The Marvelous Mrs Maisel is back, and how! Miriam ‘Midge’ Maisel returns as the snappy, delightful stand-up comic. Her life has changed drastically since her now ex-husband Joel left her for his secretary in the very first episode of the series. Since discovering her natural talent for comedy and with her pugnacious manager Susie Myerson in tow, Midge (Rachel Brosnahan) has enjoyed a steady rise in seasons one and two. She has moved on from the dingy Gaslight club and is doing stand-up gigs in and outside New York despite being a divorced 20-something starting a career in comedy in the late 1950s.
In season three it's 1960, and the housewife-turned-comedienne is on a cross-country tour with singer Shy Baldwin (Leroy McClain) as his opening act. Joel (Michael Zegen) is in the process of opening a new club in Chinatown that includes an illegal gambling den. Susie is expanding ‘Susie Myerson and Associates’ with a big but familiar client with an even bigger ego.
On the road, Midge and Susie live it up―they go to Las Vegas and Florida; they are in a position to make “weird asks” and have their rooms stacked with yellow teddy bears (don't ask); Susie learns to swim and also picks up a gambling habit; Midge is taking charge of her destiny but life tends to throw a spanner in the works when you least expect it. At the end of it all, the duo learns a lesson or two in life and the harsh business of entertainment.
This season also sees the addition of a few new characters, including Reggie (Sterling K. Brown), as Baldwin's protective, no-nonsense manager, and the intriguing Mei (Stephanie Hsu), who is helping Joel with his club.
The Marvelous Mrs Maisel is still supremely entertaining, but the binge-worthy Amazon Prime show may not leave you on a high like it did in the previous seasons, and there are moments that make you wonder if this is the best from creator Amy Sherman-Palladino. Brosnahan is brilliant and charming as Midge, and there is an abundance of comedy, colour, briskets and hats in the new season as well, but it leaves you wanting more.
THE MARVELOUS MRS MAISEL
Available on Amazon Prime
Rating: 3.5/5