This assessment was written throughout the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. With out the labor of the writers and actors at the moment on strike, the sequence being coated right here would not exist.
After two lengthy years, The Morning Present is lastly again — even when solely one of many characters continues to be internet hosting the titular program, and on a part-time foundation at that. Whereas the second season happened in 2020 and coated the early days of the pandemic, season three sees a time soar to 2022 (save a mid-season flashback episode, however extra on that later). Alex (Jennifer Aniston) has lengthy recovered from COVID, is extra beloved than ever, and is internet hosting a profitable UBA+ interview sequence referred to as Alex Unfiltered. Regardless of a break-up from Laura (Julianna Margulies), Bradley (Reese Witherspoon) is prospering on the night information desk and gaining large popularity of reporting on the January sixth riot from contained in the Capitol. Issues appear to be going comparatively effectively for everybody concerned. However that doesn’t final lengthy — that is The Morning Present, in spite of everything.
The principle drama stems from the truth that UBA is struggling to maintain the lights on. Cory (Billy Crudup) thinks he’s discovered a solution in Paul Marks (Jon Hamm), the CEO of area exploration firm Hyperion who offers severe Elon Musk vibes, however not everyone seems to be keen on him or his plan. The result’s a season-long Succession-esque struggle for management of the corporate and its future. There’s backdoor offers and backstabbing, there’s snooping and smooching, and there are moments that can make your eyes water blended in with a pair that can make them roll. There are nonetheless means too many storylines occurring — a standard critique of the primary two seasons — but it surely does really feel prefer it’s gotten nearer to discovering its footing and focus, and whereas it’s nonetheless making an attempt to do an excessive amount of, at the very least none of these issues are boring.
‘The Morning Present’ Season 3 Skillfully Explores Present Affairs
The Morning Present has at all times been identified for reflecting actual life. Season 1 took on the #MeToo motion, whereas Season 2 revolved across the begin of the pandemic. And whereas it’s at all times had its finger on the heart beat of the current second, the diploma of effectiveness with which it’s dealt with these points has been blended.
The Morning Present Season 3 bites off so much, but it surely does a reasonably good job chewing all of it, and the best way the matters are introduced up feels pure. (Versus that puzzling Mitch in Italy storyline that a lot of the sophomore season revolved round.) The political local weather forces Bradley to face some ugly truths about her previous and as soon as once more be torn between her loyalty to her conservative household and the love she nonetheless has for Laura. She and all the ladies, particularly new anchor Chris (Nicole Beharie), need to painfully grapple with cowl tales on abortion — a activity that will get harder as soon as Roe v. Wade is devastatingly overturned.
Talking of Chris, each she and Mia (Karen Pittman) are affected by the BLM protests in addition to misogynoir and pay inequality within the office. The battle in Ukraine hits house for Mia in an sudden means, and it’s nice to see Pittman — persistently probably the greatest elements of the present — get to discover extra of Mia’s private life.
The overarching themes that span your complete season and contact each character in a roundabout way couldn’t be extra well timed. The specter of Large Tech and the ability of billionaires to purchase and dismantle firms is eerily acquainted to Elon Musk’s buy of Twitter/X. The query of the way forward for legacy media, the corruption of the UBC board, and the frustration of the crew with their working circumstances couldn’t be extra related with each the WGA and SAG on strike.
The strongest of those, nevertheless, may be an echo of the place The Morning Present started with the #MeToo motion. This season explores totally different aspects of it by giving powerhouse rising star Greta Lee’s Stella a meatier storyline, as she has to continuously juggle doing what’s finest for the corporate and herself. Probably the most memorable and horrific moments occurs when Stella should make a harrowing alternative between sticking together with her morals or closing an essential take care of two highly effective, sexist advertisers — one which impacts her deeply and one she feels the ripples of when she’s put within the place to do related issues time and again. Alex, too, has to navigate her precarious sense of energy when she will get concerned with an influential man. There are such a lot of intricacies and double requirements, and The Morning Present does a pleasant job of diving into them in a nuanced and fascinating means.
‘The Morning Present’ Season 3 Is at Its Finest When It Places Feminine Dynamics Heart Stage
The Morning Present’s predominant draw and focus in Season 1 was the sophisticated relationship between Alex and Bradley. The fixed ups and downs between the frenemies had been compelling, and seeing Aniston and Witherspoon go head-to-head and discover frequent floor made for scrumptious viewing. It’s puzzling, then, why The Morning Present appears adamant about underutilizing what bought the present within the first place. Similar to within the second season, the 2 of them spend a lot of the time frustratingly separated. It’s a disgrace, as a result of after they do contact base in a significant means virtually like clockwork — within the premiere, in a single episode smack-dab in the course of the season, and within the finale — it’s electrical and a reminder of what made the present work to start with.
Fortunately, The Morning Present spends this season delving deeply into newer relationships which can be simply as intriguing. Essentially the most shocking and pleasant stands out as the friendship between Mia and Stella. From speaking out points going through the corporate to giving one another recommendation in additional susceptible moments to an absolute blast of a scene that sees them getting drunk at a bar to blow off steam, it’s refreshing to see this nuanced and supportive relationship unfold between two characters who’ve been disappointingly relegated to the background up till this level.
Arguably one of the crucial thrilling developments of Season 2 was Bradley exploring her sexuality and getting right into a relationship with completed fellow journalist Laura Peterson. Calm, logical, and an enormous proponent of remedy, Laura couldn’t be extra totally different from Bradley, and their opposites-attract dynamic makes for a wealthy, albeit advanced, romance. One of many strongest episodes of season three really takes us again to 2020 to see how and why their relationship unraveled over the course of quarantine. It’s a dangerous alternative, as devoting a complete episode to going backward might very simply halt momentum, however the two are so riveting and enjoyable to observe play off one another that it pays off in spades. It additionally offers the viewers essential context that turns into key after a stunning revelation that modifications the course of the again half of the season.
One other standout episode of the season is Episode 3, which revolves round a scandal after a hack has uncovered an electronic mail from board member Cybil (Holland Taylor) making a racist joke on the expense of Chris. Beharie offers a masterclass as she makes an attempt to stroll the road between standing up for herself and holding Cybil and the community accountable whereas not giving the world any motive for the world to stereotype her because the indignant Black lady. It’s straightforward to root for Chris from the beginning, as Beharie offers her a plethora of dimensions and continuously pulls out a delicate, vigorous, and infrequently heartbreaking efficiency. Taylor, too, offers Cybil depth, making for a cautionary character examine of a flawed lady desperately clinging to her household’s legacy.
‘The Morning Present’ Nonetheless Has Too Many Characters — and Usually Focuses on the Unsuitable Ones
The Morning Present has a robust ensemble, which is each a blessing and a curse, because it merely doesn’t have time to do each character justice regardless of its bloated tendency to have each episode run almost a full hour. After highlighting Chris towards the start of the season, she slowly fades into the background with Yanko (Nestor Carbonell), who as soon as once more is given completely nothing to do. Although new this season, Paul makes for a sensible addition, as his personal storyline is stable and shocking whereas additionally including texture and giving us background on extra established characters like Stella and Cory.
However I can’t assist however query if we’d like this a lot background on Cory — or if we’d like as a lot Cory as we get in any respect. At occasions, particularly towards the start of the season, he finally ends up like the primary character — an odd and irritating alternative for a present that begins with two feminine protagonists. Crudup is an unimaginable actor, however characters like Cory have had their tales advised time and time once more. The insistence on centering him as a lot as The Morning Present does as a substitute of giving different extra fascinating characters the highlight is lazy. The layers the present tries to provide him find yourself ringing false and hole, and his relationship with Bradley is repetitive and performed out at this level.
Too many characters is an issue that The Morning Present has had from the start, and whereas it sadly doesn’t appear to have discovered from its errors, it additionally hasn’t misplaced the weather that made it nice, both. There are nonetheless some zingers that give the present good beats of comedy and wit, displaying that regardless of its modern exterior and heavy matters, it doesn’t at all times take itself so significantly. Along with the brand new supporting characters, we additionally get the present of June Diane Raphael in a recurring bit half because the sassy anchor of a conservative information program. The needle drops stay immaculate as effectively — St. Vincent’s “Pay Your Approach in Ache” and David Bowie’s “Lazarus” are particularly memorable and efficient at punctuating huge moments.
The Morning Present takes on so much this season, but it surely impressively succeeds at most of it. By integrating matters in a means that is pure and that includes riveting friendships, romantic relationships, and energy struggles, it offers the vast majority of its characters their moments to shine. Whereas the central matters might have advanced with the occasions and many of the characters have moved on from the fictional morning present featured within the sequence, this nonetheless very a lot is The Morning Present we fell in love with.
Score: B+
The Large Image
- Season 3 of The Morning Present skillfully explores present affairs, addressing matters like abortion, pay inequality, and the ability of billionaires in a well timed method.
- The present is at its finest when it focuses on feminine dynamics, with the sophisticated relationship between Alex and Bradley being a spotlight, though the season additionally delves into new relationships which can be intriguing.
- The Morning Present nonetheless struggles with too many characters, with the main target usually on the unsuitable ones, and it feels just like the present hasn’t discovered from its previous errors on this regard. Nevertheless, it nonetheless retains components that made it nice, together with humor and wonderful music selections.
The Morning Present Season 3 premieres September 13 on Apple TV+ and can launch new episodes each Wednesday.
