“Well, welcome to the wonderful world of talent management.”—Cory

This season on The Morning Show I’ve often complained that the story lacked focus and jumped around. With this week’s episode, “The Stanford Student,” we get some of these disparate pieces brought together in what, so far, is the best episode of the season.

We pick up back in the present as the deal with Paul Marks (Jon Hamm) is closing in on complete. Cory (Billy Crudup) is relieved, but still not willing to offer an equal seat to Alex (Jennifer Aniston). She’s not too happy about it and pushes to interview Marks on Alex Unfiltered. Cory is opposed but when she asks Marks, he agrees.

Alex sets Chip (Mark Duplass) to come up with something juicy to use in the interview. He comes up dry until Stella (Gretta Lee) finally decides to share about her past with Marks. It gives Cory and Alex what they need to ask some probing questions.

The thing is, Marks handles it beautifully and, in the process, really draws Alex to him more. After the interview, they take their relationship to the next level, and it will be interesting to see how that plays out as we race toward the end of the season.

Stella, meanwhile, assumes that this is the end of her time at UBA. Instead, Marks offers her a better job—the one Cory currently holds. That’s where we leave off but it’s clear that a storm is coming, and Cory’s big victory might finally be his undoing. But will Stella take it?

In the other major story, Bradley (Reese Witherspoon) is caught. She wants to move forward with Laura (Juliana Margulies) again, but things with Hal (Joe Tippett) take a turn. He visits with his wife and new child and tells Bradley he feels guilty and needs to turn himself in.

Since Bradley and Cory put themselves on the line to protect him, this news lands poorly. Bradley tries applying the pressure, but Hal seems convinced of what he needs to do. So, Bradley turns to manipulation, bringing Hal and his family into the studio to watch her interview another January 6 participant who is in prison, having lost everything.

By the end of the hour, it seems Hal has backtracked on his plan, for now. And that gives Bradley the confidence she needs to start things up with Laura again. But will it last? That remains to be seen.

Episode MVP: Paul Marks. Hamm has been a great addition to the cast, and this was really an episode where he was allowed to shine. I’m interested to see where we go next.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.