If you’re a fan of stand-up comedy, retro fashion or acclaimed television writer Amy Sherman- Palladino, then surely Amazon Video’s “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” has been on your radar. The Emmy-winning series made its triumphant return with the premiere of its fourth season on Feb. 18 and will continue streaming two new episodes every Friday until Mar. 11. Soon to be a staple in the ever-growing list of American comedy shows, here’s some recap and review of “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” and her marvelous life.
Created by celebrated television writer Amy Sherman-Palladino (of “Gilmore Girls”), “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” has a plot that seemingly only Sherman-Palladino could have created. “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” follows the eponymous Miriam “Midge” Maisel (Rachel Brosnahan): a 1950s housewife who is as dutiful as she is witty. When her husband leaves her, Midge discovers a voice of her own in the stand-up comedy world. She teams up with coffee shop bookie Susie (Alex Borstein) as her manager to embark on a risky career in the male dominated comedy world. The audience watches as Midge develops her own style and creativity among fictionalized versions of some of the greats like Lenny Bruce (Jack Kirby) and Moms Mabley (Wanda Sykes).
Outside the world of comedy, Midge also learns to make it as a (sometimes) single mother at the end of the 1950s. By her side are her (occasionally) helpful parents (Tony Shalhoub and Marin Hinkle). After her divorce, Midge and her ex-husband Joel (Michael Zegen) try their best to co-parent while Joel struggles with his purpose in life after finding no success in his own attempt at stand-up comedy. After the turn of the decade into the 1960s, Midge continues with her career as perspectives of women in the workplace shift. This newest season follows Midge after getting fired for making controversial jokes about the musician for whom she was opening and trying to get back on her feet in the cutthroat comedy circuit. “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” tackles topics of feminism, work and family.
Many fans of “Gilmore Girls” will tell you that the series stood out as a result of its witty and fast paced dialogue. “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” takes that same trademark Sherman-Palladino trait and cranks it to an 11. Regardless of if we are watching stand-up comedy or not, the show’s dialogue represents its strength. Characters frequently banter, using one-liners and creative references in a way that sets the tone for the entire show. While centered around comedy, the series maintains a dramatic tone which allows for the hysterical dialogue to stand out even more. The opening episode of the newest season showcases the same style of hilarious conversation between Midge’s family as they sit in different cabins of a ferris wheel.
It is also important to mention the show’s massively skilled actors. While the writing is fantastic, the wrong cadence or rhythm of Sherman-Palladino’s lines can alter how we interpret the series. Rachel Brosnahan does a masterful job bringing Sherman-Palladino’s words to life while conveying a complex character. At the beginning of the series, she wants to appear like the perfect housewife, but after her marriage falls apart, she can finally grow into the spitfire comedian she was destined to be. Brosnahan previously won the well deserved Emmy for the role of Midge Maisel in 2018 and continues to amaze in this role. It would also be disrespectful to ignore Alex Borstein’s tough but nuanced performance as Susie. Borstein takes on the role of a tomboyish nightclub bookie beautifully and her chemistry with Rachel Brosnahan is enough to make any comedic duo jealous. Other standout performances come from both Tony Shaloub and Marin Hinkle as Midge’s parents. Many of their comedic scenes stem from their wild antics that anyone with chaotic family members can find relatable.
Whether you’re looking for a show to binge, a masterful dramedy to enjoy, or eager to see Amy Sherman-Palladino return for another grand slam series, “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” is the perfect show to watch from beginning to the most current episodes.
“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” is streaming on Amazon Prime Video.