Summary
Episode two builds upon the opener, throwing Midge into the male-orientated world of TV broadcasting. It’s a clever angle, placing Midge as the outcast, which gives viewers someone to root for. It’s another hilarious installment, introducing some interesting new characters.
Midge Maisel (Rachel Brosnahan) is desperate to become a famous stand-up comedian and has taken a writing job as a first step towards reaching her goals.
Her first day as a writer on the show is captured in episode two.
While Midge follows her dreams, the other supporting cast members go about their own private lives. Abe (Tony Shalhoub) is propositioned at work; Rose (Marin Hinkle) believes someone is out to kill her, and Joel (Michael Zegen) recovers from his drunken escapades.
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Season 5 Episode 2 Recap
The previous episode opened with a scene from the future involving Midge’s daughter Esther, and this flash-forward technique is used again in episode two.
This time we look at Midge’s future, with her entire career summarized in a 60 Minutes episode. Midge is interviewed about her stand-up career, love life, and family. She found stardom in the sixties and married four times after that.
The comedian comments on being unlucky in love and discusses her falling out with Susie Myerson.
Back in 1961, Midge is preparing for her new job. She asks her parents to help out with babysitting her two children. Midge is excited about the prospects of working on the Gordon Ford Show, but her parents are both skeptical.
She stresses the night before, worrying about what outfit to wear for her first day. Midge calls Susie over. Her manager quickly picks out a red number for her to wear.
Who is Sylvio?
On her way to work, Midge is accosted by a man on the subway. The unnamed character, played by Milo Ventimiglia, chases after Midge, desperate to explain himself to her. This one-time lover, who never called back, apologizes, stating that he is getting a divorce. He is called Sylvio and seems to be madly in love with Midge. He offers her his number.
After this strange encounter, Midge heads to her new offices. She tries to befriend the show’s booker Mike, but he is still angry with Susie and takes this out on her too.
In the writer’s room, Midge is treated about the same, with her new co-workers barely clocking to her arrival. Midge introduces herself to the team, but she isn’t given any words of encouragement. Head writer Alvin asks the writers for twenty jokes to be delivered in an hour’s time.
Midge panics and calls Susie for support. After the hour is up, Midge pitches her jokes to the group. The writers don’t find her jokes funny, though, and rudely interrupt her.
READ: The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Season 5 Review
Other subplots include Joel recovering from his fight. He wakes in his parent’s house, unsure of what happened the night before. He tells Midge that his relationship with Mei is over.
Rose takes her friend to her favorite tea room but finds that it has been burned down. She wonders if her enemies are out to get her and phone her son Noah for help. He works as an analyst for the CIA but refuses to get involved in her schemes.
Midge’s father, Abe, finds his own dilemmas at work. The theater critic meets with Penelope at lunch, and the woman flirts with him, placing her hand on his thigh.
How does Midge’s first day go?
Back at Midge’s new job, Gordon isn’t impressed with the jokes he’s been supplied and asks for better ones instead. The writers work down to the wire, with rehearsals going badly as well. The writers blame Midge for the bad energy and still refuse to use her jokes. None of her writing makes the final cut. All in all, her first day goes terribly.
Drinks to celebrate following the live show. Midge phones Susie to inform her of the day’s woes. Susie urges her to mingle and make friends. The writers gather and chat. Gordon makes a surprise appearance at the bar. He tells Midge to let him know if the other writers aren’t treating her well.
This, of course, only alienates her further.
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Season 5 Episode 2 Ending Explained
The second episode ends with Midge performing at the strip club again. She talks about her new job and trials, one of her rejected jokes from work.
This failed joke works well, with the crowd all laughing encouragingly. It’s the validation that she so dearly needed. Hopefully, she will start to build confidence in herself and slowly start to thrive in this new line of work now.
What did you think of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Season 5 Episode 2? Comment below.
