Summary
“Go Forward” is fast-paced and persistently funny, utilizing a detailed sixties backdrop for the utmost effect. This is a strong opener that promises another exciting season from creator Amy Sherman-Palladino.
One of Prime Video’s longest-running original series, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, is back for a fifth outing.
In the season five opener, Miriam ‘Midge’ Maisel (Rachel Brosnahan) tries to better her career by wowing talk show host Gordon Ford (Reid Scott) into hiring her for his own successful TV show.
Midge’s manager Susie (Alex Borstein), works hard behind the scenes to propel her client into the limelight, while Midge’s ex-husband Joel and his family fall apart at home.
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Season 5 Episode 1 Recap
What happened to Midge after the show?
The premiere opens twenty years in the future, in 1981. Midge’s daughter Esther is talking with her therapist. She appears to be a genius student, way ahead of her years, yet she’s also highly strung, with serious anxiety and social issues.
Then we pick up the day after the season four finale, back in the swinging sixties, 1961, to be precise. Midge left Lenny Bruce’s show at Carnegie Hall the previous night, walking home in a blizzard. She now has hypothermia and may lose her toes due to frostbite.
Midge’s manager Susie Myerson is called upon by Midge’s worried parents. Susie rushes over to find Midge babbling nonsense in bed with a fever. Susie livens her client up with coffee and food, managing to get her out of this delirium.
Midge explains what happened the night before. Because of this, she’s now doubting her own abilities and fears she’ll lose her toes. Susie vows to get her out of this slump immediately.
Susie heads to the Gordon Ford show to meet with the show’s booker Mike Carr. He wants nothing to do with her, though, and calls security. Susie fights back, following Mike as he goes Christmas tree shopping with his kids.
Susie pressures him into booking Midge, but he refuses. She presses too hard, ruining Mike’s family outing. The two become bitter rivals after this exchange.
What is Joel’s parents’ announcement?
At Thanks Giving dinner, Midge and her ex-husband Joel’s family gather for a hectic meal. Joel’s parents announce they are getting a divorce, and Joel is forced to deliver his news. He is getting married to Mei Lin, and they are expecting their first child together too.
After the chaotic meal, Joel takes his kids home and finds Mei in his apartment. She explains that she is moving to Chicago, adding that she is not pregnant anymore. It doesn’t look like Joel will be getting married, either.
Midge meets with Susie at another Thanks Giving celebration. Susie tries to convince magician Alfie to take a flight to Vegas for a sold-out gig. He refuses to fly, though, due to his fear of flying. Susie asks Midge to take him to the airport to convince him to get on the plane.
Our lovable lead takes Alfie to the airport, but she practically has to drag him onto the plane. He mentions being scouted by another talent manager.
Midge defends Susie, stating that she helped Alfie land this gig and literally saved his life. Alfie boards the flight without any drama.
Next, Midge bumps into her parents at the airport and then spots Lenny Bruce. He’s heading to the West Coast for some shows. Things are evidently awkward still between the pair, who have a history.
Midge refers back to their last conversation and says that she will strive to become famous.
After the awful news from Mei, Joel decides to get drunk. He stumbles into his Club, where he proceeds to flirt with the guests and then interrupts the band, taking them to the stage. He performs his own impromptu stand-up set, complaining about Midge and then talking inappropriately about her body.
Joel is dragged off the stage. He goes into the casino downstairs and is beaten up badly for his continued offensive behavior.
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Season 5 Episode 1 Ending Explained
The opener ends with Midge performing at a strip club. Susie sits in the audience, nervously awaiting the performance. Susie spies Gordon Ford in the crowd and panics.
Midge’s set starts terribly. Her jokes aren’t funny, and her performance is awkward. Gordon doesn’t even turn around to watch her, chatting with others instead.
Midge makes a joke about starting over and begins to build her confidence once again. The set goes from strength to strength, and she ends on a high. The crowd applauds her, and Susie decides to make her move. She heads over to Gordon and asks him to put Midge on his show.
How does Midge end up working for Gordon Ford?
Gordon Ford is taken aback by Susie’s pushy style. He says that Midge isn’t the right fit for the show, though. Susie asks Gordon to hire Midge as a staff writer instead. Gordon agrees that the show could use a woman’s perspective. He offers Midge the job, and she agrees after some gentle persuasion from Susie. The episode ends with Susie celebrating her victory over Mike.
What did you think of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Season 5 Episode 1? Comment below.
It was wonderful to be back in the madcap adventures of Midge Maisel and the hilarious yet poignant drama engulfing her family members. However, the opening scene in Episode 1 of Midge’s adult daughter, Esther, talking to her therapist in the future did not work. It was confusing and not funny. The viewers needed to get reacquainted with Midge after such a long break. The scene that shows Midge recovering from being caught in a blizzard after her talk with Lenny Bruce in the final episode of Season 4 created a natural segue in the story. The rest of Episode 1 flowed fairly well.