The work environment at The Morning Show is the greatest definition of a toxic environment in the universe. Politics, harassment, prejudice, lies, resentment. With each episode, the list grows. However, although they have come up against the theme of structural racism in other seasons, the theme was what drove the excellent White Noise, which, despite being uncomfortable, is one of the best to date.

Pre-millennial society has been struggling with the fact the rules have changed, tolerance for mistakes has been practically eradicated and we need to shut up, listen, accept, and CHANGE. Whatever the topic. In an almost professorial narrative, the series makes us visit both sides of the racism coin. Obviously, it’s another move by Cory (Billy Crudup) who goes to great lengths to stay in charge of UBA, especially now that he wants billionaire Paul Marks (Joe Hamm) to buy the broadcaster. Cybill (Holland Taylor) needs to be eliminated and he is relentless with the opportunity.

After being hacked in the last episode, everyone at UBA is still navigating fear and caution about what may still emerge from messages and emails exchanged with confidential or delicate information. Two stand out: the one that shows the glaring salary differences between employees and the one that Cory authorizes to release, an exchange of emails with racist comments from Cybill when they hired the black anchor, Christina (Nicole Beharie). Although Christina was a choice as was Bradley (Reese Witherspoon) in the past – inexperienced – she earns less than her predecessor and due to the exchange of messages, is clearly a focus of racial prejudice. Cybill despairs and tries to organize herself so as “not to be canceled for a ‘single’ mistake” because she knows it is Cory’s move to remove her from the UBA Board. She loses on both fronts. And it is important that we learn the lesson from this defeat.

Cybil justifies herself with the reasons that many pre-millennials still see as justifiable: it wasn’t her intention, she acted according to society’s rules, blah blah blah. But deep down, the big problem and the panic surrounding the cancellation, once again on The Morning Show‘s agenda, is what comes from the structure and what prevents the apology from being complete, sincere, and the beginning of a change. Part of the reaction of the “canceled” person is being lost as to what to do to avoid public lynching, but deep down finding justifications to exempt themselves from blame. Christina is accused on all sides of playing the victim when even her husband ignores the psychological impact it had on her questioning her worth. She turns the tables and eliminates Cory, but there are no winners in the arena.

Cory has many problems even within the UBA: Stella (Greta Lee) not only disagrees with his choices and attitudes, but she has already teamed up with Mia (Karen Pittman), and the two as allies cannot be ignored. She only revealed to Mia that she has a connection with Paul Marks, claiming that it was only professional (sounds like a big lie) and that she fears him more than Cory because Paul is “ruthless”. We see a bit of this when he humiliates Cory, pretending to have lost interest in the deal that he is clearly doing everything he can to close, but on his terms and values.

There was little that Alex (Jenniffer Aniston) or Bradley did in the episode. Alex tries to avoid getting involved with Cybill’s problem, his effort is minimal but he is apparently fine with both sides of the coin. Bradley and his personal dramas even irritate Mia, who already has another talent (Christina) to take care of.

The Morning Show embraces controversial issues from the beginning and always tries to shine a light on what the problem really is. It’s uncomfortable, certainly, but when it’s finished we feel like we understand a little better the most delicate obstacles of our moment. The White Noise highlighted the talent of Nicole Beharie. I’m much more interested in her than the white women’s dramas that drive the series. Will the role be reversed in a fourth season? It seems to me that the time has come.

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