The Morning Show Season 4 Episode 7 Review: ‘Person of Interest’

The Morning Show Season 4 Episode 7 takes a lot of this season’s plot points to their next logical step. That does not, however, mean that the majority of ‘Person of Interest’ is in any way of interest or, at the very least, less misguided than the last hour that expected viewers to care about Yanko’s love life. It’s just that you can expect…the expected. Things like great performance quality in the middle of a mess, as well as a misguided approach that makes anything meaningful seem like a mistake, continue to be this series’ signature.

So, what are the biggest developments in this latest episode? In the first place, when she can’t get away with lying and batting her pretty blue eyes to escape consequences anymore, Bradley Jackson makes the “difficult” (not really, for her, at least not believably so at this point) decision to betray Claire Conway and give her up to the FBI. Whatever you do, don’t think about how someone like Bradley getting away with lying to a federal agent and overacting her shock and offense when called on it would affect someone not of her particular race and class. Is this storyline trying to comment on privilege? Likely not. If that is the point, the execution is sorely lacking.

And no, she hasn’t learned to do the right thing either. If The Morning Show Season 4 Episode 7 is trying to sell this as character growth, that’s a failure in both intent and execution. The situation with Claire is, in fact, different from covering up Hal’s presence at the Capitol during a violent attempt to prevent the results of a free and fair election from being certified. Or, well. Claire’s situation is different than Hal’s was. She claims to have proof of her own innocence but never gets to show it, whereas Hal was obviously guilty — with proof that his so-called journalist of a sister buried. But, to be fair, both situations have one thing in common: Bradley doing incredibly self-serving things, whether they’re “right” or not, is exactly the same.

Also on the Claire front, Yanko gets engaged. Not to Claire, who at one point suggests he should run away with her. Instead, Claire’s just the former super secret work girlfriend, who’s now hiding out at his place. But an unsettlingly touching scene where those two talk about Claire’s fears — she is, after all, the one in seriously hot water…pun somewhat accidentally intended — somehow manages to convince him to go ahead and propose to the woman he’s been avoiding and lying to. While Bel Powley is brilliant throughout this whole saga, and Claire’s situation certainly makes for some high stakes, there’s not much about Yanko’s development itself that makes his eventual big, romantic moment either big or romantic.

Not to mention, did we really bring back an actress of Powley’s talents just for Yanko’s sad boy hours? Because, seriously, Bradley could’ve F—ed over literally anyone else for her story to go this incredibly obvious route. Once upon a time, given the opportunity to let someone speak their truth (and possibly break a huge story), we might be able to believe Bradley would go for it at any cost. But now? After months and months of doing the opposite of the right thing, followed by barely a slap on the wrist after confessing? Meh.

Oh. And speaking of obvious: Alex and Bro. He’s exactly the type of guy who expresses his interest in the grossest way possible so his poor bro feelings don’t get hurt — something Alex explained to us in the previous episode, when they were in the middle of a moment that highlighted their incredible chemistry and toxicity — and she, well, has bad taste. If The Morning Show Season 4 Episode 7 manages to put some great points into the podbro’s mouth despite him also having said many, many not-great things in the relatively short time we’ve known him, that’s a really interesting look at that particular culture and the folks he’s supposed to be a stand-in for. Just not one anyone seems to be willing to lean into at the moment. Best to hint at these types of observations, only to ultimately avoid them like the plague. Safer that way.

MORE: Sometimes, The Morning Show Season 4 does nonsense right, like Alex’s deepfake dilemma in Episode 2.

More The Morning Show Season 4 Episode 7 reactions

A dark and stormy night, another episode starting with Yanko’s personal life, Halloween week release…horror movie?
“You’re not hearing me, so let me be very clear. I did something nice for you, and now you need to do something nice for me. Or going back to West Virginia is going to be the least of your worries.” But but she just can’t be helpful!!! She is innocent and principled!!! (Gag me.)
“Geez, They should just start a Real Housewives of the Supreme Court. You can pair her and Ginni Thomas and a bunch of frozen margaritas.” Ok, fine. She was funny here.
“…she refuses to be silenced. What’s more American than having an opinion?” Hm. I don’t know. How about giving a good GD about democracy, no taxation without representation, separation of powers, not believing in monarchy, the Constitution in general…IDK!
And no, I’m not shocked that Yanko was defending this. I am, however, surprised that the folks behind The Morning Show expect viewers to root for people like this, while simultaneously having other elements that cater to an audience that very much wouldn’t. Pick a lane.
“Machine learning is only as good as its inputs. And let’s face it, most people are garbage in one form or another.” Heartbreaking: Bro just made a great point.
…and he immediately ruined it with the misogyny.
“Is this institution fundamentally corrupt? Or does it just attract corrupt people?” It’s power at a certain level that does this. See also: “Leaders” at certain nonprofits that claim to hold certain values in all their public-facing literature but that, behind the scenes, repeatedly show they have no values whatsoever and are, frankly, abusive.
“Dude, once they said corporations were people, what’d you think was gonna happen?” WHY IS HE MAKING GREAT POINTS IN BETWEEN ALL THE BEING DISGUSTING.
That slight change in Jennifer Aniston’s eyes after the reporter asked Alex about being the “through-line” of all the network’s scandals…wow.
“You’re like a little f—ing kid with a match in a fireworks store.” It’s giving Caskett.
“Listen to me. And I know that you won’t give a sh** about this, but I have worked here for 22 years, and I have given everything to this place. And you kow what? I actually do believe that there is something good about it. Because I refuse…refuse to accept that I’ve been wasting my time, cause that will just make me feel like s***.” He…looks as if he does, in fact, care.
Alex’s reaction to that coffee is my reaction to coffee in general.
“There’s primary fights coming up. The Hill is skittish.” “Oh, God. Just…’tis the season of chicken-sh— politicians.” !!!!!!!!
(Wait until they find out about the majority willingly surrendering their Constitutionally-mandated powers out of fear.)
One thing I will say absolutely works about The Morning Show Season 4 Episode 7: Mia Jordan. Wow. I don’t even know how to characterize it, but this new sense of confidence, and no longer settling for “no” as an answer, and something extra she has is absolutely everything. Dangerous, considering the threats (promises) she’s making to get the job done. But everything.
“I am having so much more fun on this side of the table.” Look at her! She is relishing this.
This watching Claire sleep thing is both pathetic and creepy.
“I was really hoping for a topping of, I don’t know, better working conditions?” OMG GO OFF.
“I don’t think you understand how much people trust you. I’ve seen this. They watch you, and they, like, see this better version of themselves. Someone who is not afraid to do the right thing. We — we need you.” Oh, poor, sweet summer child.
It’s that “this smile is fake, and we both know it” kind of smile from Chris for me.
…random flirting from Layla and that girl from the bro podcast? Ok.
Absolutely laughed out loud at Chip just being like “I don’t want to,” and that was that for him. (Oh, we could have had it all, though.)
Sure, we have 84 different plot points to cover here, but let’s throw in a random musical bit. I mean, at least it’s entertaining instead of infuriating!
“…you do realize it took me two decades and a predator to get half of what you just got?” What if women didn’t hold it against each other — and especially white women didn’t hold it against Black women — when we get things? What then.
Also: Nicole Beharie, y’all. The facial expression and delivery on Chris’ response to that…wow. Also also: “Yeah. And I got it on the back of my stillborn baby.” Again, we shouldn’t have to compete for who has the most/worse trauma like this, but good on the character for showing she’s not going to take that kind of grudge or guilting. Looks like it earned her some respect there, too, considering Alex gives her the Roya interview.
“I’m sorry I just showed up. Now, I’m the crazy girlfriend.” NO.
“I’ve been thinking about everyone we left behind. My colleagues. Her mother. We’ll never see them again. It hurts. But I’m afraid to let her see that. I don’t want her to think this was a mistake.” Alain Ali Washnevsky is so good here. The thing is, introducing a story like this in the Season 4 premiere and then not giving it the time or respect it deserves while surrounding it with all the absurdity is…a choice. And not a good one.
If the Chris/Arsham scene wasn’t the best one in this episode, then the bathtub one was. The way the camera shows them both on opposite sides of that door, then keeps that perspective of distance even when Yanko’s in the room, is just great. And seriously, Powley is the perfect mix of openness, fear, and aching. But for as vulnerable as Claire is with Yanko, the outpouring of emotion that he can’t see when the camera gets Powley’s face over his shoulder is insanely good.
…which is, to be a broken record, why all the bad aspects of this season are so upsetting. All the elements are there — but wasted.
Chris and Roya on TMS. I LOVE THEM. That is all.
“Well, people love a trauma plot, don’t they.” I mean, SVU is in Season 27, and all it is is a trauma plot for Olivia Benson. So. That tracks!
But also: I want to know more about…Bro?
She’s cute when she makes that face after asking him to come over, though.
I hate that I’m into this. I don’t know if I ship it? But the chemistry’s there.
“They deserve a break.” “Yeah, you all do.” A word.
“…of all the lives that I could live, the only one I want is the one that I…that I can have with you.” Ok. It’s a good line.
Hard not to feel gutted when Alex says she’s afraid she’s just “creating memories” of her mom. Meanwhile, with Bro, it’s hard not to be disgusted by the phrase “welfare drunk.”
The kiss is actually sweet. I hate saying this. (This is not the BrAlex people were asking for, though, I don’t think!)
“And you never saw her in person?” “No.” A liar.
“I straight up f**king lied to a federal agent.” Boohoo. You chose that.
The song they used for Claire’s arrest made me think of Mike Ross going to prison (for all of five minutes) on Suits.
Again going to have to give Bel Powley major props. That look of betrayal. Wow.
Am I supposed to care about Bradley being all isolated while the crowd moves the opposite way, though? Spoiler: I don’t. She still has yet to be honest with the people around her, much less face any true hardship for what she did.
“I will never sit next to you again.” Can’t believe I’m saying this, but Team Yanko!
Kind of concerned about what Cory and Celine may be up to since they’re not around for the Bradley FBI disaster.