The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel : don't waste it on bingewatching

thr4sam

Feb 2, 20184 min read

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel : **** stars

US | Amazon Original | Comedy Drama

Cast: Rachel Brosnahan; Michael Zegen; Alex Borstein; Tony Shalhoub; Marin Hinkle;

Aired: Season 1; Nov 2017

Duration: 40-60 minutes- 8 Episodes

Plot: (wiki)

Miriam "Midge" Maisel (Rachel Brosnahan) is a Jewish housewife living in New York City in 1958. Her husband, Joel, is a businessman who moonlights as a struggling comedian at The Gaslight Cafe. Midge supports Joel, providing feedback about his sets, but becomes disillusioned when she discovers that Joel has stolen one of his best routines from Bob Newhart.

One night, after a particularly rough performance, Joel confesses to Midge that he has been having an affair and leaves her. Midge goes to her family for support but primarily receives criticism for choosing to marry Joel.

After getting drunk, Midge returns to the Gaslight Cafe and impulsively goes on stage, delivering an impromptu set about her predicament which the audience finds hilarious. After baring her breasts in an attempt to demonstrate how attractive she is, Midge is arrested and taken to jail for indecent exposure and performing without a cabaret license.

The squad car contains another comedian who was also arrested: Lenny Bruce (Luke Kirby). Midge, who had seen Lenny perform, returns to jail the next morning to bail him out and ask him if he loves comedy. Bruce warns Midge that the comedy business is terrible, but Midge takes his warning as encouragement and teams with Susie (Alex Borstein), a comedy club employee, to hone her act.

Review:

I haven't been watching a lot of US based TV shows lately, but after watching the trailer for The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel I wanted to watch it badly. It just seemed full of life and who doesn't like a show set in the 50's.

Two episodes in, and I knew that the show is pure gold. One thing is for sure if you are planning to watch it don't waste it on binge watching, it's when you are eating soup you have to savor the taste then just gulping it down, just like that to enjoy what Mrs. Maisel has to offer you have to watch one episode at a time.

To find out the show was a Amazon was a big surprise, they really hit the jackpot with this one.

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel isn't evidently about Midge but what makers her the marvelous Mrs. Maisel. The show surrounds our lead's Miriam Maisel's (Rachel Brosnahan) love story and joke of a marriage with husband Joel Maisel (Michael Zegen), and her later developed relationship with agent Susie Myerson (Alex Borstein) at the Gaslight cafe.

Joel who makes good when it comes to money as a business man also has a passion for stand up comedy but just lacks have the talent for it. Supported by Midge and her brisket he manages to land a few shows at the Gaslight cafe after a failed set he confesses of cheating on her with his secretary and announces his decision to step out of the relationship.

Rachel plays's portrayal of Midge one the best things of the show, there are parts where you just love they fact that she is a mother but clueless as to how to run her live. The honest, smart, witty and marvelous Midge eases you in every emotion expresses. Michael (Joel) is not the villain here, i actually like the character. As much as you want to hate him Michael's tremendous hating skills still keep you rooting for his patch up with Midge. In the end (Spoiler) you end up feeling extremely bad for the guy.

The show catches the right society ques of the, where downtown had become hip and women had began to value their lives as independent women beyond family and kids. The beautiful grey shades used around bright and colorful Midge brings her more into spotlight. Midge's parents and become more part of her life when she moves back in after separation.

I personally like their characters as much as I like Midge, each episode unveils the dynamics of their relationship with each other. Midge first being blamed for the separation is later supported with open arms understanding and mutual respect at times by her parents.

The main turn of events take place when out of disgust for her situation and pity for herself Midge takes to the stage at the Gaslight club in a drunken state and wins the heart of Susie Myerson a sit back stand up comedian agent. Convinced by her raw talent Susie takes it up on herself to help turn her into a real comedian.

Susie is the a breathe of fresh air in the show, apart for being, edgy, honest, rude, and great dialogue delivery the character adds a friendly sarcastic vibe that we love so much. It is be great to see Midge and Susie's relationship grow in season two.