Round Two: The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel: Season 1, Episode 2 “Ya Shivu v Bolshom Dome Na Kholme” (B)

Though I watched the pilot episode back when it premiered in March, I watched it again a week or two ago since I never reviewed it. As a result, it’s fresher in my mind than it might otherwise be, and it’s easier to recognize differences in how this episode and presumably the ones after differ from the original installment that was made so long ago. What I noticed most is how fast everyone talks: there’s about five times as much dialogue in here as there was in the first hour. I never actually watched “Gilmore Girls” back when it was on but I need that it was famous for that, and so it’s just something I’m going to have to get used to here. I am pleased to see that the supporting characters are being featured, with Kevin Pollak joining the cast as Moishe, Joel’s father, and immediately making an impression. I like that he clashed so much with Tony Shalhoub’s Abe, who, in addition to having a great name, had quite the mathematical meltdown when he described his daughter’s situation as a graph that he made his students take notes on. Midge seems intent on maintaining normalcy while putting off her comedy training, though she did send the episode off on a fantastic note by bursting onto the stage with another rant routine, complete with officers coming in ready to escort her off stage and into a third episode that I’m looking forward to watching and seeing where it takes our protagonist next.