Amazon with Abe: The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel: Season 2, Episode 9 “Vote for Kennedy, Vote for Kennedy” (B+)

I haven’t watched this show in almost six months, abandoning it two episodes short of the end of the season in favor of more pressing new television released just as I started a big road trip at the beginning of February. Yet the first scene alone served as a completely fitting reintroduction to this show’s particular world and its unique rhythm. The revolving tables with Susie trying to get different people to vouch for Midge were humorous, and they were just the tip of the iceberg when it came to Susie’s interference over the course of the hour. Of course Rose and Abe would be all for telethons until Midge explained that she was going to be on one, and she’d end up being relegated to the worst possible slot after Sophie exerted her influence. The host, played by Josh Cooke from “Better With You” and “Longmire,” reacted just the way I did, so impressed with her ability to work the room and turn a lackluster showcase into something truly incredible. The rift between Susie and Midge couldn’t have come at a worse time, when Midge’s popularity is blowing up and she’ll likely be fielding offers from others with less investment in her being able to do what she really wants to do. Abe finding out from his son that Midge mentioning Bell Labs in one of her acts may have resulted in his project getting stalled is not going to be good either, and he’s going to be a lot more upset about that than he was about Zelda giving him the silent treatment. Benjamin was very forward with his eagerness to meet Ethan and his referencing of a potential future engagement, which would definitely change things. Moishe firing Joel is going to leave him bored and purposeless, but it’s probably for the best given the fact that he was working way too closely with both of his parents.