The fourth season of The Morning Show returned with a dramatic premiere on September 17, 2025, on Apple TV+. The episode, titled “My Roman Empire,” centers on Alex Levy (played by Jennifer Aniston) making a high-stakes decision that threatens the future of the fictional news network UBN. Her choice to help an Iranian athlete defect sparks a chain of events that could cost the network its Olympic coverage contract and possibly its survival.
Alex’s Bold Move: Helping a Defector
In the premiere, Alex interviews Roya Nazeri (portrayed by Ava Lalezarzadeh), an Iranian fencer preparing for the 2024 Paris Olympics. Before the interview, Roya’s father, Arsham, slips Alex a note that reads, “We want to defect.” Alex initially sticks to the planned sports-related questions but later deviates by asking about politics, causing tension with Roya’s Iranian handlers. During the chaos, Alex confirms Roya’s desire to defect and orchestrates an escape plan. She triggers a fire alarm, helping Roya and her father flee via a freight elevator to her waiting car. The escape includes a car chase through Manhattan, but the defectors eventually succeed in evading Iranian officials.
Alex’s actions, while morally driven, violate UBN’s agreement with the Olympic Committee to provide apolitical coverage. This puts the network’s $8 billion Olympic contract at risk.
Fallout at UBN
The aftermath of Alex’s decision immediately strains UBN’s leadership. Stella Bak (Greta Lee), the CEO of UBN, and Celine Dumont (Marion Cotillard), the board president, confront Alex about the potential consequences. Celine emphasizes that losing the Olympics could mean the end of UBN, stating:
“If we lose the Olympics, we lose the network.”
Stella temporarily removes Alex from Olympics-related duties and reassigns her to The Morning Show. Meanwhile, the network learns that Roya’s father is a scientist involved in Iran’s nuclear program, raising the stakes beyond just media ethics to international politics.
Bradley Jackson’s Return
Bradley Jackson (Reese Witherspoon), who left UBN in Season 3 after confessing to covering up her brother’s involvement in the January 6 Capitol riot, is now teaching journalism in West Virginia. Mia Jordan (Karen Pittman) visits her to propose returning as a co-host on The Morning Show. Initially reluctant, Bradley changes her mind after receiving an anonymous tip about UBN allegedly covering up an environmental scandal involving a chemical plant causing health issues in a local community. The tip, sent by a user named “gaiawarrior96,” includes videos of dead birds and reports of birth defects, compelling Bradley to investigate.
Bradley’s return to New York leads to a tense confrontation with Alex. Alex argues that Bradley’s past actions could further damage UBN if revealed publicly, while Bradley criticizes Alex for not exposing Paul Marks’ (Jon Hamm) crimes in Season 3. Their disagreement highlights the ongoing ethical conflicts between the characters.
Other Key Developments
Cory Ellison (Billy Crudup), formerly CEO of UBN, is now a film producer in Hollywood struggling with a troubled project. His lead actress quits, and his reputation remains tarnished by past scandals. Alex contacts him at the end of the episode, hinting at a potential alliance or return to UBN.
Stella Bak is revealed to be having a secret affair with Miles (Aaron Pierre), who is married to Celine Dumont. This subplot adds personal drama to Stella’s professional challenges as CEO.
The episode also introduces AI technology as a central theme, with UBN using artificial intelligence to translate Alex’s coverage into multiple languages for the Olympics. Staff concerns about AI replacing human jobs are addressed, though not fully resolved.
Background and Context
The premiere follows a two-year time jump after the events of Season 3, which ended with UBA merging with rival network NBN to form UBN. Alex played a key role in initiating this merger to prevent Paul Marks from taking over the network. The new season explores themes of power, ethics, and media integrity, with a focus on female leadership in a crisis-driven industry.
Jeremy Irons joins the cast as Alex’s father, Martin Levy, a law professor who dismisses Alex’s career and refuses to help her with the defection situation. Their strained relationship adds depth to Alex’s character motivations.
Fan and Critical Reactions
The premiere has generated discussion for its high-stakes storyline and timely themes. Some viewers praised the show’s willingness to tackle real-world issues, while others found the plot exaggerated yet engaging. The action sequence involving the defectors’ escape was noted as one of the most intense scenes in the series.
Director Mimi Leder described the episode as “the power season,” focusing on women in leadership and their challenges.
Release Details
The Morning Show Season 4 releases new episodes weekly on Apple TV+ every Wednesday. The second episode is scheduled for September 24, 2025.
Also Read: The Morning Show Season 3 Recap: What Happened Before Season 4 Release
