What I’m Watching: The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel: Season 2, Episode 4 “We’re Going to the Catskills!” (B+)

Each week, I comment on the writing quality and flow of this show, but getting out of the city – be it New York or Paris – really shows just how incredible the visual production values on this show are. That final scene with the fireworks going off in the distance was particularly poignant. Seeing the Weissman family away in the Catskills could have been a bit too much, and at times it seemed to be heading that way, but overall it was completely worth it for the standout moments this episode offered. Abe was thrilled to get his signature drink which served as the very taste of vacation, until one of his most dependable routines was disrupted by the departure of a familiar face. His eagerness to show his unexpected roommate Joel his romper was pretty entertaining, as was his poorly calibrated alcohol indexes. Joel going up on stage the moment he arrived to tell people to stop staring at him and Midge was bold and actually quite sweet, and they seem like they’re doing better as a couple now that they’re not together. I was pleasantly surprised to see Zachary Levi from “Chuck” as Ben, the bad match for Midge who wouldn’t even paddle, reminiscent of the banter he demonstrated in the Broadway show “She Loves Me,” and I’m curious if we’ll see him again since he, at the very least, wouldn’t be like most of the men of his era and be open to Midge’s independence. Suzie showing up after not realizing that Midge was going to the Catskills for two months was hilarious, carrying around a plunger so that she could get free food and a place to sleep.