Mrs. Maisel is back!

[MissConductUS]

The 5th season dropped today on Amazon and I'm so excited!

https://www.cnn.com/2023/04/13/entertainment/the-marvelous-mrs-maisel-season-5-review/index.html

Apologies if this has already been discussed. I did look for another thread about it.

Loved the ending but IMHO parts dragged slightly eg the Broadway star on Gordon before her was too long, her parents trying to get a ride also too long.

She seemed single at the end? I thought she might unite with Joel?

My feeling was that she had reunited with Joel but by 2005 he had died?

I’m bereft. Completely bereft. What am I going to do now?!

The only bit that’s bothering me (and I’ve probably missed something), is in the penultimate episode, after Abe’s stunning monologue, Midge gets a phone call and has to leave work immediately. Why? What was that phone call?

@TheBroadintheDaylight to go and bail Susie out of jail!

Yes!!! That was it. Now it all makes perfect sense. Thanks.

According to this Midge does not get back with Joel…https://www.glamour.com/story/the-marvelous-mrs-maisel-series-finale-recap-details/amp

@MissHavershamReturns thanks for the article link, very interesting. Wow! having to clothe 38,000 extras during the run and building all those hats. I had not noticed the white clothes that end each season. The costumiers on the show did an amazing job - one of the best parts of watching it for me!

The bit with them hailing a cab was painful. I was so desperate for as much storyline as possible that I just didn’t have time for it. Impatient to see the whole episode. I’m sure if I watched it again calmer than I will appreciate it’s comedy!

@ReeseWitherfork I completely agree

I wanted to see her relationship with Joel and how that was in the end. Was Joel ok after jail? Shirley would have been beside herself with that.

But instead we got ridiculous cab hailing and a random on the Gordon Ford show

I loved it! Great moments from all the key charcaters. Bittersweet ending of course but perfect in its own way.

I enjoyed the scenes with her old Bryn Mawr gang. It was all about Midge and friendship. The scenes showed how little they still had in common once the reminiscing about college had stopped. It was no one’s fault, it was just how it was. Her glum face as she walked away from them after they’d said their goodbyes, implied that she wasn’t expecting or intending to see them again. It must have been dismal for her, because they’d obviously been extremely close as young women.

In 2005, following the (presumed) death of her parents, brother and Joel, other than Susie she was left with only staff and sycophants. Imogene and her husband may have been alive, but presumably they would have fallen out with her and Joel because the nightclub business would have been ruined when the mob’s influence on it was exposed.

That long dining table was so sad to see. Then, she decided to eat in the kitchen but the staff were busy working and weren’t interacting with her. And she clearly didn’t want to spend a spare Tuesday by herself.

The quiz show scene with Susie was touching, but pathetic too. It’s clear how A Listers can sometimes be very lonely despite superficially “having it all”.

I'd like to think she and Joel got back together in the end.

CGI. 🤔

They hadn’t fallen out with Imogene and Archie.

When Midge was visiting Joel in prison, she brought the signed photos and Joel was happy she remembered but Midge said, “Imogene remembered.” And she mentioned Imogene again I’m sure, as if Imogene was working for her.

During the roast Susie episode, when we found out why Midge and Susie fell out, the guys sitting round talking said, “Joel kept his business partner Archie totally out of it, took all the blame on himself and protected him.”

It sounded like Archie and Imogene continued to be in their lives and be their friends.

Ah that’s great. So they were around for her at least.

Loved this - so sad, so good 🥰

Just fabulous all round. Wish they'd made more.

I enjoyed the scene in the automat restaurant (H&H) - went down an internet rabbit hole looking up the history of those. The period detail throughout the show has been phenomenal.

I was thinking that the detail of the office at Gordon Ford was very Mad Men.

Loved the nod to The Graduate when Susie was banging on the window to get Mike's attention.

Didn't think that all the stuff about Joel's mistress talking to plastic plants was remotely funny.

To the person who said they spent too much time on the "random" on the GF show before Midge's slot- that was Carol Burnett, if you know your Broadway you'd understand why they did that. The actress was very good.

They strung out Lenny's bad set too long. But the scene in the Chinese restaurant was good.

I enjoyed the scene in the automat restaurant (H&H) - went down an internet rabbit hole looking up the history of those. The period detail throughout the show has been phenomenal.

I remember going to Horn and Hardart as a child when visiting the city with my parents. We went to the one near Grand Central Terminal. I remember it exactly as it was created in the show.

Just finished. Absolutely loved this season, and like a PP I felt a bit sad at the ending. Such a beautiful, huge apartment and she’s all alone besides staff, no family left and just Susie on the other end of the phone. I would have been interested to see what her relationship was like with her children by this point. We saw Ethan & Esther in flash forwards in early adulthood, but they would have been middle aged in the final scene. I wonder whether they were in her life much? And the grandchildren? It was a very bittersweet ending.

I don’t think her and Joel ever got back together, but I don’t think either of them truly loved anyone else like they loved each other.

Also, fun fact, the actor who played Mike is Rachel Brosnahan’s IRL husband 😊

Also, I think my favourite minor character this season was the magician guy. He wasn’t in much but when he was, he stole the scene. I actually laughed out loud when he popped up in the wings during Midge’s act!

He was brilliant - but then the minor characters were a real triumph on this show, all so well written. I would have liked to have seen a flash-forward with the magician (I don't think we did, did we?) where he's either the biggest star in Vegas or he's gone in a completely different direction and become a wildly successful businessman or something.

I'm sure he is based on Uri Geller who became incredibly successful.

I finished the show last night and was weeping at the final moments on the Gordon Ford show. I came late to this, but I have to say I now think the show is genius. Skip this if you don't want spoilers.

Here are some of the things I loved about it, starting with what for me is the most precious thing:

1. It portrays a lesbian in a totally cool way, where her sexuality is actually not at all important - and what matters is the way in which her relationship with Midge opens both of them up and helps them succeed. Alex Borstein describes Susie as a sort of Armadillo rolled up defensively, who needed Midge to help her unfurl and become more whole. Amy Sherman-Palladino explains that she wanted the whole show to circle back to their friendship, which is actually more of a love story. Two women defined by their mutual trust and respect, and underpinned by their ambition. That is RARE.
2. That, as with Midge-Susie, the show depicts relationships as complex and multi-layered, including the one between Joel and Midge. I was sobbing when I saw his unalloyed joy at hearing on the phone that she was getting her break. His character arc was one of the most satisfying, as he grows up so much. Their relationship was clearly the only one that really mattered to Midge, aside from the one she had with Susie.
3. The flash-forwards were deftly handled, I felt, with just enough info to reassure that the big break does come, but that there are costs to it (the children, obviously). We all knew she was a shit parent. She had kids because that was the script, and they were just in the way. She was unsuited to parenting. The kids were damaged by it, but the same shit goes on now. I think it was refreshing to see that the damage was acknowledged by the writers, but for me it didn't detract from Midge's accomplishments.
4. I loved the character arc of Abe. I honestly hated his man-baby antics for most of the series, but in season 5 the penny drops: he has underestimated his daughter and been a sexist, and he decides to put his weight behind her efforts. He also sees Esther as a chance to right some wrongs. It was a gloriously feminist awakening in a character I had given up on!
5. I loved the deft integration of the storyline of Lenny Bruce, the acknowledgement of his sad end, and the sense that he was a cheerleader for Midge. The flashback to them practising illegible autographs for when she was famous was gorgeous. I wish Midge had had the balls to see him when he was in a bad way, in 1965, but I understand why she couldn't face it.

And for someone who couldn't care less about fashion, I was entranced by the costumes. And the music. And the choreography. And the incredible camera work and lighting.

Just, wow, from start to finish (except for season 4, which was frustratingly slow.)

I've loved this. And just finished binging it.

But I'm sad now! Sad it's over but also just a bit melancholic about life.

Poor Joel. Worked hard for midge, Carrie Don living his life for her and the kids and eventually going to jail for her in effect when he bargained for her with the mob. His life isn't great.

And yes midge and susies friendship - but midge all alone and not even the friendly banter with those working for her (I loved that zelda eventually argued back and her story arc. As well as showing changing attitudes over the times!!) so all the crazy family stuff has gone.

I loved the comment about really it's about family from one of abes friends at the meal. I loved that whole reflection on life just dropped in.

I'm so pleased susie has that lovely house.

I'm so pleased her parents finally saw her and were proud. But all the emotions.

I'm having a reflectful midlife crisis kind of day so it's fuelling that!