Warning! This article contains discussion of sexual harassment.
Summary
Season 3 of The Morning Show revisits the crucial topics of sexual assault and harassment, shedding much-needed attention on these matters.
In episode 4 of the third season, a disconcerting scene depicts the power dynamics between white male advertisers and Asian women, effectively emphasizing the themes of sexual harassment and the abuse of power.
The scene serves as a reminder of characters like Mitch who used their fame and power to feel entitled to women, highlighting the harsh reality of sexual misconduct in the workplace. The Morning Show, which was created during the emergence of the Me Too movement, initially focused on the aftermath of sexual misconduct in season 1. In season 3, episode 4, the distressing scene brings the show back to its original roots, even though it has mostly shifted its focus to a cyberattack and other secrets and revelations. Nevertheless, the show still maintains its original themes.
The Morning Show has addressed various topics throughout its three seasons, notably focusing on the issue of sexual assault. Rather than solely focusing on the act itself, the series takes a unique approach by exploring the repercussions of sexual misconduct. This handling of the subject has received mixed reviews, particularly regarding Mitch in The Morning Show season 2 before his character's demise. Nevertheless, it remains crucial to depict the consequences, or lack thereof, of this disturbingly prevalent behavior. Even with Mitch no longer present, The Morning Show season 3 continues to shed much-needed light on the issue of sexual harassment.
Stella & The Waitress Scene Is The Morning Show's Most Disturbing Since Season 1
As president of UBA News' The Morning Show, Stella faced immense pressure to secure a significant advertising deal during lunch in season 3, episode 4. However, the situation quickly spiraled out of control when two Caucasian men resorted to intimidating Stella and the waitress, a young Asian woman, through the consumption of alcoholic beverages. Disturbingly, they went on to harass the waitress, coercing her to lick a supposed spill of gin from the table in exchange for a $20,000 tip, while making demeaning comments about her.
Understandably hesitant, the waitress received encouragement from Stella, who assured her that she could be trusted to follow through with the promised tip, all in the pursuit of finalizing the UBA deal. Although Stella managed to hide her disgust during the intense scene, her true emotions surfaced once she found herself alone in the car, leading to tears. The distressing turn of events and Stella's complicity rendered this scene in The Morning Show the most unsettling since the depiction of Mitch's sexual assault on Hannah in season 1.
The Morning Show Season 3's Scene Revives The Show's Theme Of Sexual Harassment & Power
The scene in Season 3, Episode 4 of The Morning Show was disturbing, but it effectively brought back the show's central theme of sexual harassment and power dynamics. What made it even more compelling was the interplay of power between the advertisers (two white men), Stella, and the waitress (both Asian women). Stella desperately needed the deal to save UBA, which the advertisers were aware of, and she had the means to tip the waitress $20,000, putting her in a difficult position to refuse. These factors combined created a situation where the behavior was not only encouraged but also challenging to stop.
This scene highlights the dangerous nature of Mitch's character in The Morning Show. He believed that his power entitled him to the women in his orbit, and he expected this entitlement to be accepted and normalized. It didn't matter if these women had their own power because as a famous white man, he always had more, and people were more inclined to defend him. Although Stella held a position of power over the waitress, she didn't feel empowered enough to confront the advertisers. Despite the heavy subject matter, the fact that Season 3 is returning to explore these foundational themes bodes well for The Morning Show Season 4.