‘The Morning Show’ Recap: ‘That Woman’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

THIS IS THE EMERGENCY SPOILER ALERT SYSTEM. YOU ARE ADVISED TO READ AT YOUR OWN RISK.

It really is quite the accomplishment when a television show finds a way to genuinely surprise us in this day and age. Because peak television has allowed for shows to explore every single trope and every single concept out there in storytelling, making every fan of the format a seasoned and savvy viewer, one that knows what to expect at any given time. But surprises are indeed quite possible in this incredible television climate, provided of course that great writing comes into play. If anything, this is relevant to today’s discussion, simply because The Morning Show found a way to surprise the audience by taking the narrative in a bold new direction, one that makes it clear what this season is going to stand for.
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Something that ‘That Woman’ accomplished by making it seem as though life was moving along at TMS. Because this episode features the big day, the one where Bradley Jackson was taking the helm, allowing for everyone to forget about Mitch Kessler and his disturbing transgressions. Which made it seem as though this episode was going to focus heavily on Bradley’s growth as she settled into the role of morning anchor, something that the story reinforced by a moment that caught everyone off guard. For when Bradley was given the opportunity to help the audience get to know her on air, she simply let loose about her life and her experiences and revealed the fact that she had an abortion as a teenager. Something that of course didn’t sit well with Fred/the network since this was a ‘family friendly’ show.  

If anything, that made it seem as though week one was going to be a rough one for Bradley, the kind that would see her fired. But Cory and Alex stood by her and offered sage advice and well, that led to a solid week after all. One where the audience responded to her ratings wise, day after day, and despite offending the usual conservative bunch out there because of her admission, she also managed to inspire others as well. For there were students who walked out in solidarity with Bradley when important officials spoke badly of her, and plenty of folks praised her for putting a woman’s choice in the spotlight. Meaning that Bradley was finally making a difference in the news, something she’s always wanted to accomplish, and her trial by fire experience on the air, and her newfound confidence, laid the foundation for the twist in question. 

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For while Bradley settled in and prepared for a big interview on Friday, the one with Ashley, a grand investigation was happening at the office. One where an independent contractor was talking to the staff about how Mitch was able to pull off the horrible acts that he did without anyone noticing, and to uncover if by chance there was a culture present in the building, that would cause further incidents going forward. Something that was revealed to be a move made by Fred, so that no one would learn of the fact that the network was fully aware of Mitch’s transgressions, and initially, it appeared as though UBA was in the clear, since everyone was quick to move on from the awkward nature of these interviews. But Bradley’s killer instincts, and some pondering from Cory, left her wondering if by chance there was more than meets the eye here. Something that seemingly went the wayside when she was told to stick to her strong script for the interview. 
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But the day of the big interview, the fact that Ashley was clearly holding back, prompted Bradley to do her thing. And her powerful questions revealed that the network certainly had an inkling of what happened and that the overall culture at UBA encouraged this and this particular twist was powerful for certain. Because not only was this scene poignant and tense and moving, it truly changed the narrative for the overall season. For now, it is becoming clear that the Me Too moment that brought this story to life is going to be explored to the fullest, and the show is clearly going to dive deep on how these unfortunate and tragic moments have come about by way of enablers. Specifically, people in a position of power, who let this kind of crap continue along in order to keep the ad money and the ratings rolling in and it is going to be quite fascinating to watch Bradley go after this as only she can. 

But in the here and the now, this really was the show’s finest episode to date. Because it was bold and brave in every sense of those words and truly, Ashley’s interview is what allows for this story to stand out. For we simply don’t see shows tackling this kind of subject matter in an earnest fashion. Instead they gloss over it and make it a story of the week. Which is why Ashley’s story here is so powerful, since it explores the confusion and the pain that comes from what people like Mitch have done. So, kudos to the show for holding nothing back here and for really taking the time to help the audience understand the gravity of this movement. And now that the narrative has changed, it should be interesting to see what other secrets about UBA will come to light, now that Bradley Jackson is covering the story. Until next time.

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