By Sarah Osman

This season The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel must confront a considerable challenge — Midge must not be allowed to tell the same tired jokes as her male counterparts.

Rachel Brosnahan and Alex Borstein in a scene from The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. Photo: Prime Video

We last left the marvelous Mrs. Maisel, aka Midge/Miriam (Rachel Brosnahan) at the end of season three, which aired way back in the prehistoric days of 2019. She had been kicked off of the popular singer Shy Baldwin’s tour for an impromptu set that revealed a bit too much about Shy’s sexual preferences. Season four picks up right after Midge’s giant misstep, and it should serve as a reset for the protagonist. The problem, at least based on the first two episodes, is that though the quick one-liners and beautiful production design remain as vibrant as ever, Midge has yet to resume her balance.

It’s unclear if and when Midge will ever climb her way back to the top. But if she fails it won’t be due to a lack of determination. In an effort to get her life back on track, Midge purchases her old Manhattan apartment, thanks to a loan from her former in-laws. Manager Susie (Alex Borstein) gambled away her earnings, so Midge is broke. She quickly sets up credit with her local vendors while Susie tries to get Midge performing sets at various comedy clubs around town. They refuse, but that doesn’t stop Midge from hopping on stage without permission (which promptly lands her in jail). This nervy behavior reminds us why the character is worth rooting for.

Brosnahan remains as charming as ever as Midge, especially in her scenes with Borstein’s Susie. Their playful banter is spot-on — it’s hard not to want these two women to get back on top. Midge has had a number of romantic entanglements, but her true soul mate is obviously Susie. At the same time, Susie has got her own problem this season, dealing with insurance fraud. It’s hard to tell how funny or necessary this story line will be. It may just be there to give Borstein something to fret about. What isn’t necessary is the continued presence of Joel (Michael Zegen), who is still grappling with last season’s issue — his club is tied into a Chinese gambling ring. This subplot has never made all that much sense: at this point in the series, Joel should be demoted to making occasional appearances, given that his connection to Midge is no longer front and center.

The show’s humor continues to be strong, particularly in a scene set on Coney Island when Midge, her parents, Joel, and his parents all board a Ferris wheel and proceed to have a screaming fight. The scene is so absurd it borders on the ridiculous, but it’s oddball domestic confrontations like this that make The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel so entertaining. Also reassuring: the costume and set designers have (once again) outdone themselves. Forget Carrie Bradshaw — Midge is the real fashion queen of New York. But it may be time for her to invest in some new furniture and kitchenware.

Only the first two episodes were sent in advance to critics, so it’s tricky to tell where the season will go. It’s refreshing to see Midge back in New York rather than on tour. Settling her down has made the episodes feel tighter. Right now, season four contains plenty of potential: Will Midge grow as an artist or will she stay stuck?  Will her fellow comedian-in-crime, Lenny Bruce, make an appearance? Will we ever learn any more about Joel’s parents than that they love to scream at each other? This season will confront a considerable challenge — Midge must not be allowed to tell the same tired jokes as her male counterparts. Time for a fresh new set — that would be more than marvelous.

Sarah Mina Osman is a writer residing in Wilmington, NC. In addition to writing for the Arts Fuse, she has written for Watercooler HQ, Huffington Post, HelloGiggles, Young Hollywood, and Matador Network, among other sites. Her work was included in the anthology Fury: Women’s Lived Experiences in the Trump Era. She is currently a first year fiction MFA candidate at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. When she’s not writing, she’s dancing, watching movies, traveling, or eating. She has a deep appreciation for sloths and tacos. You can keep up with her on Twitter and Instagram: @SarahMinaOsman