The inherent challenge with The Morning Show's reliance on real-world, timely events for its seasons is that, in the case of production delays, it can quickly lose its topical relevance. We've witnessed the California wildfires, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the January 6th insurrection, all of which have been overshadowed by the relentless churn of 24-hour news cycles that seem to grow darker and more sensational with each passing day.
The long-awaited and highly anticipated fourth season of Apple TV+'s award-winning drama casts a wider net than any single event, delving into the function of the news in a world of deepfakes and AI where conspiracy theories are believed as a matter of course and corporate cover-ups are a daily occurrence. Episode 1, "My Roman Empire," is masterful at establishing this new context and the intricate narrative strands that weave through it.
The story picks up in April 2024, with the UBA-NBN merger officially complete, the Paris Olympic Games on the horizon, and generative AI threatening to replace half of the company's workforce by replicating their likeness and voices in multiple languages. Controversial dudebro podcasts are given airtime, the staff is on the brink of mutiny, and the Olympics deal represents a make-or-break milestone in apolitical, financially lucrative, yet depressingly anodyne news coverage. It has to go off without a hitch, which means it almost certainly won't.
The problems begin almost immediately. Alex is tasked with interviewing Roya Nazeri, an Iranian fencer whose father, Arsham, serves as her translator. She's supposed to ask softball questions about what fencing means to her and what competing on the international stage means for Iran. But seconds before the interview begins, Arsham passes Alex a note disguised in a handshake that reads simply, "We want to defect." Alex derails the interview by asking about a political prisoner, and in the ensuing confusion, directs Roya and Arsham to her car outside, which speeds away, causing a traffic accident and potentially an international incident.
As it turns out, Arsham works for Iran's nuclear program, and the Iranian government will want him back at all costs. This means that a deliberately apolitical sports interview could be the tipping point in the Iran-Israel stand-off in Gaza. Celina wants Stella to take Alex off the Olympics coverage until the games begin, so Chris is taken off The Morning Show to do the interviews in her stead. This leaves TMS down a host, and with Mia fretting about ratings and her own career, the decision is made to try and bring in a host who'll give some bang for their buck. And who better than Bradley?
The fourth season premiere of "The Morning Show" skillfully justifies the decision to bring Bradley back, making it feel less like a reunion and more like a strategic move. Post-January 6th, the dynamic has shifted, and Bradley's unapologetic southern charm makes her a natural fit for the red state demographic that UBA desperately needs to court. It's a cynical move, but necessary, even if Alex initially hesitates to believe it's the best idea.
Bradley, now working as a college lecturer and keeping a low profile, has escaped imprisonment for her actions in Season 3 solely thanks to the goodwill of the U.S. government. Back at UBA, no one knows of her complicity in the cover-up, a fact that becomes a major point of contention between her and Alex. If Alex is determined to save the network from ruin, exposing Bradley's misdeeds would be disastrous. And they very well might become public, given Bradley's penchant for diving into corporate intrigue.
Before agreeing to take the job, she receives several encrypted messages on a WhatsApp-style platform from an anonymous interlocutor, revealing that UBA is covering up a leak from the Martel Chemical Plant that is causing harm to both wildlife and humans. Why? Who's the messenger? Will Bradley's journalistic instincts take over, and if they do, will she report her findings to the FBI, as her freedom now depends on it? These are just some of the compelling questions that emerge from the premiere.
The episode ends with a frustrated Alex calling Cory, who spends most of the episode trying to replace the star of a movie he's producing, to arrange a meeting about Bradley. It's clear that Bradley's return to "The Morning Show" will not be an easy journey, and the road ahead is filled with uncertainty and intrigue.
