Chloe McDermott

The Marvelous Mrs Maisel is a TV show set between the late 50’s to early 60’s and follows the titular Mrs Maisel and her journey into becoming a famous comedian.

Starring Rachel Brosnahan as Midge Maisel and Alex Borstein as Susie Meyerson (Midge’s Manager) this show explores the highs and lows of chasing a career in comedy in this period for a woman. In this way the show often displays a delicate balance between drama and comedy. A genre blend that seems to pop up more often now in the age of streaming and one that could easily be mishandled in the hands of writers with less impulse control or understanding of tonal balance.

Throughout the show from the very first season, we can pick up the writer’s ability to balance the drama of midge’s life and her comedy. The Palindno’s are of course, greatly seasoned writers, producers and directors with years of experience between them. Their razor-sharp wit and rhythmic dialogue are immediately recognisable to anyone familiar with their other projects like the Gilmore Girls for example. This coupled with their strong ability to combine their talents for visual storytelling elevated this show into art reflecting the artistic process and the ultimate all consuming need to produce it.

The writing and directing do a lot of work to tell Midge’s story. We as the audience feel invested in her journey and are rooting for her success and heartbroken by her mistakes/misfortune. They do well to frame her perfectly in this time period, cultural background as a Jewish woman from a wealthy background in New York. I can believe Midge being a real person reacting to the world around her in this way. You believe this person really did exist back then, flawed, privileged and somewhat sheltered. Yet, the more she pushes herself and the harsh reality of the world pushes her she learns and continues to grow. Her comedy routines – which is a common staple of the show – are compelling to watch because, you as the viewer are watching her grow. This is what made the show so compelling to watch for me personally.

 Yet, Midge may be the main character, but she is far from the only character. In fact, her family and Susie her often very influential on Midge and her comedy and the events that shape her career. With particular focus on the relationship she forms with Susie the show explores a platonic love story between Manager and client. It shows the complexities and darker side of managing any artist’s career with the inevitable dealings with the mob. The writers use this both for re-occurring dark comedy as well as setting off a ticking bomb that eventually goes off in the final season. I won’t spoil it here, but the scene hit the emotional core of their relationship, and the audience feels the full weighted impact of it. This is just one example of many where the show can fully land an emotional gut punch.

The themes of the show often explore how the world around us -culture, politics, family and romantic relationships – have the greatest impact on our art. Midge often references the breakdown of her marriage – what first inspired her to get up on stage in the first place – chaotic family life in her acts. Eventually, as she comes up against resistance from clubs for being a woman and being brazenly honest about her experience, she learns how to channel her rage too. Not only does this show get political through her comedy however, but it also shows the realities of being black, gay etc. It shows Midge making choices in ignorance and the consequences it has on her career and others. In one scene her father chastises her for ignorantly taking on a live radio ad for money without thinking about what she is giving her voice to. It turns out this an ad for a woman running for congress – a right wing nutjob that believes in antisemitic conspiracy theories. We see her take on this knowledge and watch her refuse to play the role and thus take a stand. Thus, showing her being positively influenced by her politically conscious father in a deeply enriching way that had direct positive outcomes. They often show how the government at the time was harshly censoring artists and activists via McCarthyism. Censorship often shown with the end result being thrown in jail for something like miming a sex act or swearing. Ultimately showing the audience how absurd censorship of adults in adult spaces for doing adult things actually is.

 This show sells its simplistic premise of a ‘50’s housewife becomes comedian’ with large helping of razor-sharp wit, heartfelt connections and gut punching drama. It makes for fulling and satisfying viewing for anyone with an appetite for a well written comedy that can explore the tragedy that often accompanies the clown.