The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, S2

[lotesse]

Pretty, and enjoyable while I was watching it, but -- where is this going? What are the stakes?

I really liked the opening "vacation" to Paris -- but then the season needed to bite in, and instead it felt like it just faffed about with a series of bits -- Catskills, that rushed tour ep, the art underground -- that didn't matter, or take the story anywhere in particular.

I got all misty and verklempt over the "To Kill A Mockingbird" tribute shot, that was worth the price of admission right there.

Like I said, I enjoyed the Maisel bits well enough when they were on -- but I'm not sure why I'm supposed to accept Joel, after the dick shit he pulled. Sometimes, it seems like the show remembers what an irresponsible shallow little shit he was to the people who depended on him, but sometimes it wants to forget. I guess -- I wish that problem was thematicized, rather than embodied, so that the story structure was working to remind Midge of how less-than-perfect he was, rather than covering for him so actively, and colluding in the gaslighting of the protag character. I'm not sure gaslighting isn't too strong a word -- but that ending irritated me enough that I didn't go back and do a rewatch for several days, and tbqh I might still be a little grouchy about it.

Comments

[lettered]

I really liked it, but I had similar feelings about the structure. I had some problems with the class issues as well, which are presented over and over but never really seem to be addressed. I mean, from the first season I thought the show was going to be about Miriam having to make her way in the world after a life of privilege, which I thought would be interesting. As it turns out she can plan to leave her retail job for months at a time, which is...not how those jobs work. Maybe it was different back then? I did like how she had to rush back for it, but it was one shift.

About Joel, I'm really confused about what they want us to think about him. He keeps saying he wants to be forgiven, but I'm confused about what. Midge forgave him; she wanted to get back together. He was the one who couldn't handle her comedy career, but then he acts like she's the one holding out on him? And I could see him wanting to be forgiven by like, fate, or the universe or something, because he knows he did wrong, but several parts (including the end!) really suggested he wanted to be forgiven by Midge, and...she already did. I just didn't get it.

[duskpeterson]

It did feel disjointed, as though they were pursuing several possible plotlines, and couldn't figure out which one to center upon. Any of the possible plotlines would have been great, but decide on one, already!

That said, I kept having to stop the video so that I could show my apprentice the best bits.