“Hand me a scotch,” barks a frenetic Susie (Alex Borstein) in the very first episode of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. “With a whiskey in it. What the f*** are you standing there for?” The intensity (and the humor) are cranked up to the max in the Emmy-winning Prime Video show’s final episodes, which, thankfully, redeems itself from its mid-series slump.
Everything is there: the wit we’ve come to love, the pacing, the rapid-fire dialogue that only creator/writer Amy Sherman-Palladino knows how to pummel at you with purposeful intention. At a time when the world needs to laugh more and slap less — spin that however you wish — The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel gets the fabulous send-off it deserves. Here’s the lowdown on what to expect.
Ever Hear the One About the Time Jumps?
Ever since The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel debuted back in 2017, we knew the show, set in the late-1950s, was a rare treat. With befuddled yet determined Midge Maisel (Rachel Brosnahan) as its robust centerpiece, viewers were taken into the polished—then tarnished—enclaves of New York City as our witty mother-of-two pieces her life together after her husband leaves her. Comedy becomes her thing, of course, and with the help of wannabe talent manager Susie Myerson (Borstein in fine form), the show became an enjoyable Will She/Won’t She Make it Big romp.
Over the course of its run, the show nabbed 66 Emmy nominations and 20 awards, including one for Outstanding Comedy Series, another for Brosnahan, two for Borstein for Outstanding Supporting Actress, and many others. What a wild ride it has been as our dear Midge, a woman bucking up against the male-led comics of the day, tries to land her big break. Supporting players Tony Shalhoub and Marin Hinkle as Midge’s parents, and Michael Zegen as shady but likable hubby Joel have all shined. As have some of the show’s guest stars — from Jane Lynch to a stellar Luke Kirby playing comic Lenny Bruce, Midge’s mentor and lingering love interest.
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That said, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel has never been a static show. Things move. The dialogue drives almost everything. Sure, seasons three and four may have divided audiences, but in round five, we’re given a kind of series refresh. We find ourselves floating in and out of Midge and gang’s lives across many decades. To that end, this fitting send-off, clearly feeling the pressure to wrap things up and tie everything into a colorful bow — feels like a vivid kaleidoscope, occasionally shifting its focus on another spot in the Maisel universe. Off the table, then, is whether Midge ever makes the big time.
Viewers discover that soon enough, but that doesn’t weigh down the experience here, even if when we’re taken decades ahead and learn all sorts of things — how Midge’s kids turned out, what becomes of Joel, and Susie for that matter. In fact, writer Amy Sherman-Palladino reveals a big twist about both Midge and Susie’s careers and how that plays out in their personal lives.
Marvelous Mrs. Maisel’s Major Turning Points
Prime Video
In season five, a desperate Susie somehow lands Midge a new gig. But it’s nowhere near the stage. It’s writing for The Gordon Ford Show. Enter Veep alum Reid Scott. You can almost feel Emmy voters already eying Scott’s pitch-perfect performance here. Into the all-male writers’ room Midge goes, recalling the career trajectory of the late, great Joan Rivers, a rare comedic beast if there ever was one.
Midge tries cranking out material for the popular late-night talk show host, but has other things in mind. Gordon plays a more libidinous Johnny Carson here. There’s a spark between him and Midge. Susie wants her on the show. Will she get on? Tensions fly. How that plays out is wonderfully fun to watch, and it surely will give Borstein another Emmy nomination. And, quite refreshingly, we learn more the most about Susie’s oft-concealed private life here than ever before. Bravo for how it all unfolds. Although some may squawk, “a little too late.”
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Meanwhile, the Housewife Mafia that Rose, Midge’s mother, previously dealt with, comes into play again. There’s also a nice story arc for housekeeper Zelda (Matilda Szydagis) this go around. Hank Azaria, Sutton Foster, and Darren Criss pop up for the final episodes, too. As does Luke Kirby who continues to perfectly embody Lenny Bruce.
What stands out the most in season five is how well Amy Sherman-Palladino planned everything out. That may seem like a given, but the creator, as she had in Gilmore Girls — and even its revival — goes to great lengths to pace things without jarring the viewer with all the surprises.
Time jumps can be tricky if not divisive. But you can feel the end coming throughout the entire season and like some of the shows we’ve come to love over the years — from Veep and Better Call Saul to Barry and Homeland — each episode effectively pulls us like a thread of the show’s creative tapestry. We’re fully invested in its endgame. Few shows have the ability to pull that off. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel does. And, to use the show’s vernacular, it truly goes out “tits up!”
Catch the final season of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel on Prime Video, beginning April 14.
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