Season 3 of “The Morning Show.” / Finale Season 4 of “Jack Ryan.”

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SEASON 3 of "The Morning Show." Apple TV. Inspired by Brian Stelter's 2013 book “Top of the Morning: Inside the Cutthroat World of Morning TV.” The show examines the characters and culture behind a network broadcast morning news program. Etc etcetera. 



       As for me, the concluding episode (of Season 3) sort of redeemed the show from the (political) self-immolation or self-congratulation of the previous episodes. Plotpoints were creamed with partisanship bias based on supposedly real events. Very frustrating to me. I mean, episode 1 to 9. 

       But the finale (episode 10) "The Overview Effect," written by Anya Leta (from story by Charlotte Stoudt and Ms Leta), made up for the blatant political subjectivity of the previous ones. 

       Anyhow, for me, the most real character in TMS is Cory Ellison (played by Billy Crudup). Real, in the sense that his persona didn't get the soap operatic confection or stale theatrics that we usually see on current TV or cinema. There is a Season 4 so expect it to trajectory or segue to the November presidential election runup. Pretty much I know how’d that play out. 📺🎥📺


LAST/Finale SEASON (4) of “Jack Ryan.” Amazon Prime. Political action thriller, based on characters from the fictional "Ryanverse" created by Tom Clancy. In the fourth season, Jack, now the CIA's acting deputy director, will face his most dangerous mission yet, which involves a foe operating both in the United States and further afield. 



       Trouble begins after he begins investigating rumors of internal corruption, during which he and his trusted associates uncover evidence of an alliance between a drug cartel and a terrorist organization. Added to Mr Ryan’s universe is Domingo Chavez, a former Navy SEAL and a senior CIA operative in SAC/SOG, and Chao Fah, a representative of the Asian triad, essayed by mostly bankable performers Michael Peña and Louis Ozawa Changchien. 

       The 6 episode finale (less than 2 episodes compared with Seasons 1 to 3) is obligatory “wrap it up” drill. The first half is typical Jack bang-banger and the backstories pretty compelling that’d invite a deeper exposition “later.” But there is no “later,” so the 2nd half is expectedly swift, sweet, and low. Uh huh. 

Well, Jack Ryan is no Marvel superhero but he might as well be. So don’t be surprised to see him again, as you did Bond, James Bond for the next decades until the thingy got tired and call it over. 📺🎥📺


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