Despite its release just late last year, The Marvelous Mrs Maisel won big at the Golden Globes and Critics Choice Awards. But during its release it passed entirely undetected by this binge-watcher’s radar. Having finally given it a chance, the show deserves all the attention and then some.
The pilot begins following the titular Maisel’s (Rachel Brosnahan) perfect life; fully equipped with the perfect upbringing, the perfect husband, and the perfect brisket. She is a young, high-functioning, Jewish housewife and mother-of-two living in the upper-class areas of 1960s New York. Perfect, apparently.
But upon accidentally discovering she’s a naturally skilled stand-up comedienne, she must battle with her deep-rooted ideals of the type of woman she should be, whilst simultaneously juggling a marital crisis. And yes, this is actually a great comedy.
The cinematography and vintage soundtrack transport viewers to the 1960s. Despite its time setting, this is very much a show for now. With Gilmore Girls creator Amy Sherman-Palladino helming this female-led project on multiple creative fronts, and superb performances by Brosnahan and Alex Borstein (Family Guy), Maisel stands as utterly charming entertainment.
But most importantly, this show succeeds in being exceedingly funny, greatly driven by smart writing that satirises the gender dynamics of the time. Do not let its niche period-comedy genre discourage you.
This is a surprising win for Amazon Prime, a streaming service that is struggling to rival Netflix’s own original content.
All eight episodes of the first season are available to stream now on Amazon Prime Video.
