The Morning Show: 10 Powerful Quotes From The Show

Apple’s original drama series, The Morning Show recently ended its explosive sophomore season last month. The show highlighted controversial narratives such as the #MeToo movement and the beginning stages of the Coronavirus. The writers didn’t shy away from realism when it came to storylines and that is why the show became such a success with audiences.

The first season was written in a crisp and poignant way and, even though the second season was chaotic, the show continued to reveal honest themes. Not only did The Morning Show deliver some of the best feminist quotes, the drama was quick to utilize significant and powerful quotes that explored a wide range of topics from the importance of journalism to the issue of personal responsibility. 

10 Chip On The Importance Of The News

“There Will Always Be A Need For Reliable Journalism.”

The Morning Show started out with its pilot episode diving head first into the sexual harassment scandal involving Mitch Kessler, a popular news anchor. The writing included insightful dialogue about the idea of the powerful role media is intended to inhabit. 

In a great scene between Charlie Beck, the Executive Producer of the Morning Show and Cory Ellison, the President of the News Division at UBA, the two go into depth on the importance of the media and how it is changing. During the conversation, the two men talk about the future of The Morning Show. Charlie notes the need for journalism and that there will always be news. It’s stark and painful in its realism.

9 Cory On The Evolution Of News

“News Is Awful, But Humanity Is Addicted To It.”

How people get their news has evolved over time. The speed at which news is digested has become immediate and sometimes overwhelming. In the same conversation, Cory delivers a monologue about his feelings towards the news which is ripe with truth. 

Cory states that, “People get their horrible news delivered to the palm of their hand twenty-four seven, and they get it the way that they like it, colored the way they want it.” With Twitter being the number one platform where people get their news, it is clear to Cory that it is not news that people want. “That’s why what we really need on television right now, it’s not news or fucking journalism. It’s entertainment.”

8 Alex On Taking Control Of The Show

“Maybe You Have To Lose It Sometimes To Get People To Take You Seriously.”

The theme of women taking control of their destiny is heavily rooted in the first season of The Morning Show. In an early episode, viewers watch Alex Levy take control from the male dominated broadcast network.

After countless days of negotiations tethering back and forth over her contract, Alex takes the opportunity to firmly stand her ground. Seconds before going on air, she goes to Charlie and asks him to finish up her negotiation or she walks. It is a radical ultimatum but she risks it to gain control of her show. Even Charlie believes this move will make the network negate her contract but her assertiveness works in her favor. 

7 Ashley On Mitch’s Assaults

“He Stole My Confidence, My Self Worth and Then I was Drowning And There Was No One To Throw Me A Lifeline. No One.”

The first season of the show didn’t tiptoe around the #MeToo movement. Instead, it delivered it in a way that news should, by showing viewers differing perspectives. Bradley Jackson’s first on air interview with one of Mitch Kessler’s accusers is one of the most brilliant scenes of the season.

When Ashley Brown gets the opportunity to speak her truth about what happened with Mitch, it’s eye opening and revelatory. As if ripping off a bandaid, Ashley conveys her feelings saying that, “he branded me.” Her line about losing herself because of what Mitch did is a fear a lot of women have.

6 Laura On Accountability

“We Are Our Actions.”

Despite an uneven second season, The Morning Show continued to showcase writing that still landed some powerful and memorable punches. Early on in the season, Laura Peterson, a newscaster, was introduced with clearly deep rooted animosity towards Alex. At the end of the season, fans finally understand why. 

Afraid of what is going to be in a tell all book about Mitch Kessler, Alex finds herself in Laura’s dressing room. Here, she questions the reporter on why the two aren’t friends anymore in which Laura opens up. Women may talk and gossip, sometimes without any ill intent. But words can hurt. “We are our actions,” says more about the importance of language than anything revealed during the entirety of the show. 

5 Daniel On The Pain Of “Outing”

“Because I Think It’s Horrible And Painful To Be Publicly Outed, And It’s Nobody’s Fucking Business.”

One of the storylines that came out of season two was the romantic relationship between Laura Peterson and Bradley Jackson. The relationship started out quietly and occurred behind the scenes as Bradley tried to understand her own feelings. 

In order to stop a damaging story coming out about the recently deceased Hannah Shoenfield, Cory unleashes an even juicier story involving the two reporters. It is devastating to watch as the news breaks and rumors spread like wildfire. No one should be outed against their will. Personal relationships are private.  This makes Daniel Henderson, one of the Morning Show’s news anchors, line about being outed that more powerful.

4 Alex On Maintaining One’s Confidence

“Don’t Let Your Shame Of What Other People Think Run Your Life.”

A highlight of the show was the partnership between Alex Levy and Bradley Jackson. Despite not doing a live show together in the second season, the two ultimately connect, not on television, but via a phone call.  

The conversation between the women is ripe with powerful lines of dialogue including Alex’s piece of advice; “If you want to cut somebody off, cut them off and be done with it. If that is not an option, then you’ve gotta own them.” Everyone on the show is wrestling with their own lives, their own personal demons. Throughout the seasons, viewers watched as these characters either ran from their problems or chose to embrace them. That is why the show resonates with so many fans. 

3 Bradley On Friendship

“Relationships Don’t Have To Be Transactional.”

In the second season finale, Coronavirus takes center stage. Alex tests positive and finds herself in self quarantine in her New York Apartment. As she gears up to do a live special, she calls Bradley in one of the show’s best scenes.

The conversation is packed with revelations. At the beginning, Alex thanks Bradley for standing up for her during Bradley’s interview with the New York Times writer, Maggie Brenner. Alex asks Bradley why she stood by her, Bradley’s response is significant because it brings home the overarching theme of equality, humanity and forgiveness.

2 Bradley On Our Ability To Evolve

“And I Think That People Change. I Think People Grow. I Know I’m Evolving. I Wonder If You Are.”

As a culture, we tend to put people into specific boxes and categories. We want people, especially celebrities, to be perfect. We place them on a pedestal, ideal and untouched. But humans are not perfect. They have flaws and are more than the sum of their parts. That is the beauty and the essence of The Morning Show; people are multi-dimensioned. 

In the climatic interview between Bradley and Maggie over Maggie’s expose, Bradley presses Maggie regarding her condemnation of Alex Levy. Why limit Alex to one dimension? Bradley makes the point that the Alex in the expose in the old Alex.  That “there’s a lot of stories about Alex Levy in this book… the one story you didn’t publish was the story of a changed woman.” People, though flawed and damaged, have an opportunity to turn their life around. They can evolve and grow as people should.

1 Cory Defending Alex And Bradley

“All I Did Was Give The Truth Oxygen.”

As news reporters, Alex and Bradley’s job is to deliver the news truthfully and honestly. By using their platform to make changes for good . When the second season opens up, Alex and Bradley are dealing with the fallout of their rogue reporting on the Mitch Kessler sexual harassment scandal. 

After the women gain control over the news program, Cory goes to a board meeting to discuss the outcome and is fired. This comes as a surprise to Cory who questions whether they believe the victim or not. He claims there’s no cause to his firing adding all he did was give truth oxygen: that all he did was give honesty room to breathe. Yet that is not enough. 

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