Ep 3. Chaos Is the New Cocaine

The Morning Show season 1 episode 3 is entitled "Chaos Is the New Cocaine." This episode of the American television drama series premiered on November 8, 2019, on Apple TV+. The episode that was written by Jay Carson and Kerry Ehrin and directed by Tucker Gates features a runtime of approximately fifty minutes.

In this episode, Alex Levy (Jennifer Aniston) prepares to go live with her new co-host Bradley Jackson (Reese Witherspoon), but things quickly unravel as Bradley makes some unexpected decisions on the air. Meanwhile, Chip Black (Mark Duplass) decides to take action regarding Mitch Kessler's (Steve Carell) sexual misconduct allegations, and Daniel Henderson (Desean Terry) battles his conscious while trying to maintain his livelihood.

The episode begins with Alex and Bradley prepping for their first live show together, with Alex trying to coach Bradley on how to be the perfect anchor. Bradley, however, refuses to play by Alex's rulebook and instead decides to take on a subject that Alex would never touch: the IT guy at UBA who was fired for complaining about the toxic work environment for women. Bradley's decision leaves Alex flabbergasted, but the live show becomes a huge success, and Alex is forced to admit that Bradley's no-nonsense attitude is exactly what The Morning Show needs.

Meanwhile, Chip Black, head of UBA news, tries to keep his cool when he is informed that a damning video of Mitch Kessler has been uncovered. The video shows Mitch making inappropriate comments about an assistant while completely unaware that he was being recorded. Chip is initially hesitant to take action against Mitch but ultimately decides that he must address the very serious allegations that have been made against Mitch before UBA's reputation as a respected news network is irreparably damaged.

Daniel Henderson is a longtime friend of Mitch's but is now conflicted between his loyalty to his friend and doing his job as a news producer at The Morning Show. When he is given the task of finding guests to speak out against Mitch, he begins to question whether he is willing to put his personal relationships above his journalistic integrity.

The episode's title is a nod to the idea that the news media now thrives on chaos rather than the truth. The show depicts the ways in which news and media organizations have changed in recent years, especially in relation to the #Metoo movement. The episode is also a commentary on the power dynamics that exist in the workplace, and how many industry professionals are unwilling to speak up and hold their colleagues accountable, creating a culture of silence and compliance.

In terms of performances, Aniston and Witherspoon both deliver strong and nuanced performances, with their onscreen chemistry being especially captivating. Carell's performance as Mitch Kessler is both nuanced and multifaceted, as he tries to navigate the fallout of the sexual misconduct allegations against him. The show also features an impressive supporting cast, with notable performances coming from Duplass and Terry.

Overall, The Morning Show season 1 episode 3 is an engaging and thought-provoking episode that explores a range of complex issues surrounding news media and workplace dynamics. The episode's focus on #Metoo and the power dynamics of the workplace make it particularly relevant to contemporary audiences. As the series moves forward, it will be interesting to see how it continues to address these issues in a way that is both nuanced and entertaining.