'The Morning Show' Episode 6: Alex struggles to play nice with Bradley at work as her personal life sees her losing control
'Spoilers ahead for 'The Morning Show' Episode 6 titled 'Pendulum Swings'
At this point in the show, it looks like Alex Levy (Jennifer Aniston) and Bradley Cooper (Reese Witherspoon) are two kids who are cross with each other but have to play nice because the adults of their family won't have it any other way. Being forced to spend two hours every day where they have to act like they are best friends tends to influence a relationship off-screen. Even while covering the wildfire, they continually butt heads on the news pieces that should be aired, the news angles that should be picked for the show and how all of it must be packaged and presented. Alex's animosity with Bradley is beyond her insecurities of a young, vibrant host replacing her. Yes, it does affect Alex that the spotlight is moving away from her and gravitating towards Bradley. However, there is more to their relationship.
There is, of course, a difference in ideals and both of them believe in different ethos when it comes to journalism. The fact that they believe in different ideas doesn't stop them from supporting each other during tough times. It doesn't keep them from sharing details about their life that they wouldn't trust with other members of the team. As the title of the episode suggests, Alex and Bradley's relationship swings like a pendulum between empathy and apathy.
For instance, we see Alex and Bradley disagree about how The Morning Show should be covering the wildfire. Bradley wants to dig deeper into how the rich neighborhood in Malibu has hired private firefighters to save their homes. She wants to report about how this is not an option for families from the relatively poor economic background. Alex, on the other hand, sees this as Bradley's attempt at putting herself on a pedestal with her idea of reporting and journalism. She wants to go ahead with a piece about how a resident of Malibu managed to save dogs and cats from the wildfire. She supports her decision by explaining that the audiences deserve to feel good about something, and there is nothing wrong with it. After this angry outburst, Bradley doesn't concede. She instead tells Alex that the two of them have very different ideas about what their show really is.
Later, right before the two of them go on air, Alex explains to Bradley that there is no need for the two of them to like each other to work together. She says that the only requirement is for the two of them to act as if they are the best of friends while on-air, and then stick to being professional outside of that duration. However, after Alex breaks down on live television because she is constantly reminded about her husband asking for a divorce, we see that it is Bradley who calms her down. She refuses to leave when Alex tells her to, watches Alex break down but doesn't comment on it. She just stays there, hoping to be of any help despite their professional differences and to portray such finesse and grace in characters has worked out really well for the show. It definitely adds an additional dimension to both Alex and Bradley's characters.
It also proves that Alex is more than a vain, shallow, and selfish host. Those are flaws, yes, but what are humans really without flaws. When Alex realizes how erratic her behavior has been, after much thought, she tells Bradley the truth behind her mood swings. Alex tells her that she has been erratic because she is getting a divorce. Interestingly, she also confesses to Bradley that it is not the divorce that disturbs her, but she is afraid that her daughter may blame Alex and her job for breaking their family apart. She explains that she doesn't want her daughter to think badly of her and Bradley, in an attempt to make Alex feel better confesses a little truth about herself. Bradley explains how despite being distant from her father who was an alcoholic and had killed a kid in an accident, never stopped loving him. This back-and-forth shift in their dynamics is definitely interesting.
The next episode of 'The Morning Show' can be streamed on Friday on Apple TV+.