The Marvelous Mrs Maisel could be the new Mad Men. Here’s why

As Amazon Prime’s drama about a housewife turned stand-up enters its third series, our TV critic examines its merits

By Evie Prosser

Season Three of the Amazon Original The Marvelous Mrs Maisel dropped a few weeks ago, and aficionados of alternative comedy-drama rubbed their hands together with glee.

    It’s more of a comedy than the other series mentioned here, with several laugh-out-loud moments (not least Mrs Maisel’s stand-up routines,...  

Since launching in 2017 the show has garnered a loyal following among lovers of creatively exciting, artsy boxed sets. If you enjoyed shows like Mad Men, The Sopranos and Breaking Bad for their deft storytelling and intelligent staging, there’s a high chance you’ll be similarly enthused by The Marvelous Mrs Maisel.

The fundamental difference between Maisel and these other shows is the lack of a deep-seated misanthropy. The Sopranos and Breaking Bad were both extremely violent, with regular bloodletting and scenes from which even the strongest-stomached viewer recoiled.

Mad Men wasn’t so obviously violent, but it nonetheless had an innate darkness. Remember when Don Draper/Dick Whitman’s half-brother Adam hanged himself in Season One? Or Lane Pryce’s suicide in Season Five? These are just two moments where the basic sorrow at the heart of the series comes to the fore.

Mrs Maisel, meanwhile, is essentially a happy show. It’s more of a comedy than the other series mentioned here, with several laugh-out-loud moments (not least Mrs Maisel’s stand-up routines, which are genuinely very funny). The staging often resembles a good old-fashioned farce, with exits and entrances managed to brilliant effect, and the performances delivered with pitch-perfect timing.

A standout performer is Monk star Tony Shalhoub. Playing the protagonist’s father, Abe (an eccentric mathematics professor, which suits Shalhoub perfectly), he embodies the very essence of the show: funny, clever and extraordinarily slick. You could almost imagine that you’re watching Maisel live at the theatre rather than on your flat-screen TV at home.

Here’s the basic premise: Miriam (“Midge”) Maisel is a housewife whose businessman husband wants to make it as a stand-up. It’s obvious from the get-go that he’s not good enough, and after bombing at a downtown New York comedy club he announces in a temper that he wants to escape his humdrum life. He leaves her for his secretary.

Midge responds to the breakdown of her marriage by accidentally launching her own stand-up career, first in a series of drunken rambles when she takes to the stage in a local club, and then in a more focused manner with the guidance of wannabe agent, Susie.

Where the show gets really interesting, and where the comparison with Mad Men and its ilk seems most justified, is in the development of other characters. All of the main characters get their own arc, and the subplots are every bit as compelling as the central narrative. Witness Abe’s transition from college professor to beatnik in Season Three, or his wife Rose’s brilliantly played rediscovery of her youth in Paris in Season Two, as two prime cases in point.

    Mrs Maisel shows every sign of shaping up to be the next small-screen icon (it’s already won 16 Emmys).  

It’s the same in Mad Men. While Don Draper is our hero, the one whose destiny we're meant to most care about, we’re just as interested in the fortunes of Roger Sterling, Betty Draper/Francis and Peggy Olson. Heck, by the end of the series we’re even invested in the wellbeing of Don’s arch-rival Ted Chaough.

If the mark of a brilliant long-running TV drama is that it manages to be both the story of one person and an effective ensemble piece, Mrs Maisel shows every sign of shaping up to be the next small-screen icon (it’s already won 16 Emmys). It’s been getting stronger and more confident with each new season as the writers show greater willingness to play with form and innovate in their storytelling.

Then there’s the added magic, the X-factor that Mad Men had in spades, where even the unintended stuff becomes invested with meaning. Just look at the weird and whacky Mad Men fan theories to have emerged about the show since it first aired in 2007.

Perhaps that’s when the creators of The Marvelous Mrs Maisel will know they’ve truly achieved television immortality: when the internet is full of rumours and conspiracy theories about the series. It’ll need to run for a few more seasons before that happens. But with news that Season Four has been booked, there’s every reason to think the show has what it takes.

And until then, we can enjoy watching a programme that’s already at the very top of its game.

© Just Recruitment Group Ltd

Published: 6 January 2020

If you enjoyed this article, you may like: Every one of David Bowie’s studio albums rated

You may also enjoy: Five reasons why The Good Fight is the smartest thing on TV right now

Jobs currently available

New job
Account Director
Sector: Marketing, Advertising and PR
Location: Newcastle
Role: Full Time
Contract: Permanent
Job ref: 913599
About the role

Just Recruitment is working with a growing, well-established and market-leading organisation, based in Newcastle, looking to add an Account Director to its existing team.

For this role, you will have experience working within the marketing services industry, preferably within a design, marketing or advertising agency and particularly in an account management role.

Duties include:

  • Act as the primary liaison between assigned clients.
  • Be confident to offer solutions and seek ways to generate growth for the client.
  • Collaborate with the handling team to ensure understanding of client requirements to produce detailed project briefs.
  • Build and nurture strong working relationships with existing and potential clients.
  • Attend client meetings and add value in an advisory and consultancy capacity.
  • Responsible for generating revenues from a specific group of accounts.
  • Forecast projections and financial reporting.
  • Liaise closely with internal teams to facilitate the seamless execution of projects.
  • Ensure adherence to set timescales and budgets to meet client targets.
  • Proactively pursue additional work opportunities from assigned clients.
  • Respond promptly and proactively to all client requirements.

Essential skills required:

  • Well-organised with the ability to multi-task.
  • Able to cope under pressure and work to tight deadlines.
  • Attention to detail.
  • Able to communicate clearly and concisely.
  • Excellent verbal and written skills.
  • Able to develop relationships with colleagues and clients.
  • Comfortable with working as part of a team.

 

Just Recruitment acts as an employment agency for permanent roles.
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitable candidates.

 

Read more
New job
Engineering Administrator
Sector: Engineering and Manufacturing
Salary: £14.00 per hour
Location: Sudbury
Role: Full Time
Contract: Temporary to Permanent
Job ref: JT-SU-EA-0225
About the role

Just Temps has an excellent opportunity for a motivated and detail-oriented Engineering Administrator to join a growing company based on the outskirts of Sudbury, Suffolk.

This is a temporary role with the potential to become permanent.

Hours: 8.00am to 5.00pm.

About the role:

You will be working in a small, dynamic team, providing vital support across various administrative and engineering functions. You will have the chance to develop your skills while playing an integral part in the company’s success.

Key responsibilities include:

  • Processing Sales Orders
  • Raising Purchase Orders (PO)
  • Assisting in Risk Assessments (eventually)
  • General administrative tasks to support the team and company operations

Role requirements:

  • Ideally have some technical experience, though not essential
  • Computer literate with proficiency in Microsoft Office and other relevant software
  • Strong telephone manner and excellent communication skills
  • CAD knowledge would be an advantage but is not essential
  • A proactive team player with a keen interest in career development

Why apply?

  • Join a growing company with long-term career potential
  • Great opportunity for career growth and development
  • Small team environment that values collaboration and innovation

If you are eager to make an impact, develop your career, and work in a fast-paced, supportive environment, we’d love to hear from you!

 

Just Temps acts as an Employment Business for the supply of Temporary Staff.
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitable candidates.

 

Read more
Sales Applications Engineer
Sector: Engineering and Manufacturing
Salary: Discussed on application
Location: Tiverton, Devon
Role: Full Time
Contract: Permanent
Job ref: 913597
About the role

Just Recruitment seeks a Sales Applications Engineer for a company based in Tiverton, Devon.

This role is an opportunity to develop your career within a technical engineering environment.

You will be focusing on the promotion and sales of the company’s products to prospective, new and existing customers.

Scope:

  • Providing a Technical Sales Service to the Customers
  • Dealing first-hand with customer enquiries, by telephone and digital meetings where required
  • Solving Design Problems and providing new design solutions
  • Checking and validating applications, preparing costings and quotations
  • Preparation of drawings
  • Assisting the manufacturing team with design builds

Qualifications/Experience required:

  • You will have served a recognised Engineering Apprenticeship ideally to include HNC.
  • Good telephone manner along with written communication skills
  • Confidence with using video conferencing/digital meetings
  • Organised with an understanding of time management
  • An aptitude for the workings of machine mechanisms would be useful
  • Good Maths and English skills
  • Working knowledge of 3D design tools such as SolidWorks or AutoCAD

 

Just Recruitment acts as an employment agency for permanent roles.
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitable candidates.

 

Read more
Electrical Maintenance Engineer
Sector: Engineering and Manufacturing
Salary: Competitive
Location: Sudbury
Role: Full Time
Contract: Permanent
Job ref: 913595
About the role

Just Recruitment is working with a well-established and long-standing business within the Sudbury area, seeking an Electrical Maintenance Engineer, to join their long-serving team.

The key purpose of this role is to provide a knowledgeable, safe, cost-effective, efficient multi-skilled maintenance service, with an electrical bias, to the Sudbury site that adheres to all engineering and electrical standards and procedures for compliance with statutory and business requirements.

Key duties include:

  • Maintaining all buildings, equipment, and services in a safe and cost-effective manner, through effective maintenance programmes ensuring traceable and auditable records are maintained.
  • Ensuring the changes to equipment and infrastructure are adequately managed via the appropriate site procedures.
  • Ensuring that all engineering/maintenance work carried out on-site complies with relevant regulations, ensuring all inspection and testing regimes are completed as required.
  • Identifying orders or supporting the business in ordering the parts or services required to satisfy the day-to-day maintenance and engineering requirements of the business and to catalogue and control stocks of necessary spares.
  • Undertaking and supporting the coordination and implementation of any capital projects or site improvement works required, including installation and commissioning of new equipment.
  • Working with the Production Manager to ensure that a flexible schedule is in place to provide appropriate cover for maintenance and engineering works outside of standard working hours including call-outs where required.
  • Working with Site Management, Production and Technical teams in looking at improving plant efficiency and minimising processing times, ensuring data is recorded to enable analysis to take place.
  • Completing and maintaining all records in a timely manner ensuring they are available and auditable as required.
  • Completing process confirmations and risk assessments as required.
  • Proactively participate in resolving process, equipment, or quality and EHS problems as quickly as possible and assist in the maintenance of production continuity in a planned and safe manner.
  • Ensuring all engineering contractors meet the agreed standards and competencies required to carry out maintenance and engineering tasks on-site.
  • Supervising and coordinating maintenance or engineering work that is required to be contracted out ensuring appropriate permits are completed and procedures followed.

To be considered for this role, you will need the following qualifications and skills:

  • Recognised apprenticeship to ONC/Level 3 NVQ in Electrical Engineering.
  • LV electrically competent with strong electrical knowledge/fault-finding skills.
  • 5 years’ experience in electrical engineering.
  • 5 years experience working in manufacturing environments.
  • Experience in repairing and maintaining motors, instruments, control panels and filling lines etc.
  • Experience and understanding of PLCs (Programmable Logic Controllers), including designing, implementing, testing, documenting, and fault finding.
  • Ability to read, interpret and understand technical documents and drawings.
  • Good understanding of risk assessment and method statements.
  • Sound analysis and decision-making skills.
  • An open-minded, flexible attitude to meet the requirements of the business.
  • Ability to communicate effectively at all levels.
  • Proactive and have a willingness to develop people whilst increasing their skills and ability on the plant.
  • Able to deal with people from other teams within the organisation and with people from external organisations.
  • Self-Management e.g., time management and personal development.

The working hours for this role are:
Monday 8.00am to 4.30pm, Tuesday to Thursday 7.45am to 4.30pm and Friday 7.45am to 2.30pm.

Holidays: 26 days plus B/H .

There is free parking available on-site and other company benefits.

 

Just Recruitment acts as an employment agency for permanent roles.
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitable candidates.

 

Read more
Warehouse Team Leader
Sector: Transport, Logistics and Shipping
Salary: Competitive
Location: Halstead
Role: Full Time
Contract: Permanent
Job ref: 913534
About the role

Just Recruitment seeks a Warehouse Team Leader to join a well-regarded growing business in the Halstead area.

Key duties for this role include but are not limited to:

  • Supervising a small team of employees and directing work as they undertake activities related to returns, re-works, order fulfilment and order management
  • Ensuring orders are fulfilled in a timely and effective manner, and that the company’s compliance is adhered to
  • Ensuring employees adhere to Health & Safety regulations and relevant laws
  • Monitoring employee performance to ensure they are meeting company standards
  • Monitoring warehouse housekeeping, ensuring a clean and safe work area is maintained
  • Picking accurately from locations and notifying the fulfilment manager of any shortages
  • Packing customer orders

To be considered for this role, you must be able to demonstrate the following skills and experience:

  • Previous warehouse experience or proven experience with a leadership position in a similar role
  • Excellent communication skills
  • Proven leadership and employee management skills
  • Knowledge of warehouse management systems (WMS)

The working hours for this role are:
Monday 8.00am to 5.30pm and Tuesday to Friday 8.30am to 5.00pm.

Free parking is available on-site and due to the company’s location you must have access to your own transport.

The company offer an excellent working environment and further progression and development are available.

 

Just Recruitment acts as an employment agency for permanent roles.
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitable candidates.

 

Read more