I’m not going to lie. When it first came out, I had absolutely no idea what The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel was, or whether it was even worth watching. I don’t think it was even on my watchlist. That was until someone introduced me to an episode. I don’t even think it was the first one. But I was hooked. So down the binge rabbit hole I went, finishing as many episodes as there were at the time. And so, with the return of Amazon Prime Video’s hit series for a fourth season, it feels only fitting that I try to figure out how to convince the rest of you to jump on board.
The story, the music, the fashion, the comedy, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel is a show that should definitely be on your watchlist. And let’s face it, by reading this, you’ve already taken the first step in trying to figure out why it should be. So if you’ll allow me, let me take you down a little journey on the many facets that make up this magnificent TV show.
1. A Story Unlike Any on Television
Set in the late 50s and early 60s, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel follows the trials and tribulations of our eponymous leading lady, Midge Maisel (Rachel Brosnahan), as she navigates her way through the unconventional world of standup comedy. Now that may not sound like much on the surface, but trust me when I tell you that there is so much more at play here. In many ways, this is a story unlike any that’s ever been told before on television.
First of all, let’s start with the fact that this is a story about a female stand up comedian. What’s so shocking about that? Well, you have to remember that the series is set at a time, and in a world, where such things were dominated by men. So just imagine what it might have been like for a young Jewish woman trying to make her way in the entertainment world with her own brand of observational comedy. This is a story about how difficult it was at the time to be a female stand up comic and reflects the struggles of real world comics at the time such as Phyllis Diller, Moms Mabley, and Lucille Ball, just to name a few.
2. A Cunningly Crafted Message of Female Empowerment
Not only is this a story about struggle within the comedy world, but at it’s core, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel is also a story about female empowerment. Midge did, what I imagine at the time, something impossible. She controlled her humour and her career path. Together with her hard-as-nails manager, Susie Myerson (Alex Borstein), the two of them got what they wanted, how they wanted it.
With every man in the industry trying to tell them how they should tell jokes or how to do business, here were two strong women who basically said, “Screw you, we’ll do it our way,” and succeeded. Feel free to correct me if I’m wrong, but that was something unheard of at the time. In a world that believed that a woman’s place was in the home, Midge threw out the rulebook and took full control of her life decisions, no matter how challenging they were, while staying true to herself at every step. She is the very definition of “one tough cookie.” And what’s more, she did all of this, while being a single mother.
3. Rachel Brosnahan. Rachel Brosnahan. Rachel Brosnahan.
Rachel Brosnahan is an absolute joy to watch, not just for her endearing charm and wit, but also in how she grows from a small time comic to going out on tour all over America. It is in the silent moments of this series when she truly brings out the fragility of a what it was like to pursue her dreams, but to do it while being a mother at the same time. It isn’t easy, and Brosnahan embodies that entire struggle and success through Midge.
Family Guy veteran Alex Borstein also gives a fantastic performance as Susie Meyerson, which will have you laughing your ass off with her comedic timing and brash sense of humor. There are also the lovable and real performances of Midge’s parents Rose and Abe Weissman, played by Marin Hinkle and Tony Shaloub respectively. Their eccentricity and strength will not only make you laugh, and sometimes cry, but also make you think about your own parents. (Go on. Give them a call and tell them you love them.) Theirs is a real and true story of a marriage that rarely gets told. No matter how many fights or successes the both of them had, even at their most vulnerable and fragile, they made always made it work.
4. Strength Through Adversity
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel does have its ups and downs, laughs, and its fair share of drama. But at its core is a show that delivers a strong message about adversity. That no matter what life throws at you, you’ll always be able to push through the other side and perhaps do things you’ve never even dreamt of doing. All the characters within this show go through their own personal struggles and demons, but no matter how tough it gets, and it does get tough, they never back down from a challenge. And I think that’s a lesson that we can all take away from this because we could always use a reminder of how everything is never as bad as it seems.
5. A Fashion Lookbook Come to Life
And last but not least, you cannot talk about The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel without talking about it’s fashion and music. God knows the 50s and 60s were an amazing time for both. Vibrant colours, sleek, elegant, gorgeous dresses and suits, it’s almost like watching a fashion lookbook come to life. It’s no wonder the wardrobe and styling department have won multiple Emmys. And it’s no surprise that the soundtrack beautifully compliments the tone of the show. I promise the you will be humming these tunes long after you’ve turned off that screen.
If there is one thing you can take away from this, and hopefully start watching the show yourself, it is that for 26 episodes (28 if you count the latest two), The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel is a dramedy that will cling to your heart and never let go. These are real stories being told by fantastic actors, screenwriters, and directors. There is not a single dull episode throughout its three seasons. And it just keeps getting better. As cliché as this sounds, this is a show that will make you laugh, make you cry, and make you think. It will make you want to get off your feet and make your own dreams comes true. Because if there’s anything that Midge Maisel has taught me, it is that nothing is impossible. You are in charge of your own life and nobody can take that away from you.
That, and comedy truly does make the world a better place.
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