“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” is a quirky treat

BY TAMARAH WALLACE

As the first big win for Amazon Prime, “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” made headlines last week after it won two Golden Globe Awards (Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy and Best Actress – Musical or Comedy for Rachel Brosnahan) on January 7.

The premise of the show is rather unusual to say the least.

Watchers are instantly propelled into a short recapitulation of the life of Miriam “Midge” Maisel, a quick-witted upper-east-side Jewish housewife, told from her hilarious perspective during her wedding speech. After, viewers continue on into Midge’s present day, 1958, where she is wholly contented by the side of her husband, Joel Maisel, an untalented business man who also has dreams of becoming a famous comedian, and supports him on his endeavors by trying to come up with new material.

However, in the first episode, Joel decides to leave her and their two children for his dim-witted secretary after a cringeworthy performance at the café they frequent for his comedic endeavors. This was also after Midge realizes that Joel steals his routines from popular, successful comics and usually regurgitates them onstage, passing them off as his own work. Both incidents were a catalyst for what would happen next.

Beyond angry, a fearless, drunk Midge returns to the nighttime café and presents a well-organized, comedic rant about her incredibly wacky, humorous life and the characters of people in it. In this, she becomes acquainted with Susie, an entertainer chooser at the café, who believes that she can become the next big thing in comedy.

From there, watchers are taken on a wild journey, where Midge both struggles and finds true happiness in trying to grow into the comic she seems destined to become. Through all of this, she is also working through her past with Joel and her relationship with her also amusing, somewhat traditionalist, extremely wealthy family with whom she moves back in with after the Joel situation.

Through all of these issues, however, Midge has an extraordinary gift – she is able to lighten almost any mood instantly, a feature that is a direct consequence of an actress like Rachel Brosnahan. As the first major win for her too, it was a long time coming for someone who plays a part so completely and convincingly. Furthermore, every other actor and actress in this show seeped into the roles they played and showed mastery in their craft.

As for the the cinematography and sets, there is a classic feel but not overly so as it sometimes feels as if the show has lapsed into the 21st century. Most of the sets were convincing enough but were easily distinguished from reality. However, the wardrobe is distinctly 50s with Midge’s ankle length, tea cup dresses in every color.

Overall, this show is for anyone looking for something that is actually laugh-until-you-die-of-laughter funny and don’t want to become enthralled in a long, heavy series.

Photo courtesy of Amazon Prime