Summary
“The Princess and the Plea” is a nostalgic installment that reflects on life meaningfully and powerfully. There is a sad yet sweet undercurrent to the penultimate episode, which is heartbreaking and life-affirming. This sets the tone perfectly for what is sure to be an eventful and emotional finale.
As we draw ever closer to the very end of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, the writers get nostalgic in this show’s penultimate episode.
“The Princess and the Plea” follows Midge (Rachel Brosnahan) as she reflects on her life to date with a school reunion while she pushes forwards at work, desperate to land her big break.
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Season 5 Episode 8 Recap
This reminiscing starts in the opening scene. Midge and Joel are summoned to Ethan’s school. Mrs. Moyers has brought them in to complain about Abe, who keeps showing up at the school unannounced.
While they wait to be seen, they think back to key moments in their relationship. Joel remembers introducing Midge to his parents. And Midge remembers dancing with Joel in the streets. After their meeting, Joel invites Midge out for a drink to catch up. Midge accepts this invitation.
Midge then attends a school reunion, meeting with her old friends. Some of the women are now mothers or are currently pregnant. They gossip, talking about their lives and partners. Joel is mentioned, and Midge’s career is also briefly discussed.
They go back to their old dorms, which feel rather small now. They clash with the new students, the next generation, who seem completely different from them, with different goals and beliefs.
What note did Midge leave for her future self?
Next, they head to their secret hideout and retrieve notes they left for their future selves. The women read through each other’s notes. It’s a bittersweet call-back to simpler times. Although, Midge’s note says the word ‘don’t’ on it, which is quite vague or cryptic depending on how you look at it. The friends believe it means ‘don’t miss out,’ they all agree that Midge has lived quite the life.
At work, the staff is excited to be hosting guest star Princess Margaret, who Hedy has managed to book for the show. The writers get to work pitching ideas for this special guest. We cut to the main event. Princess Margaret is an absolute joy, performing a hilarious weather report sketch.
How does Midge find out about Hedy and Susie?
Gordon thinks they could win an Emmy for tonight’s performance. They celebrate at their usual bar. Hedy congratulates Midge for writing such a funny skit. She mentions Susie, who was Hedy’s old roommate. Midge didn’t know that Susie and Hedy were old friends. Susie had kept this a secret from her.
This revelation angers Midge. She wants Susie to use this connection to get her on the Gordon Ford Show. Midge ambushes Susie at the train station and confronts her about the secret. Susie is defensive, but Midge is persistent. Midge asks Susie to use this connection to get her on the show. Susie refuses.
Midge doesn’t hold back, though, stating how they’ve tried every other conceivable angle. This is their last hope. Midge wants to have a legacy, something to look back on, to be proud of. She doesn’t care how she gets her big break; she needs it to happen soon.
What is Abe’s realization?
Abe is also getting somewhat reflective, looking back on his life in detail elsewhere. Esther’s blossoming talents and Midge’s current successes have made Abe realize that he has been sexist in the past. He regrets how he raised Midge. Abe admits to his friends that Midge is a remarkable person. He’s proud of her but regrets that he’s never told her this before.
Susie plucks up the courage and finally meets up with Hedy. She asks her to put Midge on the show to give her the break she’s been chasing all these years. Susie asks for this one-time favor, for Hedy to talk to Gordon, showing surprising vulnerability. Hedy realizes just how tough this was for Susie to ask, and she says she’ll try.
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Season 5 Episode 8 Ending Explained
How is Gordon convinced to book Midge for his show?
The following day, Hedy travels to Gordon’s office. She asks him to book Midge on the show. Gordon talks about his golden rule that he can’t break it. Hedy states that it is a silly rule. She wants him to book her. Gordon seems confused and wants to know what Hedy’s angle is. Hedy says that he owes her, adding nothing more to the argument. Clearly, Hedy wants to appease Susie, but she can’t tell Gordon the truth about the circumstances surrounding this favor.
Gordon seems to have finally been worn down to a point where he cannot refuse. He leaves the office and looks down at the offices below. He watches as Midge speaks on the phone. She has been handed an emergency call and rushes out of the office to the elevator.
What did you think of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Season 5 Episode 8? Comment below.
Who did Midge get the call from? I couldn’t understand what the receptionist said.
I’m so sad. I think that was Abe’s last scene. But give all the Emmys to Tony Shalhoub—he has been phenomenal this season.
I’m excited for the next episode, but sad for the end of the show. But, i believe ending while you’re still on top … I hope they give Midge’s big break it’s proper due … Kudos to Tony Shalhoub’s scene, I was so moved. We may see Abe in the final episode yet (in a flash forward, we know he lives to see Midge’s cancelled wedding with Philip Roth).
I’ve disliked the Abe character for the past two seasons. He became annoying and incompetent, with nary a humorous trait. His scene in this episode was probably his best in the whole series. Bravo
The rest of the episode was ‘ok’, but still lacked energy especially being the next-to-last one.
I wonder if the call at the end was telling Midge that she earned a spot on Jack Parr’s show that night. So in the end she got her break through hard work, and not from the calling in of a favor. And the Jack Pare show will regain the #1 spot over Gordon Ford thanks to her.
I also thought that might have been Abe’s final scene, but then remembered that on the 60 minute interview, an adult Esther says the only person she can talk to is Grandpa. So I think Abe is still alive. Which leads me to think the call is about Lenny Bruce death.
According to Amazon Prime, there are 8 episodes this season. This was episode 8. Does MMM end with Gordon looking over the railing at Midge leaving? Is that it? We’ve already seen the later time jump scenes so we know a great deal about her future. We can just assume this was her break and now we know everything? I guess so but it’s kind of a flat leave, even more so than The Sopranos.
There’s a 9th episode coming.
Abe is in the Hawaii scene much older. I don’t think he’s dead.