What I’m Watching: The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Season Finale)

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel: Season 1, Episode 8 “Thank You and Good Night” (B+)

That’s a wrap on the first year of the freshest new comedy of the season, which is a real feat considering it’s set in the 1950s. Joel gave Midge a pretty hard time for eating so much when he showed up for the birthday party, and it seems like that was just his way of flirting. Their exploits were entertaining, starting with Midge’s confession that she used to partly unhook her own bra and ending in her freaking out in the morning after they fell asleep and he had to sneak out the window. They both really seemed to think that they were getting back together, though there were a few parties that weren’t quite as jazzed about it as they were. I love that Susie asked who Joel was since his name was such an insignificant part of everything. Penny showing up to the department store was bold, and Midge handled it as well as she could have. Abe’s response was probably the funniest since he didn’t want more of this blowing back on him and his own marriage to Rose. Susie going to Lenny for help was a smart idea, one that worked wonderfully, though the timing of Midge’s return to the stage and Joel hearing that recording of her act couldn’t have been worse. The happiness that Joel felt at their wedding was replaced by a true fury that she had stolen what was important to him and was making fun of their marriage on stage in front of strangers, but he obviously still loves her enough to punch a guy for heckling her. This has been a wonderful start, and I look forward to much more of this next year in season two and beyond.

Season grade: A-