Apple TV+'s new series The Morning Show, costing an estimated $15 million per episode, offers a star-studded but uneven exploration of the #MeToo movement. The show features Jennifer Aniston's return to television as a seasoned morning news anchor, alongside Reese Witherspoon and Steve Carell, who plays a disgraced former anchor clearly inspired by Matt Lauer. While the series boasts impressive production values, its dialogue and character development have drawn criticism.
A key moment occurs in the second episode when executive producer Chip Black tells fired anchor Mitch Kessler that the #MeToo movement may be 'an overcorrection for centuries of bad behavior.' This line, which echoes common criticisms of the movement, has been described as jarring and more akin to an op-ed than natural conversation. The show's handling of sexual politics is described as 'messy' and 'haphazard,' yet it remains 'grimly transfixing' for viewers.
The series directly tackles the fallout of the #MeToo movement in the media industry, transparently inspired by the scandal surrounding former Today show host Matt Lauer. It depicts the shock and confusion within a fictional morning show after its star anchor is fired for undisclosed sexual misconduct. The show attempts to portray male defensiveness and denial, but critics argue it often misses the mark in delivering insightful commentary.
Despite its flaws, The Morning Show has been praised for its willingness to grapple with #MeToo directly, even if the execution is imperfect. The series offers a glimpse into the conversations and power dynamics that protected figures like Lauer for years. As the first major streaming series to address the movement head-on, it has sparked debate about how television should handle such complex and sensitive topics.
