Despite being an Emmy-winning series with a clear outpouring of industry love, The Morning Show has long been the subject of some criticism for its less-than-stellar references to the real-world events it tackles. Its writing is very hit-or-miss, largely held afloat by its extremely talented cast. But like an entertaining news anchor that is slowly getting the hang of the job, The Morning Show has been quietly improving its weak points. The real-life events are (so far) left in the background, with the show implementing modern issues into its storylines instead of jarringly inserting itself into history. There are certainly occasional tone-deaf moments—this is The Morning Show, after all—but for the first time since season 1, the real-life thematic tie-ins feel essential to the story the show is telling.

The Morning Show season 4 follows Alex (Jennifer Aniston) and Bradley (Reese Witherspoon) as they navigate a news landscape where generative AI threatens jobs, deepfake technology leads to rampant misinformation, and corporate cover-ups are more prevalent than ever. As Alex desperately attempts to do the right thing as a reporter while being an executive at UBN, she finds herself torn between her morals and her profession. Meanwhile, Bradley finds herself dragged out of West Virginia to revitalize her career and to uncover a scandal UBN may have covered up. But thankfully, these storylines intersect a sizable amount and provide great back-and-forths between our leading ladies this season.

Truly, the key factors that make this season superior to the show’s second and third installments is its management of captivating storylines and effective character utilization. Chip (Mark Duplass), for instance, is mercifully separated from Alex for much of the season and instead has Bradley as his main scene partner as they investigate this cover-up. This fresh dynamic allows us to see glimmers of the determined, endearing Chip from season 1 instead of the whiny manservant he was reduced to in the next two seasons. Alex’s storyline is similarly novel for her; gone are the days where she spends half of a season conflicted about the toxic men in her life. Now an executive at UBN, she finds herself with a target on her back as she learns how drastically low the amount of ripples she is allowed to make are. Her strained relationship with her father (Jeremy Irons) also makes for compelling television, granting Aniston one of her biggest acting showcases on The Morning Show to date. Truly, there is not a single dud subplot this season.

Additionally, with a cast this large, it is remarkable how nearly everyone gets a chance to shine. Newer additions like Nicole Beharie and Marion Cotillard and perennial standouts like Karen Pittman and Greta Lee alike have compelling storylines for their characters, which makes choosing a season MVP nearly impossible. The Morning Show balances its ensemble expertly, prioritizing quality over quantity. These women may not appear in every episode or have substantial material at all times, but when we hone in on their characters, they absolutely knock it out of the park. Whether we are watching Stella Bak (Greta Lee) grapple with the limitations of her newfound power, Mia Jordan (Karen Pittman) declare her own worth as a businesswoman, or Chris Hunter (Nicole Beharie) assert her ideals, it is always time well-spent. An overarching throughline to this season is how women in power behave under pressure and treat the women they have power over, and it is genuinely fantastic television every time it is featured thanks to both the script and the performances.

The entire cast of The Morning Show is incredible, but I will admit I was not entirely honest when I said it was nearly impossible to single out a season MVP. The race for second place is an extremely close one, but Billy Crudup remains this show’s best asset by a mile. Cory Ellison begins season 4 in a position we rarely see him in: desperation. Though he still gives spirited monologues filled with convoluted analogies, his heart clearly is not in them anymore. Two years later, he is still shaken by the Bradley-sized wrecking ball that torpedoed his career in news. But there is no greater joy than watching Cory slither his way back into a position of power, and Crudup conveys this rise in confidence after hitting rock bottom perfectly. The difference between Cory’s signature manic, fervorous speech between episode one and episode four is subtle but studied, with Crudup finding further layers to a character that was erring dangerously close to becoming a caricature. Cory’s sentimentality is crucially highlighted, as Crudup’s performance constantly humanizes this character. He could very well win Emmy #3 for this role, and I certainly would not be opposed to it.

While the ensemble continues to be brilliant and its character writing is far superior to other seasons, this season’s narrative tends to lean into melodrama. This largely works out in its favor, as a slight suspension of disbelief for how quickly some issues arise is all that is needed to enjoy fantastic episodes like “Amari” and “The Parent Trap”. But there are points where the show seems to jump the gun a bit, drastically raising stakes to the show’s detriment. As much as I loved Jon Hamm in the previous season, his inclusion this season is confounding for the few scenes he gets. Paul Marks is now used as a billionaire ex machina, who occasionally shows up to confuse Alex and help solve billionaire-sized problems. The Morning Show has never been a down-to-earth show, and the obscenely high stakes mostly add to how enjoyable it is, but I would be lying if I said I did not roll my eyes once in a while.

Yet for all of the show’s faults—namely, its often messy writing and its inconsistent ability to tackle world events with tact—The Morning Show has never been boring. Even during its weakest episodes (looking at you, “La Amara Vita” and “Love Island”), it hooks you enough to crave the next part of the story because the show knows how to pace out its drama. But this season is the first time in a while that it feels like more than entertaining television. The characters have never been utilized better, and the show’s insistence on being timely has never felt more necessary. It remains to be seen whether this is the best season of the show or not, as this show can be hit (“The Interview”, “The Overview Effect”) or miss (“Fever”) with its finales. However, it very much has the potential to be the show’s best outing based on the first nine episodes. 

7.5/10