For about 50 minutes this episode sort of meanders along. Don't get me wrong. Even at its slowest, the work on this series is light years of ahead of just about anything else on the small screen. The detail and care taken in each and every shot remains a marvel. Check out Susie in her office or when she's rummaging in Chinatown. Even a stripper's window washing scene is meticulously staged and filmed. There's a lot to like in this episode. But not a lot to rave about, until the end.
Some mini-moments work. The Godfather meets the Matchmakers 'sit down' is a lot of fun. Same with Sophie Lennon's stint in Midge's apartment. Jane Lynch does a lot of scene stealing once again simply by being restrained by her characters' craziness. But there are some misses too.
Midge's ex Joel continues to pop up only to slow the show down. And the rapid fire borscht belt lines the writers give to his girlfriend seem forced and distracting. Likewise, the new magician character. He's a vehicle for Susie's ambitions, but as a presence on the show he's annoying. My personal belief that too many characters with too many story lines is the one thing that holds this series back from being one of the best of all time. And speaking of the best...
The final six minutes of this show speaks volumes to the times, the dynamics of changes of show business and most of all to the stead fast character within the character of Mrs. Maisel.
Jane Lynch and Rachel Brosnihan go mano-a mano in an ever-escalating battle of insecurities vs. Sureness of ambition. And it's a classic duel. A summation of the series and a punchline that's going to really hurt one of the two combatants.
Some mini-moments work. The Godfather meets the Matchmakers 'sit down' is a lot of fun. Same with Sophie Lennon's stint in Midge's apartment. Jane Lynch does a lot of scene stealing once again simply by being restrained by her characters' craziness. But there are some misses too.
Midge's ex Joel continues to pop up only to slow the show down. And the rapid fire borscht belt lines the writers give to his girlfriend seem forced and distracting. Likewise, the new magician character. He's a vehicle for Susie's ambitions, but as a presence on the show he's annoying. My personal belief that too many characters with too many story lines is the one thing that holds this series back from being one of the best of all time. And speaking of the best...
The final six minutes of this show speaks volumes to the times, the dynamics of changes of show business and most of all to the stead fast character within the character of Mrs. Maisel.
Jane Lynch and Rachel Brosnihan go mano-a mano in an ever-escalating battle of insecurities vs. Sureness of ambition. And it's a classic duel. A summation of the series and a punchline that's going to really hurt one of the two combatants.