Yes, everyone's favorite bawdy, brunette Brooklynite Midge Maisel has finally returned for season four, albeit long after anyone, viewer and writer alike, might have expected. The much-beloved The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel has been on something of a hiatus for the reason that ought to be obvious to anyone who has been alive for the past few bonkers years. Regardless, true fans remember that turbulent times had befallen our intrepid comedienne in the previous season's finale.
In a tumultuous roller coaster of an episode, Mrs. Maisel bowled over a fickle crowd with an uproarious, largely improvised set at the famous Apollo Theater, only to be swiftly fired from her opening spot on the planned tour by Shy Baldwin's no-nonsense manager over a few jokes that hit a little too close to home. The crushed Mrs. Maisel is left hopeless on the tarmac.
Season four by no means let our hero, Mrs. Maisel, off to a more auspicious start. Midge's parents, portrayed by the dynamic acting team of Marin Hinkle (Two and a Half Men, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle) and the Emmy award-winning Tony Shalhoub (Monk, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), have moved back into Mrs. Maisel's old apartment, an apartment which, it might be noted, Mrs. Maisel herself cannot afford, because, as we know, her money was carelessly squandered by her manager Susie, portrayed by the hilarious Alex Borstein (Family Guy, Ted). Though things have been steadily improving for our intrepid Midge, as she finds herself bolstered by a steady income from a seedy risqué dance club, she is by no means out of the woods, financially or career-wise.
Unfortunately, season five will be the last installment in the saga of Mrs. Maisel. With that in mind, how might the story of Mrs. Maisel conclude?
A Potentially Doomed Fling With Lenny Bruce
Recent episodes of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel season four have seen some light flirting between Midge and real-life comedian Lenny Bruce. Perhaps the flirting could best be described as a form of mild babysitting. Though Lenny Bruce found the time to harass Midge at her show in a previous episode, he found himself at her mercy after a night of hard partying, waking up in Mrs. Maisel's apartment without the foggiest idea as to how he had arrived there. As he is shuffled from the child-filled apartment, the two characters share a tender moment. Similar moments have happened before, and the audience cannot help but wonder if the two brilliant comedic minds could share a romantic future.
Tragically, those fans who hope for Midge's happiness might be best suited to avoid shipping these two comedians. Lenny Bruce died in 1966, only a few short years after season four is meant to be taking place. The cause of death was a drug overdose. He was 40. We have already seen the seeds of his untimely demise sown. For example, the aforementioned blackout that led to Midge's apartment, though presented on the show for comedic effect, leaves those aware of the true life of Lenny Bruce with a sense of dread. Though Midge and Lenny undoubtedly share a chemistry that could exceed any of Midge's previous romantic relationships, viewers should be cautious of inviting tragedy on the beloved Mrs. Maisel.
Finding a New Star With Coattails to Be Ridden
Despite her first partnership with a famous musician going spectacularly south, it would behoove Midge to try and find another celeb to whom she can hitch her wagon in the fifth and final season. One possibility is the hip-gyrating, greasy-haired King of Rock and Roll Elvis Presley. In the 1960s, Elvis had just returned from his time spent serving in the Army and was making a musical comeback, as well as starring in major motion pictures. Could the rock and roll sensation, who was no stranger to making controversial art, find Mrs. Maisel to be a kindred spirit and take her along on tour?
When season three ended, so did the complex and intimate relationship cultivated between Mrs. Maisel and Shy Baldwin. Or so we thought. A recent episode saw the two reunited, and though there were no plans made for the future, the meeting definitely left the audience feeling better about the relationship between these two performers. Though the two reunited at Shy's wedding, viewers know about Shy's hidden sexuality and how closely it has come to being exposed. If Shy found himself publicly shamed due to a romantic entanglement with a man outside of his marriage, who would be a better aide to his comeback than the marvelous Mrs. Maisel?
The End of a Partnership?
Susie screwed up badly at the end of season 3. Royally so. Through careless gambling, she threw away a massive amount of Mrs. Maisel's hard-earned money. Susie has undoubtedly been a driving force in the success of Mrs. Maisel from the genesis of their friendship. Throughout season four, their fraught dynamic has slowly returned to normal, but one cannot help but wonder if Midge, in the fifth season, will have finally had enough of Susie. As her career continues its seemingly unstoppable climb, will Mrs. Maisel continue to have the patience for her undependable manager?
Interestingly enough, one mustn't discount the possibility that Susie, despite the work that has gone into mending her relationship with Midge, could be the one to fly the coop. Susie's partnership with Sophie Lennon, which seemed to have ended in the previous season three, has re-emerged in recent episodes. Sophie, played by Jane Lynch (Glee, Wreck-It Ralph), redeemed her public persona with a candid television interview. Will this attract other high-profile clients to Susie and, if so, will the demonstrably fickle manager leave her rising prospect, Mrs. Maisel, in favor of more established celebrities?
It's going to be tough seeing Mrs. Maisel go. For a lot of folks, anticipation for the long-awaited season four must have been akin to Wilson the volleyball, in that it provided a certain levity and hope during the past few ridiculous years. Slowly, Midge has been pulling herself up by her bootstraps, and one can only hope that in season five, we will find that Mrs. Maisel has incidentally pulled on a pair of moon boots.