Photo courtesy of Brecht Bug via Flickr. The first three episodes of the fifth season of "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" are on Amazon Prime.
By Kellyn Norman ‘26
Staff Writer
Amazon Prime Video’s Emmy-winning comedy “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” has returned to the streaming service for its fifth and final season. In an attempt to stir up some hype for the show after a disappointing fourth season, only three episodes of the last season have been released. The remaining episodes will be released one at a time in the coming weeks. Hopefully, the upcoming episodes will be just as exciting and fresh as their serialized method of release because so far, season five is carrying on just like season four — redundant and forgettable.
Since the end of season three, “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” has used the same arc for its protagonist, Miriam ‘Midge’ Maisel. Just like viewers found her at the beginning of season four, Midge’s stand-up comedy career is on the rocks because of a reckless decision. While Rachel Brosnahan does pump out a considerable amount of charm as Midge, her likeability is not what it was in the early seasons, nor does it seem like it will improve based on the flashforwards shown at the beginning of each episode, in which her children barely hide their resentment for their world-famous mother.
However, when one character fails, others shine. Everyone’s favorite nightclub employee-turned-manager, Susie Myerson, is still hard at work supporting Midge and oddball magician Alfie. Susie, played by Alex Borstein, is still a grade-A curmudgeon with hilarious one-liners, like “I am so glad we figured out the size of the box you’re gonna bring on Monday when they fire you!”
Midge’s ex-husband Joel, played by Michael Zegan, struggles to keep his head above an ever-deepening sea of familial turmoil. It is a fun twist when the character introduced as an unfaithful husband becomes an object of sympathy.
Not all things are rotten in this season. The unnecessary Lenny Bruce hookup plot has finally been put to rest, and Kelly Bishop’s evil matchmaker, Benedetta, has made a triumphant return, albeit behind bars. Conversations between characters are still sharp and fast, the costumes and sets are entrancing and episode three was entertaining enough to make up for the slow-paced nature of episodes one and two.
While this season may not have started with a bang, there is a chance that it may redeem the failings of previous seasons and leave viewers with some final episodes akin to the early ones that made people fall in love with the show.
“While this season may not have started with a bang, there is a chance that it may redeem the failings of previous seasons and leave viewers with some final episodes akin to the early ones that made people fall in love with the show.”