“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” (Amazon Prime)
Do not ask me why but I have just now watched “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”. People have raved to me about its merits for months but I just kept resisting, resisting and resisting. Then one day the light broke through the clouds and I decided to jump into it. I was immediately fascinated and flew through both seasons on Amazon Prime in record time.
When you watch it you are instantly transported back to the late fifties wth the look of the clothes, the shape of the cars, and the sound of the songs. This is the world of Miriam “Midge” Maisel (Rachel Brosnahan). She and her husband Joel (Michael Zegen) are blessed with their comfortable apartment and their two small children. Joel has a good job but he isn’t completely satisfied. He wants to be a stand-up comic, an aspiration Midge supports.
As the show progresses the audience learns that it is the Mrs and not the Mr who has the comedic talent in the Maisel family and that causes some problems. Egged on by the uniquely driven Susie (Alex Borstein), who immediately announces she is Midge’s manager, Mrs. Maisel launches a career as a raunchy and profanity spewing comic.
Although she is quick to put up walls between her new career and her family it does get a bit touchy at times trying to keep everything about comedy separate. Her mother and father, Abe and Rose (Tony Shalhoub and Marin Hinkle), are very proper New York Jews. They are strict adherents of their religion and expect their children to toe that line also.
As created and presented by Amy Sherman-Palladino “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” is a cross between “I Love Lucy,” “Dirty Dancing” and “Auntie Mame.” It is full of surprise twists and absurdly enjoyable moments that are unique in their presentation. There is also a beautiful blend of the sentimental, the romantic and the funny. This show runs the gamut of emotions from one episode to the next.
The show also has enough profanity, nudity, adult situations, etc. to last a lifetime. Mrs Maisel is a “blue” comic along the order of Lenny Bruce. It is sometimes shocking to hear the words spewing from Maisel’s mouth but the comic club audiences love it and so will you.
Brosnahan’s Midge is an adorable character but she is not my favorite. That status goes to Borstein’s Susie, a side-kick who can take on the world and win – most of the time. But win or lose you are always on Susie’s side and that is not the case with Midge. By the middle of season two I was a bit tired of Mrs. Maisel and her me, me, me ways. Its all about her and she wants it to be that way.
Still down deep I love the Mrs Maisel character and all of her friends and family who are along for the ride. Make sure you get to know them as quickly as possible. Just watch one episode and you will totally be hooked. Now I can not wait for Season 3.
“The Amazing Mrs, Maisel” is available on Amazon Prime now.
Jackie K Cooper
www.jackiekcooper.com
