In case you have been living under a rock, "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" is one of the best shows streaming right now. The Amazon Video award-winning show stars Rachel Brosnahan as Miriam "Midge" Maisel. If you don't recognize the fast-talking and witty lines, "Gilmore Girls" creator Amy Sherman-Palladino is also the showrunner of this masterpiece along with her husband David. Amy is known for creating badass women but there is something quite different about this show.
Set in the late 1950s, "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" starts off as showcasing the traditional family. A husband and wife, with two beautiful kids, happy as can be. Miriam has everything she could ever want. Until her husband Joel (Michael Zegen), tells her he's leaving her for his secretary. Joel, a failed comedian/businessman leaves Miriam and she's beside herself with what to do obviously. Turns out that she's the hilarious one and starts her uphill battle turning herself into a professional comedian.
Dealing with her husband leaving and her family freaking out is not easy for Miriam. She befriends a bar manager named Suzie (Alex Borstein) that helps her with her journey. Suzie definitely isn't a "girly girl". She tells it like it is and is an excellent companion to Miriam.
This show definitely gives me "Mad Men" vibes. Miriam's true personality shows after Joel leaves, and it's nothing like your traditional housewife. She has a zero tolerance attitude with a hint of not giving a crap. She knows how to make fun of herself and finds humor in everything. Miriam is also no stranger to speaking her mind. What she said about society always thinking women NEEDED to have kids had me cracking up. For someone to think like that in the late 1950's let alone a woman is amazing.
She is an excellent example for other women. When she heard, "We usually hire men for this job" she wasn't having it. She knew she had to go to work and support herself even though her mother was just a housewife (nothing wrong with that). Landing herself in jail a couple of times tried her patience but she still persisted.
This is a complete turn around from the women we usually see in shows set in the 1950s. It's refreshing to watch honestly. I'm not sure if this woman is completely made up or if she is based on an actual person. Whichever it is, I look forward to season two.