For the people who have stuck with it from the beginning, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel season 5 is perfect.
BY ALEX GILSTON APRIL 18, 2023
Amazon original The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel sets up to take its final bow with series 5. Miriam ‘Midge’ Maisel is still trying to find her big break in the comedy scene. To get what she wants Midge sets her eyes down a slightly different path as her agent and friend Susie gets her a job in the writers room of the Gordon Ford show. This gives her the potential chance of performing her tight five on the show for droves of audiences watching at home on their TVs. As ever though she’s forced to compete against the all male team of writers who have very loud voices and are set in their ways. Her parents are also trying to find their way in the world whilst also contemplating being without their housemaid Zelda. Susie turns her attention to her other clients in a bid to make it big all on her own.
Midge has broken the glass ceiling more than once over the course of her journey and it’s no different here. Seeing her making her way through a world dominated by men and constantly proving that she’s better than all of them has always been satisfying but now it means more than ever as the success she has been waiting for is within touching distance. The main plot progresses nicely but the addition of some new characters adds some clunkiness that otherwise hasn’t plagued the show up until now. Fans will also be disappointed with the lack of appearance from Luke Kirby’s character Lenny Bruce - especially after the ending of the last series.
This final series revolves a lot around legacy. Throughout every series Midge has battled with the idea of what kind of footprint she’s going to leave behind in the world. These final episodes ramp that up and there’s a feeling that this is her final chance to make something of herself. The same feeling looms large over Susie as she has to choose between continuing to push for her oldest friend's breakthrough or focus on helping other people to make it big. The Marvelous Mrs Maisel series 5 rewards long-time fans with cleverly utilised scenes - and even a full episode - that offer some insight into what the future looks like for both of them.
It’s a risk for Amy-Sherman Palladino to have gone down this route to present the ending of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, and there’s a sense that people are going to love it or hate it. At first it’s jarring but as it delves further it feels more natural and it ends up producing one of the best episodes of the season where it’s fully leant into.
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel prides itself on its stellar performances and the whole cast is on tip top form. Rachel Brosnahan lays down that fiery warmth, and that special brand of quick witted delivery that makes Midge so likable. Her and Alex Borstein have built up a chemistry that is utterly electric and it's always a joy when they share the screen together. The supporting cast also works wonders and series veterans Tony Shalhoub and Marin Hinkle have some of the series’ best scenes together as Miriam’s parents.
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel has never managed to jump into the internet's trending conversations like so many TV shows do these days. Ultimately, as the show comes to a close, this doesn’t really matter. Although now it’s a full entity hopefully people will come across it and give it a renewed life. For the people who have stuck with it from the beginning though The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel series 5 is perfect. A deservedly charming send off for one of TV’s greatest ever funny women.
STAR RATING*
*Rating for episodes 1-8 only (Full season consists of 9 episodes)
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel is streaming weekly on Prime Video