What I’m Watching: The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel: Season 3, Episode 4 “Hands!” (B+)

It’s so interesting to see how Joel and Midge really are a better couple now that they’re not married. The notion that he would be so up for just flying out to see one of her shows when him finding out that she was doing stand-up comedy was one of the reasons for the dissolution of their marriage is really crazy, and he was so complimentary after he saw her. That couldn’t last so long, of course, since Midge was far too casual about the fact that they got married while they were drunk after spending such a long time in the process of getting divorced. His newfound relationship with Mei really is in his infancy, but he’s much more tethered to reality – and one more place – than Midge, though she is enjoying tremendous success in her traveling tour. Susie is also doing well for herself despite having few clues to start, like her lack of knowledge about gambling and tricking two Broadway producers into meeting with her by putting on a Katharine Hepburn voice. I couldn’t peg who it was playing big star Gavin Hawk, and it turns out it’s Cary Elwes from “The Princess Bride” and “Psych,” who I imagine we’ll see more of if Sophie deems him attractive enough to be her costar. Abe and Rose living with Moishe and Shirley was indeed a terrible idea, since the Maisels make the Weissmans, with all of their eccentricities, look completely sane. Waking them up at 5am to move their car or wash the sheets they’re physically sleeping on is absurd, and even Zelda wants to hide out with them in their bedroom. I’m not sure how long that can last, but Abe and Rose have never been great about getting out of the situations in which they’re trapped.