This is one of the many shows I’ve peripherally watched while I’m reading or writing. This happens a lot because Lisa and I spend evenings sitting together but not always focusing on the same media.
In other words, she often watches stuff while I’m doing something else.
It’s rare for me to commit to episodic drama, even when it’s good. This show is one that seems very good to me, even though I’m not watching it for real. And your observations about it here sound right to me.
It’s my impression (and this should really be taken with a grain of salt) that the show has at times dealt with aspects of our culture in a way that is more sophisticated and valuable than what we usually get from pop culture.
Other times it seems more glib, perhaps due to the pressure of wanting to please audience and critics.
I assume that’s always a tough balance, trying to write and produce drama that works as drama but also has something of substance to say about our fluid and volatile culture.
I stopped watching TMS after Season One, part way into Season Two. I forget why.
Your review will probably make me give it another shot, so thank you for that.
We just started rewatching Six Feet Under, which has aged well, although we were shocked to find the parents our age and the children the age of ours! That's what 20 years will do. Six Feet Under may be underrated.
I’ve been tempted to re-watch “Six Feet Under” myself, but I’m afraid it will trigger too much grief/nostalgia in me. It was one of my favorite series, and I agree that it shouldn’t get disappeared—not that it was underrated when it first aired, but that it’s rarely mentioned anymore. Maybe this one is a possible subject for us to do something together on? Although when I wrote about shows, I always re-watch the seasons several times, and I’m not sure I can do that for all of this one!!
Nov 13, 2023·edited Nov 13, 2023Liked by Susan Bordo
Well! First let me say you're so good at this! I didn't make a connection between Siobhan and Alex but it makes perfect sense. They're both smart but far more unsure of themselves than they let on, they're both dependent on the men around them, and they both let their hearts be ruled by their ambitions. Their characters threaten to become scapegoats, which is always a draw, especially when the characters are women.
But setting Succession aside, if The Morning Show is a soap opera it's right up there with the best damned soap operas ever. While I found some flaws in this season's storylines, the acting, for the most part, was pure perfection. (I found both Jon Hamm and Julianna Margulies wanting. They both seemed uncomfortable playing their roles and I never felt they 'got' their characters.)
Jennifer Aniston and Billy Crudup can do no wrong in my eyes, though there were times the storyline seemed all wrong for them. (Alex's romance with Paul, for instance, and Cory's visit with his mother.}
I'm glad you mentioned Laura's overreaction to Bradley's protection of her brother. All that rage came out of nowhere and I kept waiting for a logical explanation. What was THAT all about? Jealousy? Patriotism? A phony reason to get out of the relationship? What??
Crudup does such a good job as Cory I have to feel sorry for him, no matter how awful he is. He oozes vulnerability, even when he's trying to ruin someone to advance his own needs, yet I so want Bradley to give him some hope. Not that it would ever work. But that's good storytelling.
I'll stop now, except to say that board meeting was insane! When I realized it was the season finale I wanted to cry. NO! Not now! Not yet!
But I had to question Laura's role in the proposed takeover. How real is it, knowing how she's distanced herself from all the rest, and now especially Bradley? But that's what keeps me wanting more, I guess. The time between seasons is too long!
Thank you for the compliment and this juicy comment!
You mentioned Cory’s visit with his mother. That was an episode I wanted to discuss but the post was getting too damn long. Maybe a separate piece is in order on how mothers are being represented nowadays—e.g. this show, Jamie Lee Curtis in The Bear. And there was another I had in mind that I can’t remember now. Any insights? I find these “neglected,” overbearing mothers troubling—and not unrelated to how our whole generation (boomers) of women is represented nowadays
Yes! Jamie Lee Curtis was embarrassingly over the top in The Bear. Then there was the creepy mother in Succession. Cruel, thoughtless mothers seem to be a theme these days--they're part of almost every backstory in a series. Bradley's mother is a baddie, too.
Love, love, love this analysis! I agree wholeheartedly with, well, almost everything. (I must confess I deeply enjoyed the power fling between Alex and Paul—bouncing between wondering who's-playing-who? and sympathizing with their brief surrender-to-passion with a peer super-nova celeb.) Thanks so much for calling out the phenomenal acting from this group of veterans and rising stars, as well as for highlighting many of the courageous scenes that say what rarely gets said. Kudos.
For what it may be worth:
This is one of the many shows I’ve peripherally watched while I’m reading or writing. This happens a lot because Lisa and I spend evenings sitting together but not always focusing on the same media.
In other words, she often watches stuff while I’m doing something else.
It’s rare for me to commit to episodic drama, even when it’s good. This show is one that seems very good to me, even though I’m not watching it for real. And your observations about it here sound right to me.
It’s my impression (and this should really be taken with a grain of salt) that the show has at times dealt with aspects of our culture in a way that is more sophisticated and valuable than what we usually get from pop culture.
Other times it seems more glib, perhaps due to the pressure of wanting to please audience and critics.
I assume that’s always a tough balance, trying to write and produce drama that works as drama but also has something of substance to say about our fluid and volatile culture.
I’d say your impressions, even though you watch “peripherally” (same as my husband), are pretty much on target.
I love this all so much!
Thank you!
Fantastic post in every way. Brilliant. Thank you.
Thank you, Laurie. Can I quote you when I share this piece? You’ve got such a fabulous following, and your opinion means a lot to them. (And to me!)
Of course, any time.
Okay, I've found my new show. Thanks.
Wonderful!! I love to spread entertainment possibilities. They are so needed.
Fantastic review. :)
Thank you, thank you!!
I stopped watching TMS after Season One, part way into Season Two. I forget why.
Your review will probably make me give it another shot, so thank you for that.
We just started rewatching Six Feet Under, which has aged well, although we were shocked to find the parents our age and the children the age of ours! That's what 20 years will do. Six Feet Under may be underrated.
I’ve been tempted to re-watch “Six Feet Under” myself, but I’m afraid it will trigger too much grief/nostalgia in me. It was one of my favorite series, and I agree that it shouldn’t get disappeared—not that it was underrated when it first aired, but that it’s rarely mentioned anymore. Maybe this one is a possible subject for us to do something together on? Although when I wrote about shows, I always re-watch the seasons several times, and I’m not sure I can do that for all of this one!!
I'd love that.
My wife and I literally cried when we watched the last episode. We've never done that for any other show.
It really holds up well so far. Maybe we could focus on just the first season.
I think Lauren Ambrose would have made a good Shiv if Sarah Snook had not been available.
Well! First let me say you're so good at this! I didn't make a connection between Siobhan and Alex but it makes perfect sense. They're both smart but far more unsure of themselves than they let on, they're both dependent on the men around them, and they both let their hearts be ruled by their ambitions. Their characters threaten to become scapegoats, which is always a draw, especially when the characters are women.
But setting Succession aside, if The Morning Show is a soap opera it's right up there with the best damned soap operas ever. While I found some flaws in this season's storylines, the acting, for the most part, was pure perfection. (I found both Jon Hamm and Julianna Margulies wanting. They both seemed uncomfortable playing their roles and I never felt they 'got' their characters.)
Jennifer Aniston and Billy Crudup can do no wrong in my eyes, though there were times the storyline seemed all wrong for them. (Alex's romance with Paul, for instance, and Cory's visit with his mother.}
I'm glad you mentioned Laura's overreaction to Bradley's protection of her brother. All that rage came out of nowhere and I kept waiting for a logical explanation. What was THAT all about? Jealousy? Patriotism? A phony reason to get out of the relationship? What??
Crudup does such a good job as Cory I have to feel sorry for him, no matter how awful he is. He oozes vulnerability, even when he's trying to ruin someone to advance his own needs, yet I so want Bradley to give him some hope. Not that it would ever work. But that's good storytelling.
I'll stop now, except to say that board meeting was insane! When I realized it was the season finale I wanted to cry. NO! Not now! Not yet!
But I had to question Laura's role in the proposed takeover. How real is it, knowing how she's distanced herself from all the rest, and now especially Bradley? But that's what keeps me wanting more, I guess. The time between seasons is too long!
Thank you for the compliment and this juicy comment!
You mentioned Cory’s visit with his mother. That was an episode I wanted to discuss but the post was getting too damn long. Maybe a separate piece is in order on how mothers are being represented nowadays—e.g. this show, Jamie Lee Curtis in The Bear. And there was another I had in mind that I can’t remember now. Any insights? I find these “neglected,” overbearing mothers troubling—and not unrelated to how our whole generation (boomers) of women is represented nowadays
Yes! Jamie Lee Curtis was embarrassingly over the top in The Bear. Then there was the creepy mother in Succession. Cruel, thoughtless mothers seem to be a theme these days--they're part of almost every backstory in a series. Bradley's mother is a baddie, too.
Thanks!! It was the mom in “Succession” I was trying to remember.
Love, love, love this analysis! I agree wholeheartedly with, well, almost everything. (I must confess I deeply enjoyed the power fling between Alex and Paul—bouncing between wondering who's-playing-who? and sympathizing with their brief surrender-to-passion with a peer super-nova celeb.) Thanks so much for calling out the phenomenal acting from this group of veterans and rising stars, as well as for highlighting many of the courageous scenes that say what rarely gets said. Kudos.
Thank you so much! And welcome to discussion on BordoLines. I think this is the first, no? I look forward to more.