Hey folks, do you recall last week when Mitch Kessler dramatically drove his car off a cliff in Italy at the dawn of the pandemic, all in a frantic dash to fetch cigarettes for a curly-haired Italian lady who'd just nonchalantly asked to see his, well, "big balls"? Yes, that wild scene actually unfolded! Honestly, sometimes this show feels like it's straight out of the craziest round of Mad Libs imaginable.
Take this week's episode, for instance: Bradley's brother makes a grand entrance at the studio, right in the middle of a live show, completely wasted. He proceeds to spill the beans about how their dad had once killed a kid in a drunken driving accident, then goes on a plate-smashing spree in the break room, all while belting out Simon and Garfunkel's "The Boxer," before finally being hauled out by security. Quite the spectacle, right?
The cherry on top of this whole "Bradley Jackson Presents a West Virginia Family Drama" saga is that it's just a tiny blip in the episode's grand scheme. Why? Because it all goes down in the midst of everyone learning about Mitch's demise. Chaos erupts in the corridors of TMS as rumors swirl about Mitch's involvement in a car accident in Italy, and The Morning Show just piles this whole mess on top of the already simmering pot. But hey, it's fine. We're all fine. Laura Peterson chimes in, suggesting we all need therapy and to completely sever ties with our families, and then, we'll all! be! just! fine!
As embarrassed as Bradley might be—we're talking a solid 100 percent here—most folks aren't even paying attention to her brother's meltdown because they're too busy grappling with the Mitch Kessler saga. During a meeting where the UBA brain trust is scrambling to figure out how to spin Maggie Brener's book and Bradley Jackson's public outing to their advantage, a call comes in from a reporter in Italy seeking the network's comment on Mitch's death, and panic sets in. Stella's sprinting, Cory's yelling, Mia's demanding two valid confirmations that Mitch is really gone, and then she needs Alex Levy in the studio ASAP to break the news. There are tears, but mostly, it's a sea of "oh shit" faces frozen in shock. Seriously, how does anyone get any work done in this place? I'd love to see a quick peek at a coordinator in the accounting department who overhears Cory Ellison bellowing down the hall, "I don't care if she's in traction, get Alex in hereeee!" and pops up from a mountain of expense reports, asking, "What's going on now?"
Obviously, the reactions to Mitch's death vary among our main cast. Cory's just looking for a way to turn this into an advantage for UBA (and UBA+, naturally). Mia's wrestling with her complicated feelings for Mitch—the Mitch she knew and loved, and the monster he was revealed to be; she even apologizes to Rena for taking out those mixed emotions on her the other day. Mitch has messed her up time and time again, and even in death, he's still causing a stir. But really, we need to zoom in on Chip.
Chip is still putting on a brave front, insisting he has Alex's absence under control, but the façade crumbles as he loses his composure while covering for her. He fires off a lengthy and furious email to her, laden with phrases like "you’re incapable of loving another human being," "the real you is an emotional murderer," and "you parasite," not to mention a detailed tirade about how she metaphorically stabbed him in the back. You can just tell he’s going to regret that outburst later. After this, and potentially jeopardizing the only solid relationship in his life by making his fiancée feel uneasy in Alex’s office, Chip is handed the task of getting Alex into the building, just in case this Mitch situation turns out to be true. Much of the tension in this episode is diffused since we already know that Mitch is dead and Alex is safe, but we press on regardless.
When Chip discovers that Alex's last credit card charge was at an Italian airport, he starts piecing together that Alex was in Italy with Mitch. Upon calling the hospital where they believe Mitch was taken, he speaks to a frantic doctor who, amidst the chaos of the pandemic, can't provide detailed answers but does mention a woman with the American man involved in the car accident. He learns that she was "not doing well," and Chip completely loses it. We know the doctor must be referring to Paola, who came looking for Mitch, but Chip doesn't know that and assumes Alex is dead too. Guys, I wasn’t kidding when I said the real title of this series should be "People Are Spiraling." People are spiraling once again!
When Stella finally coaxes Alex’s assistant into admitting that she’s been snooping through Alex’s emails (the back-and-forth of "she would be so mad" versus "well, she might be dead" was priceless) and learns that Alex was booked on a flight from Italy landing at Teterboro, giving hope that she’s very much alive, Chip—well, Chip throws up on the table. Right in front of Cory! He apologizes, but come on, sir, an apology doesn't quite cut it for a surprise vomit on your conference table.
And then Chip is off to the airport. His relief is palpable when he sees Alex hobble off the private jet Mitch arranged for her. But then he has to deliver the heartbreaking news that Mitch is dead. Alex has Paola’s number—she had promised Mitch she’d help Paola with her career—and Paola confirms Mitch’s death and that he loved Alex deeply. Along with the UBA affiliate who loaned Mitch his Lake Como house and car, that’s the confirmation everyone needs. Alex, however, isn’t heading into the studio to go on air. Instead, she insists on telling Mitch’s ex, Paige, in person.
And thus begins the car ride from hell. It kicks off with Alex listening to Chip’s voicemail calling her a succubus, and yes, things spiral from there. Alex screams that Chip isn’t letting her mourn Mitch, and Chip tells Alex he forgives her for being the worst to him. Alex accuses him of being jealous of Mitch, and Chip retorts that he’s jealous of Mitch like he’d be jealous of Hitler. Then they start discussing the other voicemail Chip left for Alex that she ignored, and she screams at him that she never wants to go near him again in any intimate way. Somehow, amidst all this, they’re both crying and yelling that they hate each other. It’s absolute madness! We’d all love to jump out of this car.
It’s a relief for everyone involved when they pull up to Paige’s house, and Alex has to go to the door and deliver this devastating news (oh LORD, the way she hugs that child, you just know this woman is going to end up contracting COVID). She tries to be gentle and supportive, but Paige, while clearly shaken by Mitch’s death, says, “Did you really think I didn’t know you slept with my husband and then smiled at me at parties?” All Alex can offer in response is, “It only happened twice.” It only happened twice!! Paige’s parting words are about how Mitch and Alex are essentially the same person, and that must really resonate with Alex, who, you’ll recall, was quite recently on an Italian highway trying to convince herself that she is a good person and not a monster. She gets back in the car, calls Mia, and has her put Bradley on the phone. Alex thinks Bradley is the one who should tell the world Mitch is dead. And also, she appreciates her (??). If this season of The Morning Show is about breaking down Alex Levy, she’s nearly there, folks. There can’t be much lower she can sink.
