With The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel coming to an end, we’ve compiled a list of our Top Favorite episodes. The show has won its share of awards and praise, including Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Comedy Series, Outstanding Directing, and Outstanding Writing.
The series stars Rachel Brosnahan, Alex Borstein, Marin Hinkle, Tony Shalhoub, Michael Zegen, Caroline Aaron, and Kevin Pollack. Rachel Brosnahan won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series, and Alex Borstein has won two Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. Tony Shalhoub won Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series. Luke Kirby and Jane Lynch won Outstanding Guest Actor and Guest Actress in a Comedy Series.
When compiling a Top Ten list, all 34 episodes we’ve seen so far could be on the list, even any one of the nine episodes that will stream weekly starting April 14 on Amazon Prime Video.
Here they are in the order they aired.
Pilot- Season 1 Episode 1
In 1958 New York City, Miriam “Midge” Maisel is a young Jewish-American housewife living on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. Married for four years to Joel, who works at his uncle’s plastics company, she enjoys a busy social life while raising two children. She also facilitates her untalented husband’s weekly stand-up comedy routine at the Gaslight Cafe, unaware he wants to be a professional comic. After a particularly lousy performance, Joel upends their idyllic life by leaving Midge for his secretary, Penny Pann. Midge drunkenly returns to the Gaslight in her nightgown and gets on stage. In a spontaneous and profanity-laced rant, she unloads her misery onto the audience, giving a hilarious performance. After baring her breasts, Midge lands in a police car with comedian Lenny Bruce, who was arrested for obscenity in his act. Gaslight manager Susie Meyerson, recognizing Midge’s natural talent, bails her out of jail. The next morning, Midge bails out Lenny Bruce.
Doink – Season 1 Episode 5
Midge now works at B. Altman’s cosmetics counter during the day and performs at the Gaslight at night. After bombing during a set, Midge hires comedy writer Herb Smith (Wallace Shawn). When she bombs even worse using his corny jokes, Midge wants to quit stand-up. Susie assures Midge it is only a minor setback. Meanwhile, Penny Pann meets Joel’s parents, who find her charming but unsuitable for him. Joel’s coworker, Archie, has to cancel a double date with Joel and Penny after his wife, Imogene (Midge’s close friend), angrily refuses to socialize with them. At a party with her work friends, Midge entertains guests with an impromptu comic routine. To act as Midge’s agent, Susie has a telephone installed in her tiny apartment and types her own business cards.
Simone – Season 2 Episode 1
Midge is demoted to switchboard operator after Penny Pann makes a scene at B. Altman, blaming Midge for Joel leaving her. When an unhappy Rose makes an impromptu move to Paris, Midge and Abe follow to persuade her to return home, but to no avail. Susie is abducted by Nicky and Frank, two hoodlums working for Harry Drake, as retaliation for Midge’s dissing Sophie Lennon during her act. Susie befriends them after learning they are all from the same neighborhood. They release her, warning that other thugs may come looking for her. Midge calls Joel from Paris, wanting to reconcile; although he is supportive of her comedy career, he cannot be the subject of her stand-up routines. He will only come back if she agrees to quit. Midge refuses to give up her career.
We’re Going to the Catskills – Season 2 Episode 4
The Weissmans and Midge depart for their annual two-month vacation at Steiner’s Resort in the Catskill Mountains. Joel and the Maisels are also vacationing there. Susie, angry that Midge is interrupting her comedy career, follows her to the resort. She poses as a staff member while working to book Midge comedy gigs in the area. Joel inadvertently discovers Abe’s secret early-morning exercise routine, embarrassing his father-in-law. Midge resists her parents maneuvering her into meeting Benjamin Ettenberg, an eligible New York doctor staying at the resort.
Someday – Season 2 Episode 8
Midge and Susie hit the road in a vintage Model A Ford that Susie’s sister, Tess, “borrowed” from their mother. Touring is harder than either Midge or Susie expected, and is made worse by the discrimination against female comics they encounter. Joel intervenes on Midge’s behalf when a club owner refuses to pay her. Midge wonders if her growing comic success is worth personal and family sacrifice.
Vote For Kennedy Vote For Kennedy – Season 2 Episode 9
Midge’s first television appearance on a fundraising telethon is marred when she and Susie discover that Sophie Lennon is also appearing. Joel, working for his father, immerses himself into turning Maisel & Roth around. Joel’s father offers him $60,000 to leave the company to instead pursue something he really wants to do in life. Joel considers opening a nightclub. Abe is not as happy at Bell Labs as he originally thought he would be. After a still-vengeful Sophie uses her influence to bump Midge to the telethon’s latest time slot, Susie angrily confronts Sophie. Midge perseveres and turns Sophie’s “punishment” into a huge hit.
Kind of Bleau – Season 3 Episode 6
The Weissmans temporarily escape Queens and the Maisels’ noisily casual lifestyle and visit Midge in Miami. She insists they watch her act, though Rose gets drunk during her set. Joel’s liquor license predicament is quickly resolved, thanks to Mei, but it stirs an argument that appears to break them up. Initially skeptical investors are impressed with Sophie’s acting ability during rehearsals. When the rented theater for Sophie’s play cancels on them, Susie’s thug friends, Nicky and Frank, use their “influence” to obtain another venue with better terms. Midge helps Shy Baldwin after he suffers a nasty scrape, and keeps his homosexuality secret, which would ruin his career if exposed. In Miami, Abe visits his old playwright friend, Asher Friedman, who was blacklisted early in the 1950s and now runs a beachside bait shop. Abe later writes an article about the injustice.
A Jewish Girl Walks into The Appollo – Season 3 Episode 8
Joel’s club opening is an initial success until a technical problem arises. Midge saves the night with an impromptu performance. Moishe sells Midge’s former apartment to her, using the Shy Baldwin tour contract as collateral. Susie pays off gambling debts with Midge’s earnings. Susie, along with her sister, Tess, sets their deceased mother’s house on fire to collect the insurance and repay Midge. Susie appoints Joel as Midge’s financial custodian. When angry readers splatter Abe with tomatoes, he is pleased his article affected people. Shortly after, The Village Voice offers him a job as a theater critic. Midge is anxious about performing at Shy’s big showcase at Harlem’s legendary Apollo Theater. Reggie suggests she talk about Shy and the upcoming tour. Her improvised jokes about the effeminate Shy win over the tough Apollo audience. As the tour plane is about to take off for Europe, Midge and Susie are left stranded on the tarmac after Reggie fires Midge for nearly outing Shy.
How to Chew Quietly and Influence People – Season 4 Episode 5
Mei agrees to meet Joel’s parents, then cancels. At Shy Baldwin’s wedding reception, Midge causes minor mayhem, then privately confronts Shy, who is unaware she was invited. Midge learns that Shy’s new management team fired his old band and replaced Reggie to hide Shy’s homosexuality. Midge declines their lucrative offer to sign a non-disclosure agreement regarding Shy. Rose discovers that Midge works at Wolford’s and also finds numerous newspaper clippings by L. Roy Dunham, a journalist who disparages Midge’s career. Rose secretly watches Midge perform at the Wolford, then worries that her daughter’s profession will negatively impact her growing matchmaking business. Susie gets Sophie booked on the nationally televised, The Gordon Ford Show. Sophie wins the audience’s sympathy during Ford’s interview about her breakdown. To entice Susie to continue being her manager, Sophie sends her elaborate gifts. Susie hires Dinah as her secretary. Late at night, while riding home in a taxi, Midge sees something on the street and jumps out.
Ethan…Esther…Chaim Season 4 Episode 7
Midge’s brief romantic encounter abruptly ends when the man’s wife unexpectedly comes home. Joel’s Button Club revenue is stolen, straining his finances. Rose’s matchmaker rivals accost Abe in another attempt to make Rose quit. Midge performs at a JFK campaign event, but her cheating-husband jokes upset Jackie Kennedy. Midge, her parents, and Noah and Astrid attend illusionist Alfie’s performance. Alfie hypnotizes Rose on stage and commands that she reenact what Midge does. Rose unknowingly mimics Midge’s strip club set about the family, humiliating them and shocking Midge that her mother saw her act. Susie reconsiders firing Dinah after she introduces Susie to a promising new comic. Frank and Nicky warn Midge that Mei’s family is dangerous. Lenny Bruce is scheduled to appear at Carnegie Hall. At Joel’s club, Joel tells Moishe about him and Mei. Moishe suddenly falls to the floor unconscious.
The final nine episodes stream beginning April 14.
