Midge Maisel is a complicated character to me. I don't think I'll forgive her for what she did to Shy Baldwin, and I think her self centeredness is infuriating but I guess I want her to be happy so yayy Season 6 haha. It was no surprise to me that Esther and Ethan didn't enjoy her as a mother
Susie deserved everything and more for how hardworking and loyal she was. Literally no one hustled more than she did! I'm so happy she got her happily ever after
I guess Joel and Midge end up happy? I'm just glad that Mei had an abortion instead of tying herself to his loser ass. Honestly Joel and Midge deserve each other so it's for the best. Gordon Ford was hilarious and clearly Midge wasn't interested in being with him that way, Lenny Bruce has a tragic ending, and Benjamin straight up just deserved better so why not!
As for the side characters - Abe Weissman will forever be my favorite. He is probably the funniest person in the entire show. His interactions with Ethan and Esther this season cracked me all the way up. Plus his growth in recognising how unfair he had been to Midge growing up, brought me to tears! Rose was good to but have less to say about her.
Zelda's husband was my favorite this season's imply for telling Zelda to free herself from the Weisman chains!
Overall it was a great season but I'm still side eyeing all of Midge and Susan's big falling out. You can listen to more of our thoughts on YouTube! Lets us know what you think in the comments
Okay, so I want to be clear here, and I hope this post doesn't incite backlash but I really wanted to get my thoughts out on the flashforwards provided in the first three episodes of Mrs Maisel
Spoilers Ahead!!!
So it did come as a shock to have these flashforwards, but I like it mainly for three reasons: 1) it gives light to Midge's future which is something very realistic as well as shed light on the fact that Midge's decisions have downsides as well; 2) it has This is Us vibes but something that was a little Forrest Gump meets How I Met Your Mother vibe and is set in the beginning of the episode instead of the end or a misleading event to hide a bombshell 3) ASP doesn't plan on returning it so don't expect a AYITL part to Mrs Maisel.
So with that, let's dive into the flashforwards:
First Flashforward- Esther Maisel
So for those who thought Esther was annoying and the fact that Midge Maisel is a terrible mother is unwarranted, you're wrong!!! Esther is definitely unique, given that she's very much a version of Abe and Midge in the earlier season with her mother in terms of how she views her relationship with her mom, but you can't help but be empathetic to her because yes, being a child of an uber-famous parent is not easy. Take for example, Gypsy the musical, or children of famous actors- its something that happens. Given that Esther was a baby when Midge started out her career unlike Ethan, her mommy issues are bigger and more intense. I hope the show extends this further.
Second Flashforward- Midge's 60 Second show
So, I think this is by far the biggest of them all, because it gives some great and not so great updates on Midge's life- her career has skyrocketed, she's got multiple awards, she did an infamous show at Carnegie Hall a decade after Lenny's own show, she toured worldwide (as she would've done at Shy's own tour), with Bob Hope (something Moishe thought she was doing) and made friendships with renowned faces. On the downside- 4 failed marriages and multiple romantic relationships. This... is not exactly normal, but if you look at the romantic lives of these actors/celebrities- Cary Grant, Myrna Loy, Ginger Rogers, Irene Castle, Rita Hayworth, Sonny and Cher, Marlene Dietrich, even comedian Fanny Brice, you'll find that busted romantic lives is a common thread. If you also want fictional examples- A Star is Born, Blue Valentine, Revolutionary Road, Once, The Way We Were and many other similar movies.
With regards to Midge and Suzy's certain rift, it can be considered the opposite of Elvis Presley and Colonel Tom Parker. It's sad (but you kind of see it coming). It's like when bands break up- they'll find success but everyone wants their own identity. The worst enemy is yourself.
Third Flashforward
Ethan Maisel at 24 being a little aimless and having an unconventional professional journey (honoring his Jewish identity by working in Israel at a kibbutz and becoming a rabbi) and actually marrying a woman who is controlled and strong (an Army version of Midge- I like that they named her Chava, it's a callback to Fiddler on the Roof's third youngest daughter) shows his mommy issues which are different from Esther's but still there- it's all pretty in character. The fact that he keeps his engagement from his mother but still respects her nevertheless shows how much of mothering that we've seen from Midge from throughout the show has affected him.
(Since it's still the summer let's set this in the Catskills)
“Hey! What’s wrong with glitter?”
Lenny was sat crossed legged on the ground, while sporting a small pink glittery heart on his cheek right underneath his eye.
"Hold still." Esther scolds him with a paint brush in hand.
"Sorry."
“Everything.” Joel answers him.
“C’mon ‘s part of the dress code!” Lenny argues before being scolded by the 7 year old again.
Midge stepped closer to him with a glue tipped paint brush in one hand and a bottle of silver glitter in the other, “No! No! Midge!” Joel backs away, holding his arms up.
“C’mon stop being such a killjoy.” Midge voiced her annoyance.
“Esther! Stop your mother!” He tried to call for backup but Esther just shrugged and continued working on painting a cat face shape on Lenny's cheek.
“Ethan!” Joel called for his son.
“Yeah?” Ethan peaked his head around the door.
This is what Ethan saw: his father trying, mainly failing to escape his mother's paint brush(?) and his mother's friend whispering something into his little sister's ear as he continued to act as her canvas.
“Help!” His father pleaded.
So after that said peak, Ethan pretended he didn't see anything and went back to his room.
“Traitor!" Joel called as Midge finally cornered him.
"Midge- You don’t have to do this."
Esther sneaked up behind her mother and nudged her a 'little' causing her to spill the silver glitter all over him.
He's absolutely mortified and pissed, his face quickly growing red.
There was a silence.
“Whoops.”
Esther looked away cutely, which made Lenny snort and Midge laugh at his reaction and the look on Joel's face.
“You look like a disco ball.” Lenny chimed as he got up.
“ESTHER!” Joel yelled.
“Anddd that’s our cue.” Lenny picked up the little girl, slung her over his shoulder and made a run for it.
“You really do.” Midge laughed when she saw her little girl wave from behind Lenny's shoulder.
"We'll see you at the party!" Lenny yelled over his shoulder before hearing the door slam shut.
“Hey! Come back here with my daughter!” Joel yelled through the open window, but it's Joel so he didn't really care.
"He's a bad influence." The disco ball complained, “Your boyfriend just kidnapped our daughter! And you’re not doing anything about it!”
"No," Esther tells him petulantly, even though her head is resting on his shoulder. She's five, and too smart for her own good, but still just a little girl.
Midge is working, and Lenny is working on his book, watching the kids while Midge and her parents are all out for the evening. He thought he might hate this. Not being out there, working. Living.
But it feels good to just...take care of everybody. Be the dependable one.
"I think you might be," Lenny says gently, rocking her and rubbing her back.
"It doesn't matter if I sleep," Esther tells him. "What if the world blows up while I'm sleeping?"
"I promise," he says gently. "If I notice the world starting to blow up after you fall asleep, I will wake you."
"Pinky swear?" Esther asks, lifting her head and her hand.
He hooks his pinky with hers. "Pinky swear."
She huffs and slumps against him. "I...might be tired."
"Yes, I know," Lenny nods. He settles her down in her bed and helps her get under the covers. "How about this? You go to sleep now, and if the world remains intact overnight, you and I will hit the bakery for breakfast, and be the heroes of everyone's morning."
Esther considers that for a moment before nodding. "Deal."
"Good," he grins, leaning in to kiss her forehead. "Goodnight, darling. Sweet dreams. I'll be in the office if you need me."
"Night, Lenny," the little girl mutters, her eyes drooping.
Lenny grins and gets to his feet, flipping the light off as he leaves.
Maisel/Weissman’s over engineering how to pull one of the kids loose tooth out and say Lenny or someone being the only one the kid trusts
Hello, Sunshine, January 1964
The tug on his hand gets his attention, and Lenny looks down at his step-daughter curiously.
Esther looks nervous. Her little six-year-old face troubled.
He kneels down in front of her. "What is it, Darling?"
She takes a deep breath. "Lenny, Papa and Uncle Noah and Pop are talking about tying my tooth to a doorknob and then shutting the door and I'm scared."
Lenny frets along with her. "That is cause for concern, isn't it?"
Esther nods aggressively. "And Mama is working tonight on the show, and Softa is out, and Bubbe and Zeyde aren't here."
"Okay," he sooths, rubbing her arms comfortingly, kissing her forehead. "It's all going to be alright. How's the tooth feeling?"
"It's wiggly and it hurts," she pouts softly.
"Okay," he nods. "So here's what you do. I want you to wiggle it really, really hard with your tongue a few times, and then give it a good push, and do not swallow it when it falls out, okay?"
Esther nods firmly, does as she's told, and a few moments later, she spits out the tooth (and a little blood).
"There it is!" Lenny crows, grabbing a tissue from his desk and snagging the tooth from her. "The tooth fairy's gonna see this and be very impressed."
Esther beams at him. "It doesn't hurt anymore! It just feels funny!"
"That's normal," Lenny chuckles. "Let's get you some juice, and we'll show the brain trust in the living room so they can stop plotting your tooth's demise."
Esther smiles wider and hugs him. "Thank you. I was scared of the door slamming and hurting."
He kisses the top of her head and then scoops her up. "To the kitchen!"