The Morning Show recently concluded its third season with a screening of the season finale at Hollywood’s Linwood Dunn Theater, which turned out to be an emotional moment for the members of the creative team. Showrunner and executive producer Charlotte Stoudt, along with nine colleagues, reflected on their experiences working to carry out the multiple storylines to their season finale catharsis, and their process of pushing the series characters into increasingly vulnerable territory. The creative team were thrilled to watch the show with an audience. Stoudt admitted to being choked up seeing it for the first time, emphasizing that it’s not the finale until people see it.
Director and executive producer Mimi Leder expressed her excitement at the last few shots of the finale, where the characters of Alex and Bradley walk into their future and speak their truths. She described it as simple, elegant, and honest. The team also discussed creating a new, more raw and vulnerable version of Alex, and the relationship development between Bradley and Cory as thrilling and singular.
Sophie de Rakoff, the costume designer for the show, shared the profound emotional impact she felt while watching the characters in a hallway scene, revealing the deep connection between Bradley and Cory, and the profound impact on her, despite her time spent on set. Additionally, sound mixer Elmo Ponsdomenech was excited about a conference room scene and the sound dynamics that reflected the emotional power of the scene.
The relationships between the characters, such as Alex and Bradley, served as a discussion point on how the series showcases deep affection between them while empowering one another, rather than creating competitive tension. Stoudt described the relationship between Alex and Bradley as a dynamic where each pushes the other to grow and become who they are meant to be, believing it has the perfect balance between sparking off of one another and holding each other accountable.
The show’s incredible cast was another discussion point, and the creative team revealed their wish list of who they want to see head-to-head in a scene, including Greta Lee’s character, and wanting to bring forward the women of color. Executive Producer Michael Ellenberg expressed that they wouldn’t have predicted that a signature scene would be performed by Nicole Beharie.
The editors and production designer shared their perspectives on bringing out the performances by incorporating tension and visual shorthand, such as dressing the characters at their highest highs and lowest lows, and using production design to create a throughline to the corporate culture. Costumes are a vital part of the visual language of the show. Completing the process with the production design was essential to create and maintain the visual language of the show over the seasons.
Overall, the creative team of The Morning Show engaged in a deep and thoughtful conversation filled with excitement for their work and the evolution and complexities of the characters they brought to our screens. The impressive collective of executives and artisans are thrilled to push the characters deeper while also maintaining the deep emotional depth of the relationships within the show.