“Strike Up the Band,” The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel is back. The costumes are enchanting and the atmosphere transports you back in time, but the show has lost its spark. What was once an exciting piece of escapist fare has become little more than a period dramedy with shallow commentary on materialism and the patriarchy.
Amy Sherman-Palladino and the writing team still create a good show. However, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Season 3 is a shadow of its former self. The Weissmans are no longer a wealthy upper-class Jewish family. Instead, Abe’s (Tony Shalhoub) decision to quit his job at Columbia University results in his family losing their long-time home. Without their apartment and Abe’s salary, Rose (Marin Hinkle) reveals that her trust fund keeps them in the lifestyle to which she has become accustomed. Forced to grapple with living on less money or groveling for more money, Rose treks out to Providence, Oklahoma to ask for more family money.
While her family’s life is crumbling, Midge (Rachel Brosnahan) entertains the troops at a USO show as the opening act for Shy Baldwin (Leroy McClain), who is giving Midge her big break. As her star is on the rise, Midge finalizes her divorce from Joel Maisel (Michael Zegen) and struggles to come to terms with her agent Susie Myerson (Alex Borstein) representing Sophie Lennon (Jane Lynch), who treats Midge poorly.
On the Maisel front, Joel decides to buy a former club in Chinatown and restore it. However, he ends up with a backroom gambling parlor because he didn’t think it through or do research. His parents also have significant changes coming up as they prepare for their move to Queens.
In the end, it’s all quite exhausting and feels drawn out. Like Midge, you’ll find yourself longing for the Weissman’s old life. Sadly, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel peaked well before its main character reached the pinnacle of her career.
Comments are closed.