Critic Reviews

The Morning Show is high-voltage drama and big-time entertainment, a savage, scorching portrait of the TV news industry as a modern court of the Medicis where corporate genocide is coffee-break sport, where subordinates exist to be crushed and superiors to be sabotaged. It may not be exactly news that the most trusted men (and, these days, women) in America are anything but, but it's never been so convincingly demonstrated.

There isn’t a weak link in The Morning Show. Aniston is flawless. ... Everyone else – especially Billy Crudup as the network suit playing seven-dimensional chess with everyone – matches her point for point. The script has depth and endless torque and the whole thing is an exhilarating rush that makes room for nuance, thought and – though it’s definitely a drama – humour.

Sexism, institutional racism, pay inequity: You name the hot-button issue, The Morning Show pokes it. With Sleepy Hollow's terrific Nicole Baharie as UBA's latest high-profile hire, a Black former Olympian who isn't afraid to speak her mind, the stakes couldn't e higher or the fireworks more satisfying. [25 Sep - 15 Oct 2023, p.12]

Juggling the boardroom, corporate executives, onscreen talent, and even a few billionaires for good measure, the series covers a broad range of subjects. Despite the ambitious coverage, though, it sticks the landing. While the performances elevate the material, the series excels due to the incredible writing and creative vision of behind-the-scenes talent.

This is one fun – and sometimes bonkers — show.

It’s Aniston and Witherspoon who really anchor the series. Both actors are on top of their game and not for one second lose sight of who their characters are and how they should react in dicey, unexplored situations.

Even though it is overstuffed, it consistently and intelligently weighs in on hot-button issues and avoids traditional black-and-white commenting or resolutions. .... Overall the show bristles with sharp writing and acting; Aniston anchors the entire production and gives a career-high performance this season.

It takes a little time to find its whip-smart footing, with the pilot trying too hard to make everyone sound clever for clever’s sake and some hoary speechifying, but once it gets going, The Morning Show has the addictive rush of great old-school TV dramas. Funny, biting, and with just the right dose of trashy zing, this is high-gloss soap—Broadcast News meets L.A. Law.

Aniston fully takes command and registers the best “serious” performance of her career while Witherspoon and Carell also are fully and convincingly invested. It all makes for a series that is anything but sunny side up.

The Morning Show takes on a lot this season, but it impressively succeeds at most of it. By integrating topics in a way that's natural and featuring riveting friendships, romantic relationships, and power struggles, it gives the majority of its characters their moments to shine.