We are halfway through this season of The Morning Show and finally, they have deigned to give us a tiny peak at what the hell happened to our beloved anchors, producers, and unwell network executives after the end of season 2. Buckle up kids—this one is a wild ride!
I hope you see a moose!
It is March 25, 2020, and Mia and Bradley are in the greenroom at TMS. Bradley is slathering her hands with Purell as Mia runs down the list of who is still well enough to be at work. Not a lot of them, turns out! As they walk to the teacup, Bradley asks if there is any good news in the sickness wracked halls of uba, and reminds Mia that they should be six feet apart. They are not wearing masks, though some of the staff is, and that seems correct to the few memories I am willing to dig up from 2020. Mia thinks for a minute, then reports that Alex’s fever has finally broken. I am personally amused that she thought about it for so long, like eh, is this good news? Bradley is thrilled to hear it, and wants to know when Alex will be back. Sorry babe! Stella wants Alex and Chip to “keep doing their thing.” Isn’t so satisfying to remember that the Emmy winning Alex Unfiltered came from such humble roots? No? Yeah, you right.
If you were wondering, Bradley is doing fine! I mean, she’s getting dressed in the greenroom and doing her own hair and makeup, so she is basically a WWII vet. But on the bright side, it’s been two weeks since Alex brought COVID to uba from Italy, and Bradley thinks she is in the clear. Mia tells her “Stella said you are good to go,” and from Bradley’s relief and sincere thanks, I have to assume this means she can go to Montana. Mia’s like I know that’s right! and then slips off stage, sighing “you look like a dream,” to Laura, who is on… whatever the TV equivalent of Zoom is. Laura feels pretty ragged,” which lol, girl, really? Are you not in some sort of ranch mansion? What eggzackly has run her down so? Bradley coos hello, just in case anyone forgot they are still dating in this timeline, and she’s made some changes to copy about Cuomo. Right as Julia counts them down to air, Bradley notices that the one camera isn’t even on. Rough times here at TMS, eh?
Things are rougher upstairs! Cory sighs himself into Stella’s office, complaining about Bill Simpson, the EVP of scripted who just quit. He is pissed that Cory has put a stop to all the pilots he had previously greenlit, but as Stella notes, no one is really lining up to get on film sets right now. Cory looks at her, deadly serious: “We’re desperate for content.” Clearly someone at AppleTV+ forgot they named the show about the Donner party Forlorn Hope, but they are stuck on location—and they are running out of food. I gear up to tell him that he has just described a reality show that literally every person alive would watch, but then he and Stella have an exchange so amazing that I still cannot believe it really happened.
CORY: And Sorkin won’t release his Kissinger biopic to uba+.
STELLA: Why did you greenlight that?
CORY: Self hate?
STELLA: That tracks.
No, I’m sorry, I am going to insist that you drag your little eyes back up and read that exchange again. Every single bit of it is poetry, from the idea that Sorkin would write a Kissinger biopic to the fact that the show is calling out that the very concept of greenlighting a Sorkin project is some kind of self harm. I mean, shots fired! Whew. Stella is going to talk to Sorkin, which is a whole other thing I can’t imagine, but mostly she is amazed that Alex’s COVID livestream got 2 million views. “Everybody stops to watch a house on fire,'“ Cory notes. True! She asks if he wants her to put it out and he is like over my dead body! This is an American fantasia and we would die without it!!! Alex is the brightest star in our universe, the star that I shall hang all my hopes upon—brb gotta run. While Stella blinks in confusion, I take a moment to think about how much I missed her bob.
The urgent place Cory had to head to was the set of TMS, where else! Is anyone else starting to wonder about… any of the other shows at uba? Are there other shows at uba? Luckily, Cory tearing down to the teacup at a breakneck pace meant he was just in time to watch Bradley and Laura coo about how much they miss each other. No worries! Nothing big, he just wanted to see if Bradley needed anything, does she have food? Does she need a pet? Does she want to move out of the hotel? Funny you should mention that, Cory! Bradley will be checking out of the hotel…to go to Montana.
Here’s the thing: everything about Cory being in love with Bradley should not work. It should make me mad, actually! And for some reason, I remain utterly delighted by him and all of his insanity. He just plays this love story like the saddest little boy, one who doesn’t really have any concept of what being in love means. Sorry, I just love him! Bradley, it must be said…does not. She assures him going to Montana is not about what happened between them— remember when he said I love you while they were spreading COVID to the unhoused people of New York? “We were just a little bit out of our minds, weren’t we?” I’ve seen some speculation that she’s referencing some night of passion, but I truly think she just means the whole running around looking for her brother thing. Cory is like were we? I am….actively about to sob that you are leaving but…um, yeah! Sure, how is your brother? Hal is doing fine, he’s home with their mother, and I’m sure that won’t be an issue later. Cory pauses for a minute, highkey fighting tears, then says: “I hope you see a moose!” Then he walks off to the strains of As The World Caves In, also known as “that viral TikTok song from 2020 that is damn near impossible to sing along to, please stop trying.” That last bit is just for me, because I keep going for those notes like I wasn’t a sentient Marlboro Light throughout my 20s. It might be the only needle drop on this show that has ever worked for me! Huge for them.
In other huge news: Mia has a home!!!! That she is entering with a set of keys and everything! She whips off her dress and climbs right on top of mysterious hot photographer, and we are treated to a romantic montage, the kind dead wives in movies usually get. Gender found dead in a ditch! There is dancing, there are martinis, there is chemistry so blazingly hot that I feel a little unwell.
Don’t worry— we cut away from those two before anything really hot happens, thank god. Who wants to see that when there is gay shit to see! I mean, chemistry-less gay stuff, but still. That’s right folks, Bradley has made it to Montana!
I should have mentioned this earlier, but I had a crew of unwell gays with me to watch these screeners. Naturally, we made a drinking game. I tell you this because one of the rules was that we had to do a shot if Noted Lesbian Laura Peterson and Bradley kissed. Just imagine: a room of queers, shots at the ready watching this scene. Bradley pulls up in her Jeep, Laura runs out to greet her—the cheering in my house is getting louder and louder—they hug…. and then we smash cut to them in bed, done with sex and cuddling. Maddening!
The next morning, as they prep for TMS, Laura is telling Bradley that people will speculate, because they always do. Now….not to be rude to my girlies (or uh, any ruder than I have been already) but didn’t y’all get outed like, three weeks ago? Do you think a single person on earth will see you two at Laura’s dining room table in front of the largest fireplace I’ve ever seen and…not know what is going on? Also is right now, moments before going on air, the time to discuss how you want to handle your relationship and the public? Apparently it is! They agree not to say anything about it on air, then Laura blots Bradley’s forehead with one hand, and squeezes her inner thigh with her other hand. It would be hot, if Bradley’s reaction was not this:
Is it just me, or does Reese feel more checked out than usual this season? Did that brown wig take her acting ability with it? Something to think about, because we are moving on away from the Montana love birds, to a woman leaning against a banging old school Benz. Cory pulls up and asks if they are doing masks—and while I am not interested in haggling over every single COVID detail, I am thrilled to see that said mystery woman is wearing a silk mask that matches her outfit. She proposes leaving masks on until they get to know each other better, and my head tilts about forty five degrees to the side as I hear her voice. MAURA ISLES??? IS THAT YOU?? Props to The Morning Show on this one— you know your audience! Anyway, she is a real estate agent, and she is showing Cory various mansions in the Hamptons. She tells Cory she will subscribe to uba+ if he buys a house from her, and you know what, good for her! Make that money!
Back in Montana, Bradley is explaining to Hal that it doesn’t make sense for her to come home for Mother’s Day, but the moment the restrictions lift, she’ll come by for a visit. She sighs, then heads back to Laura, who is sitting on a rather lovely couch in front of an entirely different fireplace. Bradley’s mom is still going to church, and Hal hasn’t been wearing a mask at Costco. Laura’s response? Dramatically taking off her glasses and saying “our education system is broken.” Is it rude? Yes! Did I laugh? Also yes! Understandably, Bradley gets a little hung up on the rudeness, pointing out that she and Hal went to the same schools. When Laura (again, rudely) says Bradley was the only one who learned about science, Bradley is like okay well, that’s my family, so can you cool it and try to like…understand me on this? Laura admits that she is judgey, and then adds “or I’m doing the Mommy thing, which is awful.” I am sure you can hear the scream that I screamt during this line, as I still have not moved on from it. Laura is, in fact, always doing “the mommy thing” and that is why she is so fucking hot! She agrees to try to be a little kinder, Bradley marvels at their ability to have “compassionate engagement around their trauma,” wondering if this what adults do. When I tell you Laura took the words out of my mouth when she says it’s what lesbians do because BOY IS IT! Also Bradley makes a joke about the chocolate being “only for bisexuals” so I guess she has moved on from identifying as a “gay bisexual type.”
We get a title card that says: SUMMER, and we’re still in Montana, where the girlies are prepping for work. Bradley is really happy with Laura, and I am so insanely jealous that of all people BRADLEY JACKSON is living my dream life. Do you know how good I would be at living in that house with Laura??? I would have no problems! Every day, I am forced to deal with another injustice. Somehow, Laura is really happy too, and Bradley wants to tell people about it. Again, I must say: PEOPLE KNOW. You have been reporting from her home for months and you already got outed!!! Mia pops in Bradley’s ear and is like yooooo you are on air, so Bradley does what anyone (?) would do: messes up the date, then says “Babe, tomorrow I am going to make the coffee,” while Laura makes oh god no faces at the camera. Well, I am glad they decided to make this deeply awkward, on top of being not needed!
Maura Isles is showing Cory the house we know he ends up buying, and I am unreasonably upset that she is wearing all blue but not a blue mask. You are telling me this woman on bought ONE silk mask? bffrrn! Oh also they’re flirting I guess? Cory has been thinking that he wants to get to know her, maybe cook her dinner? What do we think Cory’s go to wooing meal is? Is he gonna make her grilled cheese, or is that only for when Bradley is blackout drunk and he’s sleeping on her couch? Maura Isles hints that she might want more than dinner, and he’s like hmmm take that mask off, just so I be sure you are hot. She does (and is), so he takes his mask off and they do their best #Olitz impression. Despite my weird love for Cory and my long standing love for Maura Isles, I don’t …super care about this? And honestly despite watching these episodes [redacted] amount of times, I don’t remember what part of plot Maura Isles is serving right now. Onward!
Oh right, it’s the summer of 2020, so Mia and Stella are in the office and talking to Bradley via Zoom about using protest footage from Minneapolis. Bradley wants to go and report, Stella is concerned they’d have to bleep the footage to air it, and Mia is quietly disassociating, as is her right. She’s still watching the protests at home, and not even the prospect of showering with mysterious hot photographer speaks to her. He wants to know what’s wrong, and I do feel like it should be…quite obvious? She’s pissed that they have to carefully select protest footage that won’t make their audience turn the TV off, and like any good white boyfriend with a sense of what is right but no sense of how anything actually works in the world, he’s all air it all! Make them see injustice and change their minds. But that’s not really problem, of course. The problem is that Mia is a black woman in America, and she starts to fall apart as she talks about watching George Floyd die over and over. Karen Pittman is just so good, my god! I am grateful mysterious hot photographer lets her cry so I am not forced to hear white man hot takes on race.
Stella and Cory are trying to solve the content problem, but they’ve got nothing to give their captive audience. Except for Alex Unfiltered, of course. Oh, and the Mitch Kessler documentary. Stella is like the….WHAT NOW? She does not think this time of racial reckoning is the right time to air a documentary featuring Mitch crying in cashmere sweaters in a villa in Italy. Good point! Cory needs something, though, so Stella better put her little thinking cap on! Where is the update about the Sorkin project??? Cory walks out of Stella’s office and they do this weird transition where he’s suddenly in his Hampton’s mansion, where Maura Isles is lying in bed. You know I gotta ask: what time is it? How long did it take Cory to get from Manhattan back out there and why is the distance between Manhattan and the Hamptons a running thread of this season? He needs five billion dollars, she scoffs and says “that’s all?” then takes him to the beach. Money is all over the shoreline, Maura Isles says, before asking if he knows Paul Marks, who happens to be surfing. She warns him that it’s hard to get Paul’s attention, and he glances at her like girl are you kidding me, I will absolutely blow him for uba. He watches an interview where Paul is using climate danger to dance around answering if it’s ethical to be a billionaire, then storms off camera. Cory seems delighted by this clip, because of course he is.
In Montana, Bradley is watching Alex Unfiltered, as Madam Levy interviews two doctors. “My god, it’s like a war zone,” Alex says. Laura saunters in, wearing a perfect outfit— sweats, white tee, and a dark chambray. Talk about lesbian representation. Also important? She’s wearing that big “T” necklace that she had all last season, which prompts me to remember that she hasn’t been seen in it so far! Between this mystery and Bradley and Alex’s matching chains, I having a lot of necklace specific thoughts that will keep me up at night. Also, Bradley thinks Alex’s show is “really good,” and wonders if she’ll get evening news. Eric is leaving, despite getting that job what, six months ago? Laura encourages her to talk to Stella, see if she can take evening news for herself. Emma and Sam are coming to stay, which is fine with Bradley, though she wishes they were going out instead of having people stay with them. I think someone is getting a wee stir crazy!
We cut to Bradley cutting strawberries in the kitchen, and while part of me is tempted to thank everyone involved in this show for not skimping on the ranch design, a much larger part is soooo distracted by the white, fluttery dress Bradley is wearing. We have literally never seen her in such an ensemble, is this her Montana personality? Laura is outside with two women who are probably Emma and Sam, then Hal calls, and Bradley is thrilled to have someone to talk to while she cuts a bunch of strawberries. I am forced to wonder who leaves cutting strawberries as a last minute prep task, as it takes forever and she’s wearing a white dress! Because Hal is a harbinger of bad omens, you can probably guess that the call is bad news. Their mom has COVID, because, well, that is what tends to happen when one does not mask. Bradley wants to fly out there, or at least talk to her, but Hal demurs. He does so in such a way that makes me think their mom is much worse than he is letting on, but he says he doesn’t want Bradley there because she will get their mom “all riled up.” Laura pops in to see where the hell her strawberries are, and then offers to get in touch with a doctor she knows at Johns Hopkins. But that is not how families from Tennessee Williams plays deal with sickness, Laura! Hal is gonna keep calling with updates and if anything happens she will have to leave ASAP. Later that night (I think?) Bradley texts Hal for an update and he’s like she’s the same, I’m going to bed, later. He is…not the guy I would want to rely on for updates!
The four of them are playing charades out on the patio, and you know as well as I there is no way to know how much time has passed. Bradley is in a better, gayer outfit, but that is our only hint. Laura is doing chair choreo that I instantly clock as Cabaret, but Bradley does not. As I am incensed all over again that she does not get Laura like I do, she gets a call from Hal. It should be noted that Emma and Sam are given no moment to make an impression on us, despite my desperate need to know more about the kind of gay friends Laura has. Based entirely on their costuming, I have some worries. Oh, sorry, right, the plot! Bradley’s mom died. She drops her phone and slides down the wall in shock and despair, and I try to focus on her and not the giant saddle that is by the door. It’s hard.
Cory is in his office on the phone, determinedly telling someone that he will not be buying out points. This man will not let uba crumble! Maura Isles shoots him a text, asking if she left her bracelet at his place. He says he’ll look, and their text message history— asking if he wants to join her in Charleston, to which he says no—seems like whatever they had together is falling apart. He looks at his phone for a long moment, then asks Kyle what’s next. Go off Jed Bartlett! Kyle informs him that Bradley’s mom has died, and he takes it like he has been hit with a bullet. Lord when this man decides he loves someone, he is all in! We flash to a quick shot of Bradley sitting on the steps outside, then flash back to Cory, sitting in his suit on the beach. Was this a Hamptons sponsored season? Flash back to Bradley, flash back to Cory— is this supposed to demonstrate they are made for each other? Due to…sitting out of doors? Gonna need a bit more than that!
In what I can only assume is an effort to demonstrate that time is passing, we watch the girlies in Montana as they do TMS, reporting on wildfires, the constitutionality of Pennsylvania’s COVID executive orders, and Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death. There is no teasing, no talking, they are just silently sitting next to that giant fireplace. It’s feeling prettyyyy awkward over here at gay ranch heaven! Another title card: FALL.
Laura finds Bradley on couch, staring blankly at the other giant fireplace. Does she want Laura to make her something else? No, she wants to go out to a restaurant, she wants to see people, she wants a real drink. If you have forgotten that the reason Laura is so COVID cautious is because she has a heart condition, I forgive you, as it was only mentioned once last season. Bradley is realllllly leaning into “disaffected teenager,” as a grief response, and you can probably guess that Laura’s suggestion that she talk to someone is met with hostility. “What’s a therapist gonna fucking say to me? That it’s not my fault that my drug addicted mother died?” ….well, yeah? But like, in a more helpful way? Laura agrees with me, (as usual) but Bradley just snaps that Laura hated her anyway so what does she know, plus it’s her fault that Bradley stopped calling her mom because she could feel how much Laura hated her. If…any previous interactions that we have seen with Bradley’s mother and family is any indication, Laura probably didn’t care for the way her girlfriend’s mother emotionally destroyed her every time they spoke, but what do I know! This is obviously not the first time they have had this conversation— the exhaustion in Laura’s voice when she tells Bradley that she has to try to process this is real.
Okay! Bradley says. You are totally right, I am not making healthy emotional choices and I see that it is affecting our relationship while also being detrimental to my own mental health! Kidding, she instead launches into a rant, accusing Laura of dressing up her like “white trash pet,” and being an “elitist snob who hides out at the edge of the world.” Jesus! Girl, if you think that’s what she feels about you… why are you dating her? Oh and Bradley thinks Laura is happy when people like her mom die, because they are hicks who aren’t as smart as she is. Finally, Laura snaps. “You know what I think? I think there is a little part of you that’s actually relieved. You’re glad she’s gone—you just don’t have the guts to admit it, Bradley.” And she’s not done! Bradley needs to grow up and stop blaming Laura for everything, she needs to be proactive and! “Your mother was a piece of shit! You’re the first person to tell everyone about it.” Ooooohh bitch, the gasp I gasped! I mean…. she’s not wrong! But you can’t, like, say that to a person. Unsurprisingly, Bradley storms off, and I unfortunately get distracted trying puzzle out the phrase above Giant Fireplace #2. It’s a good scene and a believable fight, and unfortunately these two have the most chemistry when Bradley is acting like a child and Laura does “the mommy thing.” Or is that just a…deeply telling thing about me? No way to know!
In New York, Stella is telling Mia that she is the victim of a bad situation, and that none of this can be put on her. “This” being the fact that TMS has dropped to the number two slot. Bradley wants to go on assignment, of course, but she and Laura are a package deal now. If they are on TMS without the one other, it’s all anyone would talk about. Do we think the viewers have noticed the frosty chill that seems to have descended upon the Montana home? Because…that shit is palpable! In a twist that is rather surprising to me, Alex is willing to come back part-time on TMS. That Alex, does she ever stop giving? Stella half heartedly suggests Yanko, as he has apparently “wanted this forever.” Well that’s pretty sad state of affairs for Yanko, ain’t it? If they get someone new, Mia wants someone of color and ideally under 40. Is Bradley supposed to be in her late 40s, as Reese herself is? That makes her behavior even more troubling! What about Chris Hunter—she is killing it in her guest segments! Sounds like she’d be perfect, even though it would probably mean they’d loose Allison. I miss Allison! She really felt like the one person who got the vibe of TMS, she could have been the next Hoda! They don’t love Allison like I do, and will be reaching out to Chris. Oh, and Stella has one little thing she wants to tell Mia…
That’s right, Cory went ahead and dropped the Mitch documentary on uba+, probably because Sorkin wouldn’t give an inch on the Kissinger documentary. Mysterious hot photographer is watching on the couch, Mia is working across the room, slowly grinding her teeth into dust. We can hear Mitch rambling about how he never wanted to hurt anyone, but now a young woman is dead. This is (understandably) Mia’s last straw. “Turn it off.” He mutters that Mitch is an asshole, but keeps watching, she stands up and barks “Andre, turn it off.” He asks if he ever… she says no, then admits they had an an affair and she was in love with him. She’s wearing an incredible oversized sweater that’s slipping off one shoulder, tucked into a skirt with a frankly slutty slit up the side—imagine being that chic and hot while working at home?
Anyway, mysterious hot photographer wants to know why Mia is still there. Uh, it’s her job, bro??? “He’s gone, I’m not… I have people there. It may be hard to believe, but some of us care about staying in a place and trying to make it better.” He just shakes his head, and they sit in silence for a moment before cutting to Mia in bed alone, waking as the door opens. Mysterious hot photographer is straight up wasted, because he was so mad that he snuck out and got hammered at three different bars?? During COVID?! Because his girlfriend had an affair with Mitch Kessler?? Like, what eggzackly is he mad about?? Obviously he was a bad person but like…doesn’t that affect her more? It’s not like she cheated on you? Ugh, whatever, I was rooting for you, mysterious hot photographer! Mia throws on a mask and hastily packs a bag, calls him an asshole and heads to the door, telling him that if he risks exposing anyone else she will “never fucking forgive him.” Good for her!
In the saddest driveway in all of Montana, Bradley is packing up her Jeep while Laura observes from the porch. “Stella needs someone on the ground right up to the certification, so I’ll be in D.C til January,” Bradley says, and it honestly feels like they have not spoken since their fight? Whenever that was? Laura wants to know that she’s safe when she gets there, then says: “you’re not coming back, are you?” Yikes! Guess things did not get better after that fight that happened an unclear amount of time ago! Bradley sighs that maybe it’s just not their time, and drives off. Oooookay! Weird way to end a relationship—are we are supposed to be believe that was the last time they saw each other? Late December (I am guessing) of 2020? And THREE YEARS LATER, Laura is still single?? Sorry, no, that one I refuse to buy! That woman could have me whoever she wants! Bradley is simply not that interesting!
Mia is sleeping in her office when she gets a call from mysterious hot photographer. He’s got an offer for an assignment from AP, and he’s going to Afghanistan. Maybe for two weeks, maybe for months. He’ll leave her keys with the doorman. Is everyone on this ding dang program addicted to unclear breakups?? Mia sighs on her little bed couch, and I am concerned that she has been sleeping in her office ever since??
Up on the 15th, Stella is doing a handstand in her office, she’s got a little yoga mat and everything! Now, I fully believe Stella would do yoga in her office, but I am having a hard time believing is that she would do it with a full jacket and turtleneck on?
Maybe she just hopped into a quick headstand to reinvigorate that blood flow? I mean who hasn’t! What really matters here is that she gets a text from “Kate Danton” that reads: “Hi Stellabella. Remember me?” This nickname, the energy of this text, the way she smirks upon reading it…to me it is giving ex girlfriend, which is only further cemented when we cut to Stella walking in the park with Kate, who is played by none other than Natalie Morales. I should also note that they are walking by a “silent dance party,” where everyone is masked and and wearing headphones and it might honestly be the jumpiest jump scare of this whole season! Kate agrees with me, thankfully. Then they talk about Stella’s dad, who still likes Kate because she “tolerated [Stella’s] intense ass for four years.” COME ON NOW, that’s dating talk! But no, The Morning Show wants us to believe this is just college friends catching up, despite the two of them dressing like this:
In other news, Kate works at Hyperion!!! Ohoo, the Paul Marks connection slowly reveals itself! It gets even juicer when Kate says she understands why Stella left, and we get a long reaction shot of Stella thinking. She’s thinking so hard in fact, that when she’s back in Cory’s office, listening to him ramble about content and their budget woes, she is noticeably checked out. Hard to imagine, as Cory is doing his manic man finest, because this is “EXISTENTIAL.” And because this is The Morning Show, they use this rant to bring up the riot in D.C. “Maybe he’ll refuse to leave the White House! And the Secret Service boys will have to drag him out by his tiny little feet, because people would watch that!” Stella doesn’t believe the protestors are really going to do anything, but when Cory is like GIRL HAVE YOU SEEN THESE PEOPLE THEY ARE NOT WELL, she snaps into action, heading back to to her office to call Bradley. Speaking of Bradley… is she okay? “She’s says she’s fine, but I am starting to worry I shouldn’t have sent her there.” MADAM! Are you not the director of news for this network? One would assume that would mean paying attention to the news, especially if one of your reporters is there!!!! Cory watches the coverage, a worried and sad look on his face.
The famous hand on bathtub shot is back!!!!!! It’s starting to look at like Cory and Bradley didn’t murder anyone, rather, this is some Insurrection Trauma™ that Bradley is dealing with. But I don’t really feel like Cory is insane enough to use that to blackmail her? Not to mention, like…what would be the end goal there? Guess I might as well keep watching!! First of all, we have a confirmed sink, which is huge. Second, Bradley is not looking great. There’s the dirt/scrapes/cuts on her hands, then there’s the hollowed, sunken look in her eyes, complete with dark circles so bad I thought they were black eyes. Shots of the capitol and the riots, then we are presumably inside the capitol, with Bradley on her phone, telling someone that she got separated from her crew. But she is a journalist, damnit, so she hangs up, pulls her mask over her face, and starts filming on her cell. It’s, you know, bad, in there. I have to give them kudos for making this scene feel overwhelming and honestly downright terrifying, as hard as it is to watch. Bradley narrowly avoids getting knocked down the stairs, but doesn’t avoid getting residual pepper sprayed. She starts filming a guy beating up a police officer, and then we flash back to her washing her hands as she starts to cry. The guy beating up the police officer? IT’S FUCKING PLOT DEVICE!!!!!!!!
That’s right, Bradley’s brother is COMMITTING DOMESTIC TERRORISM. I will be pivoting to calling him Hal, though I reserve the right to change my mind at anytime. I have had these screeners for almost two months and I still find myself wandering around my house muttering “I cannot believe Hal did January 6th.” Now we are in a hotel room, and Hal is just throwing out excuse after excuse. He was just coming here with his “buddies” cause he knew Bradley was gonna be here! He had to get clean on Zoom! And he had to deal with their dead mother’s house alone! It was driving him crazy and he wanted to get out of there— really all he wanted to do was leave! Is it his fault a cop grabbed him?
I feel like they are trying to do a bit too. much here. I know, who could have imagined! They don’t want Hal to be irredeemable (too late!) so his reasons for going can’t actually be based in political thought, and they probably think there are some people who got “swept up” in the excitement of uh, rioting in the Capitol. Dramatically it doesn’t really work! It’s actually quite believable Hal would be one of those guys, and even if he doesn’t hold exactly all of their opinions— he clearly holds enough to like, be friends with them. And now Bradley has proof of him committing a felony, what is she gonna do? The other shoe drops: Cheryl is pregnant. Hal is gonna be a dad. He’s sitting on the bed and crying, she’s kind of standing over him and he like, holds on to her thigh? It’s weird—they don’t exactly have sexual chemistry, but they do have like, long time exes chemistry? Whatever it is, it is certainly not sibling chemistry.
No one knows that Hal was here, and Bradley is going to keep it that way. She gives him a stack of cash and tells him to get on a bus and go home. She is gonna destroy his phone and he can’t text or call her. Now the paying cash for a bus ticket and getting rid of his cell is a good call, but certainly it would be notable that they don’t talk? Wouldn’t you continue communicating normally to not raise suspicion? I mean, I don’t know, I am just a woman who watches a lot of Law and Order, my brother has never committed domestic terrorism.
Back at uba, Bradley is watching the footage, pausing for a long, tortured moment as she watches her brother fight with a cop. Then she deletes it. Okay well I would have done that…not on my work computer, much less in my office on the network’s wifi and security system but I am no Bradley Jackson. I also probably would have… deleted the footage from my own personal phone and then smashed it? “Whoops I dropped it/it fell out of my hand and then got stomped on?” Seems reasonable? Bradley, however, brings it to Stella and demands evening news. OHOHOHO bitch! You can’t!!! Do!!!! That!!!!! Remember Season One Bradley who was obsessed with the truth at all costs? How far she has fallen!
Cory is watching “SPECIAL REPORT with Bradley Jackson,” while he gets vaccinated, and look, if she hadn’t covered up a federal offense for her brother, I would say I get it, this inside footage is compelling. But she did! So no props for Bradley! After getting jabbed, Cory heads back to the Hamptons, lest we all forget how easy and breezy that drive is. He’s walking on the beach as Paul pops out of the water. Casual winter Atlantic surfing— tech guys are the worst. He doesn’t worry about sharks, he tells Cory, who uses this opportunity to monologue about how long sharks have been on Earth, like anyone would. By the by: has Paul ever thought about getting into media? No, he hates TV. “Well, you’d fit right in,” Cory says with a manic grin. Paul laughs, rolls his eyes and leaves Cory grinning like a fool on the beach. His coat, I must add, is gorgeous.
Bradley decides to pull an Alex (who I miss, by the way!) and randomly swing by Cory’s house. She wanders in, says the house is nice, then picks up a bracelet lying in a bowl. Get your hands off that! It’s Maura’s! Why is she dropping by, you might ask? Oh nothing big, it’s just this whole um, subpoena from the FBI? She wants to “protect journalistic independence,” and not give them anything. OH I BET. But there is a tiny problem there: based on her footage, the FBI thinks she was in the right spot to find the person who assaulted a police officer. I think, for one brave, foolish second, that even Bradley is not dumb enough to rope in a conspirator, much less one who is her BOSS. How wrong I was! She confesses that she deleted the footage, and that they will know she deleted it because the footage cuts out right as she starts going down the hall. Cory is like ??????? Why???? And she confesses it was Hal. “They’re gonna see the footage, Cory. And they’re gonna know what I did. And they’re gonna wanna talk to me.” His reaction is all of us:
Plus—they put her on evening news. Look, I would never refer to myself a journalist, for I am a humble sometimes cultural critic, and STILL I find Bradley’s actions here abhorrent. Covering up her brother’s crimes is one thing (one I GREATLY disagree with) but to use manipulated footage to get a job on evening news is truly gross! Cory is in fact right when he says this is jeopardizing the whole network. But of course, Hal is all she has left, now that their mother has died. Now, Miss Ma’m! You know this man is in love with you and because you know that, you know he will fix this for you. God, Bradley would be, like, stadiums better, character wise, if she was younger. This amount of bullshit is hard to buy from a woman in her late 40s! Cory will have the lawyers reach out to the FBI and protect journalistic independence, and Bradley is relieved. “I’d like you to leave now. And I don’t wanna hear another fucking word about this. Ever.” I’ll be brave and say it: Hot of him! Though…let’s be real here buddy, you are gonna use this many times to get Bradley to do what you want.
As the strains of “As The World Caves In” return, Bradley preps to for her first night as an evening news anchor. She places her PPE mask on her face with grave seriousness, nodding at the various crew members who wish her good luck. Back in the Hamptons, Cory is stress cleaning his spotless kitchen. Extremely me coded! He picks up Maura’s bracelet and tosses it. It’s evidence, you see. RIP to Maura Isles, we barely knew ye! “Good evening. I’m Bradley Jackson, and this is the uba Evening News.” Episode! Over!
Inexplicably Famous Guest Stars, Ranked:
SASHA ALEXANDER: 5/10 — Be honest, do you think this is the first time Sasha Alexander has ever been referred to as, well, any kind of famous? I’m sorry, I had to say it!!
Surprise Art Corner:
No necklace watch this week, but do enjoy this gorgeous piece of art my friend Drew created.
Thank you for this glorious recap. I can't believe how much they tried to cram into this episode. I really wanted Mia to have something nice for once. :( And they just offed Bradley's mom and put Hal at Jan 6th?? What?
I somehow feel robbed of both Happy Montana Bradley picking apples with Laura *and* Laura looking after Bradley after her mom dies. She's just sitting by herself a lot?? Where were the compassionate looks and gentle knee touches? Where was the tea and bad TV?
Absolutely living for Laura saying she was doing the mommy thing. Incredible.
Did you notice that when Bradley dropped her iPhone™️®️ in emotional distress, it AUDIBLY clanked in a way on that hard tile that sounded like "oh shit i just cracked my screen" BUT YOU COULD NOT ACTUALLY SEE THE iPhone™️®️ hit the ground? Amazing. Like they could depict Jan 6th *narrated by actual Donald Trump*, but the visual of a dropped iPhone™️®️ was too far.
HAL DID JAN 6th!!!!!!! I will never recover. Never.