Jeremy Irons On Facing Off With Jennifer Aniston In Alex And Her Dad’s Big Blowout

The Morning Show Season 4, Episode 8 was all about the parents.

Aptly titled “The Parent Trap,”the emotional installment saw Cory (Billy Crudup) and his mom Martha Ellison (Lindsay Duncan) share one the series’ most heart-wrenching scenes yet, while Alex (Jennifer Aniston) and her dad Martin Levy (Jeremy Irons) built up to a big blowout that ended in tears.

“I remember it being very emotional,” Irons told Decider over Zoom of the heated scene. “I suppose it is, in a way, the crux scene where they both say clearly where they’re coming from. And you can see why. I like to call it a misunderstanding, because so often, I think between parents and children, a fairly small misunderstanding or can create a huge rift.”

After years of failed communication, isolation, and festering emotions, Alex finally confronted her father about his disappointing treatment of her following the loss of her mother and learned his truth. In the midst of the their impassioned screaming match, Martin shouted, “I lost my wife!” and recalled the “great life” they had together before she gave birth and dealt with postpartum depression.

“You blame me for mom leaving! You’ve resented my entire existence, from the day I was born. So it didn’t matter all those things I tried to do to get you to see me — grades, recitals, my career ‚none of it really mattered, dad!” an exasperated, heartbroken Alex concluded. “Do you know how badly I wanted to be somebody that you could love?! You talk about your legacy but I didn’t cost you your legacy. Cause it’s me. I’m your legacy.”

The ambitious seven-minute scene featured affecting performances from Aniston and Irons, that ended with Alex breaking down alone in her apartment, and Martin walking out without a word and painfully processing the argument in the elevator.

“I think we, for our happiness, we need if we can to be close to our fathers, or daughters, or sons, or mothers,” Irons told Decider reflecting on the distance between Martin and Alex. “We’re all fallible. I’m a father. I’m fallible. I’m sure I’ve failed my children in many ways. But we are what we are, but we just try to do our best in life.”

As for where Martin and Alex stand following Episode 8, Irons says, “I think he realizes how he’s messed up and what a terrific person she she is. I also think it’s the relief of having actually said what he had to say, and to hear what she had to say. I think it’s very important for all of us to to not hold back, not hold in, but to let out what the problem is.”

While the Levys are at odds, with two episodes remaining in the season, perhaps there’s a chance for the two to come together again. And when Irons looks back on scenes shared with his TV daughter, he has nothing but lovely things to say about Aniston.

“I think she’s amazingly professional, very talented… she makes she makes it very easy for whoever’s playing opposite her,” Irons told Decider. “I came aboard not knowing what I was doing, but after a couple of scenes, we were up to speed. And I hope I gave her joy, surprised her, tested her, and did everything which they’re supposed to do for each other as actors.”

New episodes of The Morning Show Season 4 premiere Wednesdays on Apple TV.