Summary
Episode 8 of season 3 of The Morning Show exposes Paul's scheme to offload UBA's entertainment, sports, and streaming departments. This strategic move leads to significant disruptions and poses potential harm to the network.
The implementation of this plan would lead to job reductions, a decline in advertisers, and a decrease in UBA's viewership, further jeopardizing its already precarious financial situation. Paul's intent to relaunch UBA is driven by his ego and ambition to be hailed as the savior of the news industry, rather than a sincere concern for the company's prosperity.
In season 3 of The Morning Show, the deal between Paul Marks and UBA is nearing its finalization. However, episode 8 reveals that Paul has a surprising new plan that could potentially have devastating consequences for the network. Jon Hamm, who portrays Paul, has brought a captivating and thrilling dynamic to the show, engaging in intense interactions with his co-stars upon his return to television. Throughout season 3, Paul's character has remained enigmatic, but episode 8 offers crucial insights into his true intentions. The Morning Show has expertly balanced multiple major storylines, with Paul's UBA deal standing out as one of the most significant and consistent. Initially presented as a wealthy tech mogul committed to rescuing UBA from financial ruin, Paul's character becomes more intricate as his romantic relationship with Alex and his complicated history with Stella are revealed.
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Paul’s Plan Explained: How Cutting Entertainment, Streaming & Sports Would Completely Change UBA
In the final episode of Season 3 of The Morning Show, Paul presented a proposal to Alex that entailed selling UBA's entertainment and sports divisions, as well as their streaming service and all scripted content, once the deal was finalized. This revelation came as a complete shock, especially considering that Paul had previously assured everyone at UBA that he had no intention of causing any conflicts. Not only had Paul already planned to make a bold move by terminating Cory, but now the prospect of eliminating everything that wasn't news threatened to disrupt the entire organization possibly beyond repair.
Though all of The Morning Show's main characters work in the news division, Paul's plan would also mean the elimination of numerous jobs, advertisers, and viewers, catching everyone off guard. UBA has struggled economically in previous seasons, and while Paul's financial support is intended to rescue the network from bankruptcy, it could also lead to its collapse. Many characters have questioned Paul's involvement in UBA, and his new plan validates their apprehensions.
Cory Will No Longer Be Useful At UBA
As mentioned earlier, Paul had been plotting to remove Cory from The Morning Show, with the intention of appointing Stella as the new CEO. When Stella disclosed this to Cory in season 3, episode 7 of The Morning Show, he immediately took action to secure his position. He perceives himself as indispensable, always maintaining control and staying one step ahead of everyone else. However, if Paul were to sell everything and focus solely on the news, there would be no logical justification for keeping Cory at UBA, as he would have nothing to contribute to the network.
In season 1 of The Morning Show, Cory was transferred from the entertainment division to the news division in order to boost UBA's ratings following the scandal involving Mitch Kessler. Throughout his career, Cory excelled at merging news and entertainment, which directly contradicts Paul's vision for the company once he officially takes over. Additionally, Paul is looking to sell UBA+, an idea that was not very successful and was originally proposed by Cory. As a result, Cory has become a target for Alex and Paul, who now possess the authority to remove him from UBA, a feat that others have attempted but failed to achieve.
Why Paul Really Wants To Start UBA Over Again
After a failed Hyperion One test launch that left him frustrated and concerned about his reputation, Paul opened up to Alex about his plans in episode 8 of season 3 of The Morning Show. Paul openly acknowledged his tendency to become overly absorbed in his work, leading to detrimental effects on his personal life. His strong reaction to the leaked picture of him and Alex, coupled with his impulsive behavior in terms of his ego and work, mirrors that of his new girlfriend.
Alex's goal is to transform UBA into a news-oriented network, whereas Paul's primary concern is his personal legacy rather than the company. While Paul claims to want to rescue the news industry, his true motivation is to be recognized as its savior. Although Paul's plan will undoubtedly leave a lasting impact on The Morning Show, its outcome remains uncertain in terms of its overall effect.