The Morning Show Season 3 Episode 2 is titled "Ghost in the Machine." It originally aired on September 13, 2023, and was directed by Mimi Leder and written by Michelle Denise Jackson
. In this episode, the network UBA suffers a massive cyberattack during a live broadcast, locking the staff inside the building and demanding a $50 million ransom to prevent the leak of confidential employee information. The cyberattack causes a power outage and disrupts the show's broadcast. Cory Ellison (played by Billy Crudup) advocates paying the ransom to mitigate damage, but the board, led by Cybil (Holland Taylor), refuses, fearing loss of advertisers. Meanwhile, Bradley Jackson (Reese Witherspoon) bravely reports the hack on the evening news and faces the fallout, including the threat of personal information being exposed. Alex Levy (Jennifer Aniston) returns to New York and confronts the power dynamics at UBA, especially regarding a secret deal between Cory and Paul Marks (Jon Hamm). The episode explores the characters' struggles to navigate the crisis and their interpersonal conflicts
. The episode received positive reviews, with particular praise for character development and performances. Billy Crudup won the Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for his role in this episode
. Summary of key points:
- Title: "Ghost in the Machine"
- Season 3, Episode 2 of The Morning Show
- Air date: September 13, 2023
- Plot: UBA suffers a cyberattack demanding $50 million ransom; Bradley reports on it; Alex returns and faces consequences; Cory fights for a merger deal.
- Themes: Cybersecurity crisis, power struggles, personal secrets
- Critical reception: Positive, with Emmy recognition for Billy Crudup
