The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel is such a good show with plenty of talent but Tony Shalhoub is the best thing about this show. Everyone had already talked about how good the show is so I just want to talk about how great Tony Shalhoub is. In a series full of laughs he still manages to steal every scene he's in. I can't say enough about him. I've seen him in lots of movies and tv shows but the first time he really impressed me was when I saw him on the incredibly underrated show Monk. He won 3 Emmy's (every one of them deserved) for that role and was nominated all 8 seasons. For this he won an Emmy and was nominated for all 4 seasons so far and should get a 5th for this last season. That's 4 Emmy's and 12 nominations and he's still an underrated active.
868 Reviews
Mad at myself for putting off watching this for so long
DiCaprioFan115 June 2023
After hearing so many great things about The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and seeing it win so many awards I thought I'd finally gave it a chance. I'm so glad I did because now I'm hooked. I'm actually mad at myself for putting it off for so many years. I'm just about to finish the second season so I still have 3 more seasons to go but so far so good. Every character on the show shines, there's not a weak link on the entire series. The show takes place in the 1950's and follows Miriam "Midge" Maisel as she follows her dream of becoming a stand up comic after her life gets turned upside down following a divorce. It has an incredible cast that includes Rachel Brosnahan, Tony Shalhoub, Alex Borstein, Michael Zegen, Kevin Pollak, Luke Kirby and Marin Hinkle. It also has some award winning special guest appearances that pop up here like Zachary Levi, Sterling K. Brown, Wanda Sykes and Jane Lynch. There's too many great actors to even name that have guest appearances. Like I said the show has won so many awards including numerous Emmy's for the show itself and almost every actor I just named has won for their work on the show. I can't wait to finish it now!
One of the best TV shows ever made
martinpersson971 June 2023
A lot of people would say we are in a "Golden Age" of television, providing feature quality series with acclaimed actors and indepth writing. And whilst it is of course somewhat debatable as there has always been great shows, it is indeed true that TV has gone through a great revolution.
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel is a great period-piece that offers great drama, in a somewhat lighthearted fashion, and showcasing incredible actors who sells the melancholiness and satire that one coveys beautifully.
It is a very near show overall, in terms of both cinematography, cutting and editing and writing and acting. Definitely a unique and great piece that I can not recommend enough!
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel is a great period-piece that offers great drama, in a somewhat lighthearted fashion, and showcasing incredible actors who sells the melancholiness and satire that one coveys beautifully.
It is a very near show overall, in terms of both cinematography, cutting and editing and writing and acting. Definitely a unique and great piece that I can not recommend enough!
Just finished the very last episode!
quidnunq26 May 2023
I've been on top of this series right from the moment it premiered. I looked forward to every single season and even set notifications to make sure I wouldn't forget to start watching again once a new season came out. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel did something that not many other series have ever done before, which is getting better and better with every new season! I don't even think I've seen a single episode that bored me. Not even a little! The character building, the actors, the settings, the outfits, the jokes, the storyline, all of it was absolute perfection.
I've told so many people about this series and it amazes me - but equally annoys me - that this series got so little media attention (at least where I'm from). It should've gotten at least as much attention as Game of Thrones and The Walking Dead. (Both of which actually DID have several to many episodes that bored the hell out of me, just saying. I didn't even finish The Walking Dead - I mean, who did?! - because at some point the series literally died and kept walking.)
I'm sure some people might not agree with me, but let's be honest; the rating doesn't lie. This series is an absolute and unique piece of art!
About the actors. Rachel Brosnahan did an amazing job as Midge Maisel... but the series wouldn't have been the same without Alex Borstein (Susy Myerson) and Tony Shalhoub (Abe Weissman)! These two take comedy to a whole new level and I love them for it!
I've told so many people about this series and it amazes me - but equally annoys me - that this series got so little media attention (at least where I'm from). It should've gotten at least as much attention as Game of Thrones and The Walking Dead. (Both of which actually DID have several to many episodes that bored the hell out of me, just saying. I didn't even finish The Walking Dead - I mean, who did?! - because at some point the series literally died and kept walking.)
I'm sure some people might not agree with me, but let's be honest; the rating doesn't lie. This series is an absolute and unique piece of art!
About the actors. Rachel Brosnahan did an amazing job as Midge Maisel... but the series wouldn't have been the same without Alex Borstein (Susy Myerson) and Tony Shalhoub (Abe Weissman)! These two take comedy to a whole new level and I love them for it!
I had to run to IMDb to review this one.
Songwriter_9021014 November 2017
This.
This is what it a real comedy series should be. They've also found a real charmer in Rachel Brosnahan, who's not just lovely and energetic, but genuinely funny. A cast of bright characters with great writing rounds out this great show. The other guys could learn a thing or three from The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.
This fresh-feeling comedy, the brainchild of Daniel Palladino & Amy Sherman-Palladino leaves almost nothing to be desired. This is a full-bodied comedy series that really grabs your attention and never lets it go. Everything from the camera work, to the sets, to costuming is very well done and does a more than adequate job in immersing you in a lush, colorful, mid-century snapshot of 1960's New York.
Miriam "Midge" Maisel, the matriarch-in-training of her young nuclear family, exceeds by every measure to be the wife she believes her husband deserves. She dotes on him, cares for his emotional well- being, and is perfectly happy. Until changes happen that sets her on a path she's not sure she's able to handle.
I can name, both with TV shows and movies, many where the focus was to witness the genesis of a stand-up comedian, or where we look into the life of a seasoned comedian, or view the last bits of a comedian's career. Usually the actor portraying the comedian (or even sometimes an actual comedian portraying one) just isn't funny. We see the story taking pains to make us believe they're hilarious by cracking up the on screen audiences, winning awards or accolades, and receiving praise. It never really works, because unless you can make ME, the real audience, believe he or she is funny, it hasn't done its job.
Rachel Brosnahan is funny. Her timing is perfect. And obviously the jokes have to be good, so the writers are no slouches either, but the material goes nowhere unless you have the right person delivering that dialogue. They've found her. Effortlessly, Brosnahan delivers line after line of well written material with a confidence, brashness, and stereo-typically New York swagger that has you saying "yeah, I can see her doing stand-up". That's rare, and that's very special. De Niro couldn't do it in "The Comedian". Sally Field couldn't do it in "Punchline". Heck, Adam Sandler couldn't really pull it off well in "Funny People". And it has FUNNY in the name for Christ's sake!
The rest of the cast is a manic pleasure, and the show has done a great job with who they've cast to be her family. Tony Shalhoub wasn't in the pilot much, but now that the rest of the episodes have become available for streaming, I see that he stands out with great dialogue he was given and an intensity I hadn't before seen in him. It works. As well, Marin Hinkle who plays Midge's mom, does a wonderful job in the role. We see her character expand exponentially from the pilot with the new episodes.
Every fall that rolls around, I get excited to see the shows and which ones I think will swim or sink, and I believe we have a winner here.
What may seem to be a standard, formulaic "dramedy" really has a feel of its own. There are comparable shows in level of quality, but as far as I'm concerned, none just outright better. I hope it maintains its quality and has a nice, long run.
This is what it a real comedy series should be. They've also found a real charmer in Rachel Brosnahan, who's not just lovely and energetic, but genuinely funny. A cast of bright characters with great writing rounds out this great show. The other guys could learn a thing or three from The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.
This fresh-feeling comedy, the brainchild of Daniel Palladino & Amy Sherman-Palladino leaves almost nothing to be desired. This is a full-bodied comedy series that really grabs your attention and never lets it go. Everything from the camera work, to the sets, to costuming is very well done and does a more than adequate job in immersing you in a lush, colorful, mid-century snapshot of 1960's New York.
Miriam "Midge" Maisel, the matriarch-in-training of her young nuclear family, exceeds by every measure to be the wife she believes her husband deserves. She dotes on him, cares for his emotional well- being, and is perfectly happy. Until changes happen that sets her on a path she's not sure she's able to handle.
I can name, both with TV shows and movies, many where the focus was to witness the genesis of a stand-up comedian, or where we look into the life of a seasoned comedian, or view the last bits of a comedian's career. Usually the actor portraying the comedian (or even sometimes an actual comedian portraying one) just isn't funny. We see the story taking pains to make us believe they're hilarious by cracking up the on screen audiences, winning awards or accolades, and receiving praise. It never really works, because unless you can make ME, the real audience, believe he or she is funny, it hasn't done its job.
Rachel Brosnahan is funny. Her timing is perfect. And obviously the jokes have to be good, so the writers are no slouches either, but the material goes nowhere unless you have the right person delivering that dialogue. They've found her. Effortlessly, Brosnahan delivers line after line of well written material with a confidence, brashness, and stereo-typically New York swagger that has you saying "yeah, I can see her doing stand-up". That's rare, and that's very special. De Niro couldn't do it in "The Comedian". Sally Field couldn't do it in "Punchline". Heck, Adam Sandler couldn't really pull it off well in "Funny People". And it has FUNNY in the name for Christ's sake!
The rest of the cast is a manic pleasure, and the show has done a great job with who they've cast to be her family. Tony Shalhoub wasn't in the pilot much, but now that the rest of the episodes have become available for streaming, I see that he stands out with great dialogue he was given and an intensity I hadn't before seen in him. It works. As well, Marin Hinkle who plays Midge's mom, does a wonderful job in the role. We see her character expand exponentially from the pilot with the new episodes.
Every fall that rolls around, I get excited to see the shows and which ones I think will swim or sink, and I believe we have a winner here.
What may seem to be a standard, formulaic "dramedy" really has a feel of its own. There are comparable shows in level of quality, but as far as I'm concerned, none just outright better. I hope it maintains its quality and has a nice, long run.
Quality! But not as satisfying as 1-3 seasons
rwscrnn31 May 2023
I totally understand why they did what they did with the final season but I still don't love it. Season one and even season two and three were so charming and captivating because it was such a insular succinct story and world-you felt safe in this little world they created through the music and actors and characters and sets and costumes especially. Season four and five try to get too big and expansive which again I understand why-they were trying to build more into it and expand the story to the very end of Midges life, and explore some other themes and aspects of her life that weren't able to just be covered in the 1960s world and time frame. But honestly we didn't need it-it wasn't necessary; we would've been perfectly happy staying in the small world they created and just exploring and enjoying that place in space and who the character was in that time we didn't need to see the bitter or not bitter end. They also REALLY did us dirty by dropping Luke Kirby and Lenny Bruce almost entirely from the fifth season. They were so good together and the performances of them two on screen were so fun and so rich and so meaningful and we didn't get to see any of it or enjoy that! Again I understand that they felt Lenny Bruce served specific purpose and he wasn't really needed for that purpose in the same way in the fifth season but again we just wanted to enjoy the characters on screen we weren't asking for some great deep thing we just wanted to see them! Not only that but we got cheap replacement of Gordon ford-like who cares about him! His scene with midge were so meh! I DID love Carr and his rel with Susie-super cute.
The fifth season was also like a Gilmore girls reunion in a way that didn't really make sense. For example they brought back Milo as handsome man completely pointlessly and a lot of the other "funny" bits they were including throughout the season seemed very forced and pointless (eg zeldas plot) again because we lost a cohesive arc and line for the whole story so it just felt like bits and pieces together. They were good bits and pieces with some good writing and good jokes and good feeling moments (Tony shaloubs restaurant speech) but it didn't all go together cohesively because they were trying to do too much.
Also Midges character more broadly-and really Amy Sherman Palladinos writing-she seems to have these strong independent women but over and over the story progresses and the characters are lifted up both on this show and Gilmore girls by these magical men who fall in love with the leading ladies and basically do everything and give everything to them so it's like you're preaching independence yet there's always a man being the catalyst moving the plot forward. And this next point which mostly I like because I like living in a happy idealized world which is how ASP writes (except when it comes to the romantic relationships of her characters then it's all disaster and garbage over and over again-which is not what we want!), everyone always LOVES the main character. For example, I found it extremely unbelievable that male writing staff would be so quickly accepting and supportive of MM! So yeah while last season was solid and actually pretty good as far as endings go, I miss the MMM of season 1 And I miss Luke Kirby.
The fifth season was also like a Gilmore girls reunion in a way that didn't really make sense. For example they brought back Milo as handsome man completely pointlessly and a lot of the other "funny" bits they were including throughout the season seemed very forced and pointless (eg zeldas plot) again because we lost a cohesive arc and line for the whole story so it just felt like bits and pieces together. They were good bits and pieces with some good writing and good jokes and good feeling moments (Tony shaloubs restaurant speech) but it didn't all go together cohesively because they were trying to do too much.
Also Midges character more broadly-and really Amy Sherman Palladinos writing-she seems to have these strong independent women but over and over the story progresses and the characters are lifted up both on this show and Gilmore girls by these magical men who fall in love with the leading ladies and basically do everything and give everything to them so it's like you're preaching independence yet there's always a man being the catalyst moving the plot forward. And this next point which mostly I like because I like living in a happy idealized world which is how ASP writes (except when it comes to the romantic relationships of her characters then it's all disaster and garbage over and over again-which is not what we want!), everyone always LOVES the main character. For example, I found it extremely unbelievable that male writing staff would be so quickly accepting and supportive of MM! So yeah while last season was solid and actually pretty good as far as endings go, I miss the MMM of season 1 And I miss Luke Kirby.
Bring on Season 3 PLEASE!!!
redmondgarmony8 December 2018
Superb writing, comic geniuses are definitely on board. The sight gags in Series 2 (eg Susie's plunger and camp stalker, the telethon) are especially priceless. Arguably the funniest and most philosophical show, well balanced with drama, I've ever seen. The setting, wardrobe, music and production is impeccable and elevates this above anything in decades.
Crisp, fresh, hilarious
penniweninger20 March 2017
We've recently retired and are enjoying a lot of television time. The good news is there is a lot of TV available. The bad news is that it can't possibly all be good. At some point as you flick through the options, you can't help but laugh at the absurdity of some of these shows. I get the challenge to producers and artists to fill hundreds of channels, 24/7, I really do. I've learned to seriously adjust my expectations. But frankly, the ones that look promising and don't deliver are more disappointing than the ones that didn't look appetizing in the first place. You get what I'm saying, right?
All that said - don't be afraid to have high expectations of this show. Just make sure you listen closely to the dialog so you don't miss one delicious bit of hilarity which often occurs in simultaneous dialogue at a dramatic moment.
The acting is crisp, the caricatures of a rich New York Jewish family in the 50s are spot on. Rachel Brosnahan is intelligent, independent, strong and funny. Her energy paired with Alex Borstein's drollness leaves me clamoring to find out how this all plays out.
(PS - if you like it, I encourage you to take the time to fill out Amazon's survey which will help them decide whether to continue this series. I'd hate to see it go the way of their terrific series, Good Girls Revolt, which was discontinued after one season because it premiered in the thick of the 2016 election when its primary audience was otherwise occupied.)
All that said - don't be afraid to have high expectations of this show. Just make sure you listen closely to the dialog so you don't miss one delicious bit of hilarity which often occurs in simultaneous dialogue at a dramatic moment.
The acting is crisp, the caricatures of a rich New York Jewish family in the 50s are spot on. Rachel Brosnahan is intelligent, independent, strong and funny. Her energy paired with Alex Borstein's drollness leaves me clamoring to find out how this all plays out.
(PS - if you like it, I encourage you to take the time to fill out Amazon's survey which will help them decide whether to continue this series. I'd hate to see it go the way of their terrific series, Good Girls Revolt, which was discontinued after one season because it premiered in the thick of the 2016 election when its primary audience was otherwise occupied.)
So sad it's ended....back to the beginning again then!
Committed_to_nitrate4 June 2023
To call a programme marvellous might sound a bit pompous but with this it was totally apt. There have been a few TV shows that are more than just things to watch. Programmes like THE SOPRANOS, MORSE/ENDEAVOUR, GAME OF THRONES become part of your life . The characters become real people you care about and the writers, gods!
THE MARVELLOUS MRS MAISEL Shouldn't this marvellous but it is. It's only about a young woman who wants to be a stand up comedian. So what - nothing special there. What makes this marvellous is both the characters and the luscious authentic 1950s/1960s feel. The feel is just so real that you'll start to believe you were actually born fifty years earlier than you were.
The entire cast are all perfect - how many times can you say that about everyone but they are. Rachel Brosnahan however is indeed marvellous. This show has something for everyone: style and substance, comedy and tragedy, silliness and absolute believability.
THE MARVELLOUS MRS MAISEL Shouldn't this marvellous but it is. It's only about a young woman who wants to be a stand up comedian. So what - nothing special there. What makes this marvellous is both the characters and the luscious authentic 1950s/1960s feel. The feel is just so real that you'll start to believe you were actually born fifty years earlier than you were.
The entire cast are all perfect - how many times can you say that about everyone but they are. Rachel Brosnahan however is indeed marvellous. This show has something for everyone: style and substance, comedy and tragedy, silliness and absolute believability.
Brilliant start but the shine goes off by Season 2 and by Season 3 it's annoyingly stale and repetitive
grantss24 March 2022
(Reviewed after Season 4).
It's 1958 and Miriam "Midge" Maisel and her husband Joel seem to have everything they ever wanted. Then Joel leaves Midge for his secretary and her world falls apart. In a drunken rage she lets out all of her anger and frustration in a passionate rant...and discovers she has a talent for comedy. Could this be her calling?
I was hooked on this show almost from the first minute and in Season 1 it just seemed to get better and better. Very funny with a decent plot and some good dramatic moments. Rachel Brosnahan is wonderful, and gorgeous, as Midge, giving her character a great sense of fun, gaiety and quick-wittedness and making for a great amount of character engagement.
Equally impressive is Alex Borstein (of Family Guy fame) as Susie Myerson, Midge's agent. The banter between her and Midge is off-the-charts great, especially in the first two seasons or so.
Completing a trio of great performances and characters is Luke Kirby as the great Lenny Bruce. Weaving in an historic comedian, and one of the magnitude and influence of Lenny Bruce, adds a great sense of realism to proceedings.
Throw in a solid performance by Michael Zegen as Joel and some great supporting characters - Imogene (played by Bailey De Young), Zelda the maid (Matilda Szydagis), the hysterical fortune teller (who really should get much more screentime she's that funny) - and you have a warm, funny, engaging show.
Not all the characters are great though and this is where the negatives start. All four parents of Midge and Joel are incredibly irritating - individually obsessive-compulsive, prissy, overbearing, rude and intrusive. Their traits are initially quirky and funny but the writers keep using these over and over again as punchlines. It becomes very repetitive and annoying, very quickly.
Worse still, these four characters get more and more screentime as the series goes on. Initially I thought they were just there as background characters, to show Midge and Joel's life and the effect of them splitting up, and that they would just fade from the scene as Midge's career takes off. Unfortunately, the opposite occurs. They become major characters, with their own sub-plots, independent of Midge's life.
This makes for an uneven viewing experience from Season 2 onwards. On the one hand we have the engaging, funny scenes involving Midge and Susie (and Lenny Bruce or Imogene on occasion) and on the other the irritating scenes involving the parents.
Season 3 took another step backwards when some of the Midge-Susie sub-plots and developments became quite silly. There's still the occasional zinger but the writing lacks the freshness of Season 1, relying largely on quickfire banter that by now is repetitive and annoying.
Season 4 is more of the same, complete with plot development that doesn't make much sense. Every time Midge catches a break she deliberately messes it up or turns it down, seemingly based on the flimsiest of principles. The engagement factor wanes when the hero keeps making stupid, self-destructive decisions. It's as if the producers and writers are deliberately avoiding progressing the plot, likely to draw out the number of seasons and thus maximise revenue.
Minimise the screentime of the parents, focus entirely on Midge, have a plot that moves forward rather than goes around in circles and this would make a brilliant mini-series. But where's the money in only making 10 or so episodes...?
If there is a Season 5 (and it looks like there will be), I won't be watching it.
Season ratings: S1 9/10, S2 8/10, S3 6/10, S4 5/10.
It's 1958 and Miriam "Midge" Maisel and her husband Joel seem to have everything they ever wanted. Then Joel leaves Midge for his secretary and her world falls apart. In a drunken rage she lets out all of her anger and frustration in a passionate rant...and discovers she has a talent for comedy. Could this be her calling?
I was hooked on this show almost from the first minute and in Season 1 it just seemed to get better and better. Very funny with a decent plot and some good dramatic moments. Rachel Brosnahan is wonderful, and gorgeous, as Midge, giving her character a great sense of fun, gaiety and quick-wittedness and making for a great amount of character engagement.
Equally impressive is Alex Borstein (of Family Guy fame) as Susie Myerson, Midge's agent. The banter between her and Midge is off-the-charts great, especially in the first two seasons or so.
Completing a trio of great performances and characters is Luke Kirby as the great Lenny Bruce. Weaving in an historic comedian, and one of the magnitude and influence of Lenny Bruce, adds a great sense of realism to proceedings.
Throw in a solid performance by Michael Zegen as Joel and some great supporting characters - Imogene (played by Bailey De Young), Zelda the maid (Matilda Szydagis), the hysterical fortune teller (who really should get much more screentime she's that funny) - and you have a warm, funny, engaging show.
Not all the characters are great though and this is where the negatives start. All four parents of Midge and Joel are incredibly irritating - individually obsessive-compulsive, prissy, overbearing, rude and intrusive. Their traits are initially quirky and funny but the writers keep using these over and over again as punchlines. It becomes very repetitive and annoying, very quickly.
Worse still, these four characters get more and more screentime as the series goes on. Initially I thought they were just there as background characters, to show Midge and Joel's life and the effect of them splitting up, and that they would just fade from the scene as Midge's career takes off. Unfortunately, the opposite occurs. They become major characters, with their own sub-plots, independent of Midge's life.
This makes for an uneven viewing experience from Season 2 onwards. On the one hand we have the engaging, funny scenes involving Midge and Susie (and Lenny Bruce or Imogene on occasion) and on the other the irritating scenes involving the parents.
Season 3 took another step backwards when some of the Midge-Susie sub-plots and developments became quite silly. There's still the occasional zinger but the writing lacks the freshness of Season 1, relying largely on quickfire banter that by now is repetitive and annoying.
Season 4 is more of the same, complete with plot development that doesn't make much sense. Every time Midge catches a break she deliberately messes it up or turns it down, seemingly based on the flimsiest of principles. The engagement factor wanes when the hero keeps making stupid, self-destructive decisions. It's as if the producers and writers are deliberately avoiding progressing the plot, likely to draw out the number of seasons and thus maximise revenue.
Minimise the screentime of the parents, focus entirely on Midge, have a plot that moves forward rather than goes around in circles and this would make a brilliant mini-series. But where's the money in only making 10 or so episodes...?
If there is a Season 5 (and it looks like there will be), I won't be watching it.
Season ratings: S1 9/10, S2 8/10, S3 6/10, S4 5/10.
What a Gem! Amazing Doesn't Begin to Cover it.
karenn113 July 2018
I almost missed this series. I was half way through the first episode, wasn't invested in any of the characters, and saw nothing amazing enough to make we watch the second episode. But, I hung in, deciding to watch the entire episode, as I had some free time to waste. There's something like a nuclear bomb that gets dropped just before this episode ends, and if you miss that, you'll miss the brilliance behind the rest of the series. Midge suddenly becomes, and remains, so much more than amazing. She's one of the most delicious characters I've seen in a very long time. Clever repartee, an array of quirky characters, and a machine gun approach to dialogue that drew me into hanging onto every exchange, even though I usually agonize through four letter words. They aren't constant enough to assault those who don't appreciate them, so it was a small price to pay for some of the best screenwriting I've seen in a long time. Don't miss this series!
The Marvelous Mrs Maisel is marvelous!!
steveinadelaide29 May 2023
We have just concluded our delightful journey through the final season of The Marvelous Mrs Maisel, an exquisite blend of comedy and drama that effortlessly transports viewers back to the vibrant atmosphere of the late 1950s and early 1960s. Set against the backdrop of New York City, this series revolves around the life of Midge Maisel, an unsuspecting housewife who stumbles upon her hidden talent for stand-up comedy. Brace yourself for a captivating narrative filled with clever banter, colourful characters, and nostalgic references that pay homage to the cultural tapestry of that era. Within its storytelling tapestry, the show fearlessly delves into significant themes such as sexism, anti-Semitism, and the intricate dynamics of familial relationships.
At the helm of this masterpiece is the indomitable Amy Sherman-Palladino, a renowned creative force known for her distinctive and fast-paced storytelling style. Not only does she spearhead the creation of this series, but she also takes on the roles of director and writer for many episodes, infusing the show with a consistent and unmistakable voice.
The exceptional ensemble cast breathes life into their characters, enveloping them in undeniable charm and charisma. Rachel Brosnahan shines brilliantly in the titular role of Midge, portraying a woman who is intelligent, witty, and resilient. Alex Borstein delivers a side-splitting performance as Susie, Midge's tenacious and fiercely loyal manager. Tony Shalhoub and Marin Hinkle flawlessly embody Midge's parents, Abe and Rose, as they navigate the challenges brought about by their daughter's unconventional choices. Special guest appearances by Jane Lynch, Luke Kirby, and Jason Ralph elevate the show's magnetic appeal.
Beyond its undeniable entertainment value, The Marvelous Mrs Maisel embarks on an inspirational journey. It serves as a testament to Midge's triumph over the obstacles and prejudices she faces while daring to venture into a male-dominated industry. Moreover, the series artfully portrays Midge's quest to balance her personal and professional life, unearthing her true identity and empowering her to find her voice. Through its exuberant exploration of humour, creativity, and bravery in the face of adversity, the show celebrates the transformative power of these virtues.
Without a shadow of a doubt, The Marvelous Mrs Maisel deserves the highest praise and the plethora of accolades it has received. It is a rare gem that effortlessly weaves elements of humour, drama, romance, and historical context, captivating us with every twist and turn. As one of the standout shows on Amazon Prime Video and a personal favourite, I wholeheartedly and enthusiastically recommend indulging in this exquisite masterpiece.
At the helm of this masterpiece is the indomitable Amy Sherman-Palladino, a renowned creative force known for her distinctive and fast-paced storytelling style. Not only does she spearhead the creation of this series, but she also takes on the roles of director and writer for many episodes, infusing the show with a consistent and unmistakable voice.
The exceptional ensemble cast breathes life into their characters, enveloping them in undeniable charm and charisma. Rachel Brosnahan shines brilliantly in the titular role of Midge, portraying a woman who is intelligent, witty, and resilient. Alex Borstein delivers a side-splitting performance as Susie, Midge's tenacious and fiercely loyal manager. Tony Shalhoub and Marin Hinkle flawlessly embody Midge's parents, Abe and Rose, as they navigate the challenges brought about by their daughter's unconventional choices. Special guest appearances by Jane Lynch, Luke Kirby, and Jason Ralph elevate the show's magnetic appeal.
Beyond its undeniable entertainment value, The Marvelous Mrs Maisel embarks on an inspirational journey. It serves as a testament to Midge's triumph over the obstacles and prejudices she faces while daring to venture into a male-dominated industry. Moreover, the series artfully portrays Midge's quest to balance her personal and professional life, unearthing her true identity and empowering her to find her voice. Through its exuberant exploration of humour, creativity, and bravery in the face of adversity, the show celebrates the transformative power of these virtues.
Without a shadow of a doubt, The Marvelous Mrs Maisel deserves the highest praise and the plethora of accolades it has received. It is a rare gem that effortlessly weaves elements of humour, drama, romance, and historical context, captivating us with every twist and turn. As one of the standout shows on Amazon Prime Video and a personal favourite, I wholeheartedly and enthusiastically recommend indulging in this exquisite masterpiece.
We keep watching, but I'm not sure why
jordan224027 December 2019
By season 3, the main character has gotten almost too annoying to watch. I find the rhythm in her dialog delivery grating, and the character herself is deserving of little respect and empathy. The Susie and Abe characters generally delivered the only humorous lines in the show (which were few and far between), but Susie has gotten to the point where they are relying solely on vulgarity for humor, which misses more than it hits (though it does hit occasionally). I think they've added too many story lines in season 3, and they've also added a number of musical sequences, most of which just make the episode longer than necessary. I think they could have easily cut each episode down to about half and hour, which would make it a bit easier to sit through. If there is a season 4, I'm not sure I'll continue watching. Can't speak for the wife, but she rarely even chuckles during any of the episodes, so I'm not sure how entertained she is by them either. This has become one of those series where we feel almost obligated to finish a season because we've already invested so much time in it, but as with 'The Affair,' which we stopped watching after the first couple of shows in season 5, we might not give the next season much time to impress us.
Season One is Best
ablack9026 August 2020
Warning: Spoilers
I watched all 3 seasons. Season one follows Midge, a 1950s Jewish housewife, discovering she wants a career in stand up comedy. Her husband, Joel, leaves her after having an affair but he remains in the storyline since they have kids together.
Midge's father Abe, and her manager Suzie get the best laughs as they are excellent comedy actors. Both Joel and Midge's families are Jewish so there's plenty kvetching and quarrelling. I enjoyed season one best but seasons two and three seem to drag.
Midge's character arc is problematic. She has balls because even though she comes from a pampered lifestyle, she puts herself out there as a comedienne night after night. But she seems tone deaf to the plight of her manager Suzie. She remains shallow in all things appearance.
Season two features a trip to the Catskills resort and Midge's affair with a doctor named Benjamin which I could have done without. It was boring. Throughout all 3 seasons it's clear Midge and Joel still love one another. Season two also has Midge getting a gig opening for a singer, Shy Baldwin. I thought this material was fun and enjoyed Shy's manager played by the wonderful Sterling K Brown.
Season three focuses on Midge in radio and Joel renovating his new night club. Just not enough material for a story. As wonderful as many of the characters are and as quick as the writing is, there needs to be a better story for season four.
Midge's father Abe, and her manager Suzie get the best laughs as they are excellent comedy actors. Both Joel and Midge's families are Jewish so there's plenty kvetching and quarrelling. I enjoyed season one best but seasons two and three seem to drag.
Midge's character arc is problematic. She has balls because even though she comes from a pampered lifestyle, she puts herself out there as a comedienne night after night. But she seems tone deaf to the plight of her manager Suzie. She remains shallow in all things appearance.
Season two features a trip to the Catskills resort and Midge's affair with a doctor named Benjamin which I could have done without. It was boring. Throughout all 3 seasons it's clear Midge and Joel still love one another. Season two also has Midge getting a gig opening for a singer, Shy Baldwin. I thought this material was fun and enjoyed Shy's manager played by the wonderful Sterling K Brown.
Season three focuses on Midge in radio and Joel renovating his new night club. Just not enough material for a story. As wonderful as many of the characters are and as quick as the writing is, there needs to be a better story for season four.
The most refreshing comedy in years
postofficecb2 February 2022
This is a comedy about stand-up comedy, so it has to be pretty darn witty. And it is. But it's so much more.
The characters are incredibly likeable, particularly the lead who suffers sexism and setbacks with a plucky determination and a dream all her own. Those surrounding her are fascinating and unique, from her father (wonderfully played by Tony Shalhoub) to her manager and others, including a recurring version of Lenny Bruce, which is quite a gas.
The setting offers more flavour as we see, hear and smell late 50s Manhattan, particularly through the lens of an upper middle class Jewish-American family.
It's a show that is rich in personality and consistently so over 3 seasons. You'll be hooked by episode 2. Enjoy and, ahem, "tits up".
The characters are incredibly likeable, particularly the lead who suffers sexism and setbacks with a plucky determination and a dream all her own. Those surrounding her are fascinating and unique, from her father (wonderfully played by Tony Shalhoub) to her manager and others, including a recurring version of Lenny Bruce, which is quite a gas.
The setting offers more flavour as we see, hear and smell late 50s Manhattan, particularly through the lens of an upper middle class Jewish-American family.
It's a show that is rich in personality and consistently so over 3 seasons. You'll be hooked by episode 2. Enjoy and, ahem, "tits up".
Exhausted itself
supermellowcali21 February 2022
I thought this was a good story and a fun show in season 1. Maybe it just ran its course but the season 4 episode I just watched was tedious and not funny. Maybe if her jokes were better? The scenes were interesting at first, and shocking the audience was fun but, after that wears off, it's not very interesting.
One of the best shows ever made - a true masterpiece
indivum30 June 2023
First off, it's the only cinematic reenactment of the 50's and 60's I've seen that has actually felt as that time. The production is flawless, from start to finish and down to the very last detail. The acting is some of the best I've ever seen, every single person, from the smallest to the biggest roles, feel 100% real in their characters. The surroundings, the homes, the clothes, the script, the editing - everything is jaw-dropping. I was in awe from the very first episode and I bawled my eyes out almost the entire last season, in between bursting out in laughs naturally. It didn't make me cry because it was sad, but because it was so beautiful. It was deep and life affirming. The last episode had me ugly crying and my heart racing with excitement.
Very few shows, especially great shows, manage to make a good ending. So many shows have ruined themselves with bad endings. The last season of The Marvelous Mrs Maisel was a masterpiece through and through. The way they decided to tell the story in it's last chapters was just brilliant. The writers of this show has my utmost respect.
I'm going to miss this show so much, but I also know that I'm going to rewatch this show many MANY times. Because it is truly a masterpiece. Cinematic magic at its absolute best.
Thank you to everyone involved in creating this jewel in cinematic art. My hat's off to you.
Very few shows, especially great shows, manage to make a good ending. So many shows have ruined themselves with bad endings. The last season of The Marvelous Mrs Maisel was a masterpiece through and through. The way they decided to tell the story in it's last chapters was just brilliant. The writers of this show has my utmost respect.
I'm going to miss this show so much, but I also know that I'm going to rewatch this show many MANY times. Because it is truly a masterpiece. Cinematic magic at its absolute best.
Thank you to everyone involved in creating this jewel in cinematic art. My hat's off to you.
show commits suicide in S03 -- no note found at the scene
A_Different_Drummer9 April 2020
Wasn't streaming supposed to usher in a new universe where shows got better over time without the network watchdogs on their heels? First season brilliant. Awards. Prestige. Double everyone's salary. Learn how to graciously accept awards. Second season did not raise the bar but thankfully held it. Third season cringe-worthy, episodes so off-track you will wear out the fast forward button. As if the writers/producers developed amnesia and forgot what made the show a hit in the first place.
Great start but slipping off the rails
trademarcdesigns21 December 2021
I thought Season 1 was great. By no means an accurate reflection of life in the 1950's, but hey, all sitcoms are 90% fantasy, right?
Season 2 seemed to start going off the rails a bit. Not too far off, but the show was slipping.
By Season 3 I was beginning to wonder if I was watching the same show. Instead of seeing Midge's stand-up routines - one of the funniest parts of the two previous seasons - we were now listening to Shy Baldwin crooning - again and again and again - often the same song, always the same style. It got old fast.
The narration, which was new to the 3rd season and might have been quirky as a one-off, very quickly became forced and tedious. And by the end of the season, Midge Maisel is no longer the up-and-coming comedy star, but rather the schlemiel who can't win for losing. I wonder how they plan to recover from this...
I intend to check out Season 4 on the chance that Season 3 was an aberration, but I won't be holding my breath.
And finally, I hope everyone realizes that some of those fabulous hats were worn backwards. The pretty bows usually went in the back or on the side. Just sayin'...
Season 2 seemed to start going off the rails a bit. Not too far off, but the show was slipping.
By Season 3 I was beginning to wonder if I was watching the same show. Instead of seeing Midge's stand-up routines - one of the funniest parts of the two previous seasons - we were now listening to Shy Baldwin crooning - again and again and again - often the same song, always the same style. It got old fast.
The narration, which was new to the 3rd season and might have been quirky as a one-off, very quickly became forced and tedious. And by the end of the season, Midge Maisel is no longer the up-and-coming comedy star, but rather the schlemiel who can't win for losing. I wonder how they plan to recover from this...
I intend to check out Season 4 on the chance that Season 3 was an aberration, but I won't be holding my breath.
And finally, I hope everyone realizes that some of those fabulous hats were worn backwards. The pretty bows usually went in the back or on the side. Just sayin'...
Meh
fwdixon12 April 2019
I just binge watched both seasons of Mrs. Maisel.
Frankly, I was not impressed, especially by Season 2, in which the show went completely off the tracks.
The Mrs. Maisel stand up comedy is, well, not funny, rarely bringing a smile to my face.
Are we to believe 50's audiences would enjoy this woman's constant self-pitying whining and kvetching?
Since the entire premise of the show is what a fantastic talent Mrs. M is (as her Greek chorus of sycophants never tire of telling us), this is a serious problem.
I also have a problem with the rapid rise of Mrs. M in the stand up world and her amazing ability to meet celebrities of the era, it's way too contrived.
But the main problem is that the Mrs. Maisel character isn't likeable - she's a spoiled, self-centered, self-pitying Jewish American princess with an overinflated sense of entitlement. She treats her children like accessories, dumping them off at her parents while she pursues her questionable comedy career.
EDIT: Season 3 wasn't bad and Season 4 left me wanting to see more Midge.
Frankly, I was not impressed, especially by Season 2, in which the show went completely off the tracks.
The Mrs. Maisel stand up comedy is, well, not funny, rarely bringing a smile to my face.
Are we to believe 50's audiences would enjoy this woman's constant self-pitying whining and kvetching?
Since the entire premise of the show is what a fantastic talent Mrs. M is (as her Greek chorus of sycophants never tire of telling us), this is a serious problem.
I also have a problem with the rapid rise of Mrs. M in the stand up world and her amazing ability to meet celebrities of the era, it's way too contrived.
But the main problem is that the Mrs. Maisel character isn't likeable - she's a spoiled, self-centered, self-pitying Jewish American princess with an overinflated sense of entitlement. She treats her children like accessories, dumping them off at her parents while she pursues her questionable comedy career.
EDIT: Season 3 wasn't bad and Season 4 left me wanting to see more Midge.
I wish it wouldn't end!!
mazzacurry27 May 2023
That being said it's one of the best endings of a series I've ever seen. I Love that all the supporting actors were included, too many times they are left behind when in reality they make the show more interesting and relevant. It's hard to find shows that are this well written, not to mention the authentic amazing sets and fashion. It's refreshing to have a story without the shock and awe, or violence. This was such a poignant story on so many levels, but you always laugh!! I don't know how they got the set to capture NYC so amazingly and realistic! A bow to to the costume designer and wardrobe, brilliant and accurate fashion design!! More please!
Started s. 3 but I think I might be done
moviemom2315 December 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Season 1 was amazing. Season 2 was a mixed bag but I mostly enjoyed it. Season 3 is getting unwatchable for me.
It's weird, I still do love the main characters, but something happened when Shy Baldwin came on the scene. It's not the same. He was great for a foil for her success, but as a main character it feels very forced and now there's just too many side stories. What happened to Ben? She just drops him like a hot potato, and boom he's gone... I feel like watching Season 2 was a waste of time.
And I must agree with many other reviewers, she's an awful mother. Her son is disturbing to watch, I feel so sorry for the kid. She truly doesn't give a crap about him!
Sure, it's a shallow show, it's fun, colorful, and frenetic, I get that. It feels like a silly Broadway show at times. But when the serious stuff gets shoved in, it feels wrong. Season 3 is a mess. Characters acting out of character, new characters and side storylines are annoying (the beatnicks, ugh). When it's not funny, it's hard to forgive the glaring inconsistencies. I think this show needs to decide what it wants to be, and make a commitment to who the main characters are and stick with them, let them grow but don't make them do stuff the person in Season 1 would NEVER do (Abe opening his home to those weirdos, the Mom giving up her inheritance..nope)
So yeah, unless nothing else is on, I'm done. It was fun while it lasted!
It's weird, I still do love the main characters, but something happened when Shy Baldwin came on the scene. It's not the same. He was great for a foil for her success, but as a main character it feels very forced and now there's just too many side stories. What happened to Ben? She just drops him like a hot potato, and boom he's gone... I feel like watching Season 2 was a waste of time.
And I must agree with many other reviewers, she's an awful mother. Her son is disturbing to watch, I feel so sorry for the kid. She truly doesn't give a crap about him!
Sure, it's a shallow show, it's fun, colorful, and frenetic, I get that. It feels like a silly Broadway show at times. But when the serious stuff gets shoved in, it feels wrong. Season 3 is a mess. Characters acting out of character, new characters and side storylines are annoying (the beatnicks, ugh). When it's not funny, it's hard to forgive the glaring inconsistencies. I think this show needs to decide what it wants to be, and make a commitment to who the main characters are and stick with them, let them grow but don't make them do stuff the person in Season 1 would NEVER do (Abe opening his home to those weirdos, the Mom giving up her inheritance..nope)
So yeah, unless nothing else is on, I'm done. It was fun while it lasted!
Irritating
Scott_Mercer13 January 2020
Unrealistic overwritten dialog, contrived storytelling and woeful plot mechanics.
Can't identify with any of the characters as they are not real people but cardboard stereotypes, so the viewer has no stakes in the outcome.
If you want good 50s/60s atmosphere with cars, clothing, etc., instead watch Mad Men again, one of finest television programs ever made.
Can't identify with any of the characters as they are not real people but cardboard stereotypes, so the viewer has no stakes in the outcome.
If you want good 50s/60s atmosphere with cars, clothing, etc., instead watch Mad Men again, one of finest television programs ever made.
Season 4, is this a comedy?
caeevans5 March 2022
I don't know what the ... happened, but this season is appalling. It is not funny, the story line is repeating itself and some of the choices the characters are making, just don't make sense. I understand that there will be a season 5, but let's face it, if anyone keeps watching, it will only be to see Susie.
A bagel with a schmear
jgreco725 April 2023
"The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel," in its fifth and final season (oy gevalt!), is proof that even for a clever idea, like Mrs. Adler's Gefilte fish, there is no such thing as an unlimited shelf-life. What began six years ago as a nostalgic trip to the halcyon fifties and a housewife's unlikely rise in stand-up, harking back to those early days of Borscht Belt comedy, has now reverted to type: a potpourri of Jewish jokes as as stale as week-old challah.
Reuniting the team of Brosnahan and Borstein, in their Emmy-winning roles as comic and agent, the series resumes Amy Sherman-Palladino's feminist fantasy that poses a what-if story about a Joan Rivers type and the actual Lenny Bruce, who meet cute (in lockup for indecency, of course) and become fast friends and lovers. Granted, an improbable premise, yet a promising one that delivers at first, but soon goes trite and forced, and so unconvincing as to be less fiction than science fiction.
Rivers was, arguably, a trailblazing performer, like Bruce, but far more mainstream and middle-America acceptable than he (at least in early days). After all, one doesn't become Ed Sullivan's favorite, as Rivers was proud to admit, with off-color humor and an arsenal of f-bombs like that of Pallidino's dream girl. The salty gal from Larchmont in Channel suits and pearls is reimagined here as an upper east-side JAP with children and brisket, who assumes her husband's unsuccessful sideline in stand-up one night in a drunken free-for-all, expletives not deleted. It's a lark with schtick that sets her on a path to moderate success. (Although Rivers is apparently the inspiration, the more likely one would be Jewish actress and screenwriter Gertrude Berg, of the Park Avenue Bergs, who never hung a wash out a window.) With her inveterate cap-wearing sidekick in tow, Mrs. Maisel, as she's billed, sets out on a series of improbable--yet comically hopeful and emancipating--adventures in show biz, in pristine period sets and clothes, the way a fantasist always remembers the past. Her humor doles out slices of life, more indoctrinating than self-effacing like Rivers, and always seems filtered through a contemporary, me-too sensibility, as if to suggest a routine of a comic transported backward in time (hence, science fiction). Unfortunately, the jokes fall flat, as they usually do in movies about stand-up comics (compare "This Is My Life," "Punchline," and "Lenny"), where only the on-screen audience provides laughter, on cue.
Palladino, a cockeyed visionary, and a likely student of screwball comedy, especially its sharp-witted, snappy banter, has taken great pains to make her dialogue swing in true screwball spirit; however, her wisecracking comes off not so much as effortlessly as labored, and more imposed for effect than natural (compare Mark Sandrich, Ernst Lubitsch, Billy Wilder, and Leo McCarey).
After six seasons, tedium has set in like rigor mortise. If you suspend credulity, as the series has done, you might watch just to enjoy the scenery, the mid-century decor and couture (apparently, everyone in the fifties followed the latest trends), as well as the popular tunes on the hit parade. After all, chopped liver ain't chopped liver without some schmaltz.
Reuniting the team of Brosnahan and Borstein, in their Emmy-winning roles as comic and agent, the series resumes Amy Sherman-Palladino's feminist fantasy that poses a what-if story about a Joan Rivers type and the actual Lenny Bruce, who meet cute (in lockup for indecency, of course) and become fast friends and lovers. Granted, an improbable premise, yet a promising one that delivers at first, but soon goes trite and forced, and so unconvincing as to be less fiction than science fiction.
Rivers was, arguably, a trailblazing performer, like Bruce, but far more mainstream and middle-America acceptable than he (at least in early days). After all, one doesn't become Ed Sullivan's favorite, as Rivers was proud to admit, with off-color humor and an arsenal of f-bombs like that of Pallidino's dream girl. The salty gal from Larchmont in Channel suits and pearls is reimagined here as an upper east-side JAP with children and brisket, who assumes her husband's unsuccessful sideline in stand-up one night in a drunken free-for-all, expletives not deleted. It's a lark with schtick that sets her on a path to moderate success. (Although Rivers is apparently the inspiration, the more likely one would be Jewish actress and screenwriter Gertrude Berg, of the Park Avenue Bergs, who never hung a wash out a window.) With her inveterate cap-wearing sidekick in tow, Mrs. Maisel, as she's billed, sets out on a series of improbable--yet comically hopeful and emancipating--adventures in show biz, in pristine period sets and clothes, the way a fantasist always remembers the past. Her humor doles out slices of life, more indoctrinating than self-effacing like Rivers, and always seems filtered through a contemporary, me-too sensibility, as if to suggest a routine of a comic transported backward in time (hence, science fiction). Unfortunately, the jokes fall flat, as they usually do in movies about stand-up comics (compare "This Is My Life," "Punchline," and "Lenny"), where only the on-screen audience provides laughter, on cue.
Palladino, a cockeyed visionary, and a likely student of screwball comedy, especially its sharp-witted, snappy banter, has taken great pains to make her dialogue swing in true screwball spirit; however, her wisecracking comes off not so much as effortlessly as labored, and more imposed for effect than natural (compare Mark Sandrich, Ernst Lubitsch, Billy Wilder, and Leo McCarey).
After six seasons, tedium has set in like rigor mortise. If you suspend credulity, as the series has done, you might watch just to enjoy the scenery, the mid-century decor and couture (apparently, everyone in the fifties followed the latest trends), as well as the popular tunes on the hit parade. After all, chopped liver ain't chopped liver without some schmaltz.
See also
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