Jennifer Aniston's character, Alex, has undergone a transformation with increased empathy and improved complexity, effectively correcting the subpar character development she experienced in season 2.

The first three episodes of Season 3 of The Morning Show show a significant improvement from the second season, which was plagued with numerous issues that threatened to overshadow its highlights. Initially, The Morning Show was among the few shows available on Apple TV+, establishing itself as the streaming service's flagship program until the following year when Ted Lasso took over. After an impressive first season, the series experienced a decline in quality during its second season, only to make a remarkable comeback in Season 3 after a nearly two-year hiatus and a change in showrunner.

Season 1 of The Morning Show ended with a shocking and impactful climax, as Alex and Bradley held the network accountable and exposed Fred for his role in covering up Mitch's sexual misconduct, captivating audiences. This finale set a high standard for Season 2 to follow, and while there were notable moments, storylines, and episodes, it ultimately fell short of the thrilling and well-executed nature of its predecessor. However, with Season 4 of The Morning Show already confirmed, the series is once again moving in a positive direction and addressing previous issues.

8 The Morning Show Season 2 Death Means No More Mitch Storyline

The biggest issue with season 2 of The Morning Show was its lack of direction for Mitch's storyline following the events of season 1. Despite being fired and abandoned by those around him, Mitch remained a prominent character despite being physically distant in Italy. The show's uncertainty regarding Mitch's potential for redemption further complicated matters, leaving the audience to decide his fate. Killing off Mitch in season 2 allowed for the introduction of new, unrelated characters in season 3. While Mitch's perspective was important in the show, his presence in season 2 served no purpose and this has been further accentuated in season 3.

7 The Morning Show’s Race Problem

6 Alex’s Character Is Written Much Better

The third episode of season 3 of The Morning Show was a pivotal moment, not only because of its compelling subject matter, but also due to its impressive execution. While previous episodes of The Morning Show have touched on issues of racism, season 2 failed to handle this important topic with the necessary care. Despite having a diverse cast, the show has often marginalized these characters in favor of focusing on the white protagonists and their storylines. However, in episode 3 of season 3, The Morning Show finally prioritized its minority characters and allowed them to have agency in their own narratives, a significant shift from previous episodes.

Following her Screen Actors Guild win for her remarkable performance in the first season of The Morning Show, Jennifer Aniston faced disappointing character development in the show's second season. The season focused on portraying Alex as deeply flawed behind the scenes, despite being portrayed and marketed as a feminist icon to the public. This intriguing contradiction, however, was undermined by the fact that Alex became almost unbearable throughout most of the second season, leaving viewers with little to support in one of the show's main characters.

5 Stella Isn’t In Cory’s Shadow Anymore

Whether it was the humbling experience of contracting COVID-19 at the end of The Morning Show season 2 or simply the natural personal growth that occurs over a span of two years, the character of Alex Levy in The Morning Show season 3 is a significant improvement. While she still retains her inherent traits of stubbornness, craving for acknowledgment, and self-centeredness, The Morning Show season 3 has noticeably instilled in her a greater capacity for empathy, surpassing what was exhibited throughout the entirety of the previous season. Failing to strike a balance between being flawed and sympathetic in season 2, The Morning Show season 3 appears to be heading in the right direction.

Stella Bak joined the cast of The Morning Show in its second season, adding fresh faces to the already extensive ensemble. As the newly appointed president of UBA News, Stella brought with her a youthful perspective, a tech-savvy background, and a noticeable detachment from Mitch and the network's old guard. Clearly the ideal choice for the role, Stella's authority was consistently undermined and disregarded by Cory, Alex, and other members of The Morning Show, who seemingly questioned her expertise and doubted her ability to make sound decisions.

4 No More COVID-19 Storylines

Stella's desire for change in The Morning Show season 3 is overshadowed by the greater threat that Cory poses to the network. While Stella asserts her value to other characters in season 2, she truly proves it in season 3 by refusing to be overshadowed by Cory's destructive presence. The downfall of Cory and the rise of Stella in The Morning Show season 3 tackle one of the persistent issues from season 2.

The Morning Show's portrayal of real-world news is a double-edged sword. While it enables the series to tackle important topics, it also runs the risk of becoming outdated as time passes and new episodes are released on streaming platforms. Season 2 of The Morning Show began streaming in September 2021, a year and a half into the COVID-19 pandemic, but the storyline itself started just prior to the events of March 2020.

3 The Executives Are Finally Facing The Consequences Of Their Actions

The portrayal of the COVID-19 storyline in season 2 of The Morning Show left viewers feeling frustrated as characters made light of a virus that had already claimed millions of lives and continued to affect people's lives for a staggering 18 months. The enduring impact of the pandemic resulted in significant mental and emotional exhaustion, leading individuals to seek solace in media that offered respite from the horrors of COVID-19. However, in season 3 of The Morning Show, the narrative takes a leap to March 2022, allowing the show to address significant societal issues that are entirely independent of the virus.

In season 3, episode 3 of The Morning Show, a significant change becomes evident when comparing it to season 2. This change involves the executives finally facing the consequences of their own actions. Previously, in season 2, these higher-ups managed to evade any repercussions for endangering their employees by ignoring COVID-19 safety measures, manipulating crucial regulations to boost viewership, and engaging in other questionable practices. Following a first season that emphasized the importance of responsibility and accountability, The Morning Show season 3 reintroduces this valuable lesson by showcasing the removal of Cybil from the board due to her racist email and unethical network practices, as well as Cory's deal with Paul falling apart as a result of his dishonest tactics.

2 The Morning Show Season 3 Is Ensemble-Focused

The Morning Show boasts one of the most talented and impressive casts on current television. With the recent additions of Nicole Beharie and Jon Hamm, the show's quality has been taken to even greater heights. However, in a cast full of amazing actors and captivating characters, some may be overlooked amidst the star power of Aniston, Witherspoon, and Crudup. This was particularly evident in Season 2, where it seemed that only Alex, Cory, Bradley, and Mitch (played by Steve Carell) were the focus, leaving others in the background.

However, Season 3 of The Morning Show has addressed this issue. Over the course of just three episodes, the show has made better use of its talented ensemble. In Episode 3 of Season 3, supporting characters intertwine their stories, contributing to the larger narrative. By distributing screen time more evenly, the show has not only regained the element of mystery that was crucial in Season 1 but has also created a sense of suspense for each character, both on and offscreen. Not a single moment is wasted.

1 The Morning Show Season 3 Is Reporting More Real-Life News Stories

The Morning Show season 2 lacked diversity in its news coverage, resulting in a somewhat monotonous viewing experience. In contrast, season 1 struck a good balance between fictional stories about UBA and real-life events that it drew inspiration from. However, season 2 focused less on the characters' on-air time and mostly covered three main topics: the election, the pandemic, and Maggie Brener's book uncovering issues within the network, particularly the so-called cancel culture.

Fortunately, The Morning Show season 3 has found that balance once again by incorporating UBA's cyberhack as a means to report on more relevant and captivating fictional news, such as workplace racial discrimination and privacy concerns. Furthermore, the season has also explored storylines related to abortion rights and hinted at covering events like the January 6 United States Capitol Attack and the war in Ukraine. Finally, season 3 is embracing its original purpose by highlighting the challenges and efforts involved in running a successful morning news show that resonates with real viewers.