The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Takes a Final Bow: Review of Season 5

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel has finally come to an end with its fifth season, and opinions are divided about its overall quality. However, the journey of a 1950s housewife to a pioneering stand-up comedian was never going to be swift. This review will explore the highs and lows of the final season, and how the series bows out gracefully.

Opening with a Surprise Flash-Forward Scene

The final season opens with a surprise flash-forward scene, hinting at what’s to come in the remaining episodes. Each episode cleverly utilizes a different flashback or flash-forward to tell the whole story.

Picking Up from Where the Previous Season Left Off

The series picks things up from the morning after Midge, the main character played by Rachel Brosnahan, got caught out in a blizzard that ended the previous season. She is bedridden with hypothermia after saying no to a Tony Bennett gig.

Back to the Clubs for Midge and Her Ten Toes

Midge and her agent Susie are back to the clubs for her stand-up routines. Through this final stab at becoming a star, much of the focus is, as always, on Midge and Susie’s friendship, which has been through so much to get them to where they are now.

Midge’s Two Main Love Interests

Midge’s two main love interests, Lenny Bruce and Joel, both make an appearance in the final season. Their stories are coming to an end, with a thoughtful, nuanced redemption arc for Joel and a disappointing conclusion for Lenny Bruce.

Midge’s Parents

Abe and Rose, Midge’s parents, continue to give effortless and zingy performances, as they bounce off one another.

The Terrific Twosome’s Spin-Off

A spin-off series is deserved for Midge’s parents, with fans of the show clamoring for them to have their own show set in Paris.

The Right Time to End the Series

While this final season was not the best, it was the perfect time for the show to end, with an appropriate and fitting finale that acts as an ode to the five seasons.

Sad Truths Emerge in “The Testi-Roastial”

The episode titled “The Testi-Roastial” provides the answers to many of the show’s big questions, but it is also an emotional and exhausting episode.

Susie Broke the Glass Ceiling in Her Field

The episode explores how Susie Myerson, Midge’s manager, broke the glass ceiling in her field. Her roast is a façade, and the real gossip comes out in the post-roast after-party among the entertainment industry’s male elite.

Hard Truths Arise in After-Hours Kibbitzing Session

Over drinks and cigars, the after-party brings forth several hard truths, revealing the show’s sad and emotional cost to both Midge and Susie, who got everything they wanted but at a considerable emotional cost.

How Did Susie Score So Many of Harry Drake’s Big-Name Acts?

Friars Club members Aaron Lebowitz and Stewart Jones trade rumors about Susie but finally reveal how she managed to claim all of Harry Drake’s best clients.

Susie’s Deal with the Mob

Susie’s decision to go all-in with the mob came from the goodness of her heart and fury toward Dinah’s abusive boyfriend. But her lifelong alliance with the mob comes with a considerable price.

Mike Carr’s Rise to Hollywood Heavyweight

Susie’s former nemesis, Mike Carr, has his story told in the final season and becomes an Oscar-nominated producer and Emmy Award-winning television genius.

Joel’s Selflessness

Joel’s decision to offer himself as a sacrificia lamb for Frank and Nicky is the most selfless act in the series, and it now explains why Midge has remained so devoted to him.

The Midge Maisel Hawaiian Wedding Story

This episode doesn’t answer any critical issues, but it sheds light on why none of Midge’s marriages worked out and how Susie’s love for Midge overshadows any potential career disappointment.

The Future-Timeline Playbook Twist

The flash-forwards in the final three episodes of the season provided a narrative twist for the cast, revealing pivotal points in each character’s life.

Conclusion

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel ends its five-season run with a fitting and appropriate finale. A spin-off series for Midge’s parents is deserving of consideration, while Joel’s selfless act and Midge’s journey as a pioneering stand-up comedian will continue to be remembered in the show’s legacy.

FAQs

1. Was The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel’s final season well-received?

Opinions are divided, with some fans believing it was the perfect time to end the show, while others argue it should have ended sooner.

2. Will The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel have a spin-off series?

There is no announcement yet, but fans are clamoring for a spin-off series featuring Midge’s parents.

3. What is Joel’s most selfless act?

Joel offering himself as a sacrificial lamb to the mob to release Midge from her deal with Susie is his most selfless act in the series.

4. What is the focus of the final season of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel?

The final season focuses on Midge and Susie’s friendship, and how their dreams came at a significant emotional cost.

5. Who were the breakout stars of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel?

Rachel Brosnahan, who played Midge, and Alex Borstein, who played Susie, were the breakout stars of the show, but the phenomenal performances of Tony Shalhoub and Marin Hinkle as Midge’s parents also deserve mention.