1. Real-World Parallels
WatchingThe Morning Show, we’re reminded of its striking parallels to the modern world when it first begins, as Mitch Kessler (played by Steve Carell) is fired from his hosting position on the eponymous show.
This, of course, is similar to the story of Matt Lauer, former host of NBC’sTodaywho was fired under similar accusations.
Rather than just focusing solely on this situation,The Morning Showhas also incorporated the Trump presidency, the expansive #MeToo movement, and the COVID-19 pandemic, providing a sense of groundedness that many other TV series wouldn’t dare to touch.
A show that takes itself seriously yet also provides a surreal levity,The Morning Show’sincorporation of current world events makes it feel like the titular show is a living entity, which only aids the leading cast in bringing their roles to life.
2. Excellent Character Interactions
The Morning Showisn’t so vast that its main characters rarely interact, as is the case with many ensemble TV series. No, it relishes bringing its heavyweight stars together for verbal sparring matches.
The interactions between Jennifer Aniston’s Alex Levy and Reese Witherspoon’s Bradley Jackson are captivating to watch, as is their ever-changing character dynamics.
However, it’s Billy Crudup’s eccentric Cory Ellison who’s the beating heart of the show, maintaining the kind of exterior a budding serial killer might exhibit. His cast interactions are always episode highlights, consistently playing everyone around him like pawns in an invisible war.
While the series holds focus on its two leads, the rest of the cast all get fully explored backstories. The show drags the viewer into the world ofThe Morning Show, and one can’t help but feel engaged with the characters' cutting back-and-forth narratives.
3. Set Design and Cinematography
Other thanSuccession, which itself is blessed with perfect costume design, no other show can quite compare toThe Morning Show. The outfits worn by its characters perfectly accentuate who they are.
Bradley Jackson’s wardrobe evolves the most over the course of the series, starting as more rustic and morphing towards more cut and trim as she gains wealth as host ofThe Morning Show.
The cinematography, too, is outstanding. New York feels like a city of vast proportions and potential, where the wealthier you are, the higher up in the building you get to go—something the creative team behind the show showcases so brilliantly here.
Each shot feels crafted and detailed, as though the series' producers gave no indication of time constraints and allowed the team to work on the sets to find their ideal setup. The result is thatThe Morning Showfeels intimate yet expansive.
Related:Reasons to watch HBO’s Succession
4. The Phenomental Cast
The great strength ofThe Morning Showis its cast. This collection of actors is one of the finest ever assembled for a series, all of whom fit into the show as though designed by a team of German engineers.
The principal cast—consisting of Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, Steve Carell, Mark Duplass, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Julianna Margulies, and Billy Crudup—have brought their incredible talents to the show and made it a must-watch for drama lovers everywhere.
What’s substantially more impressive, however, is its wider cast. Seeing actors like Marcia Gay-Harden, Holland Taylor, Mindy Kaling, Will Arnett, and Patrick Fabian guest star alongside the stacked cast? Phenomenal.
Indeed, it appears as if scoring a guest spot onThe Morning Showis something coveted by Hollywood’s talent pool, which only serves to make the series even more attractive to watch.
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