It’s been marvellous! So long, Mrs Maisel
The official teaser confirms our worst fears. The New York housewife turned stand-up takes her final bow during Passover
Brigit Grant is the Jewish News Supplements Editor
The premiere of the fifth and final season of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel will kick off on April 14 with a three-episode premiere and new episodes to follow weekly.
Delighting fans (particularly those who appreciate the Jewish humour and sensibilities) for the past six years, the insuppressible Midge Maisel (Rachel Brosnahan) rebuilt her career in season 4, after being cut from the Shy Baldwin tour in series 3.
The final moments of season 4 culminated with Midge leaving Carnegie Hall reinvigorated after a chat with Lenny Bruce(Luke Kirby). Ready to weather any blizzard , Midge vowed to “Go Forward” after an epiphany in front of a snowy billboard for The Gordon Ford Show’ propelled her on. But the blurb promo for the final season suggests that thought Mrs Maisel is still determined, the ascent to stardom might still elude her.
Series creators Amy Sherman-Palladino and executive producer Daniel Palladino have always had a plan for Midge and the entire look of the show which has been an awards juggernaut. With its’ 20 Primetime Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Comedy Series; six Critics Choice Awards; four Screen Actors Guild Awards; three Golden Globe Awards, it has also changed the game of the streaming industry.
Season 5 returns with the key original cast including four-time Emmy winner Tony Shalhoub as Midge’s dad, math professor Abe Weissman; three-time Emmy winner Alex Borstein as agent Susie Myerson and Michael Zegen who plays Midge’s ex Joel.
If photos of Joel and his witty wife looking close is a hint of what’s to come for the estranged couple, the return of ‘mystery man’ (Milo Ventimiglia) with whom Midge had a spontaneous one-morning-stand and fictitious talk show host Gordon Ford(Reid Scott) will throw viewers off the scent of reconciliation.
Whatever Mrs Maisel’s future holds, there was no doubting the sadness of the cast on the final day of shooting as they expressed it fully with Alex Borstein writing on Insta with a broken heart emoji:
“The End. Maisel is no more. I told myself that I wouldn’t get too close, that I wouldn’t fall in love. Yet here I am, heart fractured, with tiny chips now missing here and there. [sigh] But if and when she should mend, perhaps it will be those empty in-betweens that will remind me of what’s missing. Of what once was. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel once was. And it was marvelous, indeed.”
Fittingly the final words go to star of the show Rachel Brosnahan who posted a shot of her character leaving the theatre and a poignant farewell on instagram –
“That’s a series wrap on The Marvelous Mrs Maisel.This thing was lightning in a bottle. A cast, a crew and creators who got to time travel for 5 years together. It changed my life. I’m eternally grateful. I’ll have more words later, but for now… Thank you and goodnight.”
So with the smell of cooked brisket in the air we say goodbye to the Weissman’s of the Upper West Side, the Maisel mishpocha of Brooklyn, angry Jewish manager Susie Myerson and the marvel that was Midge. What’s not to miss?
The Marvelous Mrs Maisel in on Amazon Prime
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