It follows Mitch's co-host, Alex Levy, and a conservative reporter Bradley Jackson, who attracts the attention of the show's producers after a viral video.
In March 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Bradley (Reese Witherspoon) continues co-hosting the show with Laura (Julianna Margulies), who is hosting from her house in Montana.
They report many events such as the summer wildfires, the unconstitutional lockdowns in Pennsylvania, and Ruth Bader Ginsburg's death.
Needing content for UBA+, he convinces Stella (Greta Lee) to air the documentary with Mitch's last interview, despite her protests.
Mia (Karen Pittman) spends time with her boyfriend, Andre (Clive Standen), but they get into an argument over the toxic nature of the network.
An angry Cory agrees to cover for her to the FBI by giving them pre-existing videos, but coldly dismisses her from his house.
Club gave the episode a "C+" grade and wrote, "Given that TMS is such a timely show, it isn't surprising that the show's creative team would attempt to recreate an event like the Capitol attack (albeit on a much smaller scale), but it doesn't make it any less jarring to watch two and a half years later.
And I'm not just talking about how this rewind to March 2020 and the year that followed means we're diving into the first few chaotic, terrifying months of a global pandemic, George Floyd's murder and the reckoning that followed, and January 6th, 2021 — but The Morning Show, who just can't help itself it seems, peppers in fun reminders of other terrible things going on at the time as a little treat, like ravaging wildfires and Ruth Bader Ginsburg's death.
"[3] Kimberly Roots of TVLine wrote, "When you think about it, the big revelation on this week's The Morning Show makes perfect sense.
"[4] Nicole Gallucci of Decider wrote, "Don't get me wrong, I 1000% want to see what happens to Bradley, Hal, and the network after this damning Episode 5 reveal.
All I'm asking — nay, all I'm begging — is that we keep it in the present from now on, and that any future flashback episodes on the show consider omitting the worst year of many of our lives.
Margulies' raised voice and indignant scowl as she countered that it was actually Bradley who loathed her mom made it clear that Laura was done being a punching bag.