The vehicle...the story telling device for moving the narrative...should seem familiar to many viewers. It's straight out of Woody Allen's Broadway Danny Rose. Told in flashbacks by those who knew the agent (in this case, Susie Myerson) with occasionally different perspectives and interpretations. After all, it's people looking back through their own personal lenses. Even though some of the lines and set ups are lifted directly from Allen's script (which may be an inside joke about comics who steal) this episode of Mrs. Maizel flips Danny Rose right on his head. Rose was a warm-hearted shlum who was more friend than agent to his clients. Myerson's only friend was Susie Myerson. Where Rose would do anything for his clients, Myerson became someone who would have her clients do anything for her. Broadway Danny Rose is warm touching story. The Testi-Rostial is harsh and at times cold. It more the business end of what we call show business. And, it's not pretty. But it's well told. And beautifully filmed.
This being an episode of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Midge is the spoke around which all the major storylines swirl. She's far more driven than Lou Canova in 'Broadway' and as such, each vignette has a sharper edge. And so much of it works and works well. What doesn't work is glaring.
There's a three-minute interlude featuring Susie's sister that is so out of place that it almost stops the narrative in its tracks. And Susie at the roast has become almost zombie like so she too is distracting. Makes viewers wonder how she functions, let alone remains successful.
Maybe this episode is meant to be a behind the scenes look at success in the entertainment world. Or maybe it's just the thoughts of the writers projecting their creations over decades. It's certainly well done. And it's impactful.
This being an episode of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Midge is the spoke around which all the major storylines swirl. She's far more driven than Lou Canova in 'Broadway' and as such, each vignette has a sharper edge. And so much of it works and works well. What doesn't work is glaring.
There's a three-minute interlude featuring Susie's sister that is so out of place that it almost stops the narrative in its tracks. And Susie at the roast has become almost zombie like so she too is distracting. Makes viewers wonder how she functions, let alone remains successful.
Maybe this episode is meant to be a behind the scenes look at success in the entertainment world. Or maybe it's just the thoughts of the writers projecting their creations over decades. It's certainly well done. And it's impactful.