Yahoo Movies Why is The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel coming to an end?
The popular Prime Video comedy is due to wrap up with its fifth and final series
Across four series, Prime Video’s The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel has gathered rave reviews and a dedicated fan base to boot — so why is it coming to an end after its fifth outing?
Created by Gilmore Girls mastermind Amy Sherman-Palladino, this period drama comedy series takes viewers back to 1950’s America to follow the journey of Miriam "Midge" Maisel (Rachel Brosnahan) a well-to-do housewife who throws her former life away in favour of a career in stand-up comedy.
Together with her friend and comedy manager Susie Myerson (Family Guy’s Alex Borstein), we follow Midge from an impromptu set on the stage of New York’s iconic The Gaslight Cafe all the way to becoming a successful touring comedian.
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However, the journey is not without its hurdles and across the show's four outings, we’ve watched Midge reach new heights, accidentally burn a few bridges and work on cultivating a comeback, all while rubbing shoulders with other names in the comedy scene, some fictional and some — like Luke Kirby’s Lenny Bruce — based on real-life comic legends.
The show was last seen on screen when series four ended in early 2022 with a fifth batch of nine episodes confirmed later that year. Unfortunately for fans, this renewal news also came with the confirmation that the fifth season of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel will be its last.
What happened in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel series four?
Series three of the show found Midge enjoying a career surge following an opening slot on tour with popular singer Dwayne ‘Shy’ Baldwin (Leroy McClain).
However, after accidentally revealing that he is gay during one of her comedy sets, series four sees Midge fired and struggling to revamp her career and return to the heights she once enjoyed.
While juggling personal problems with ex-husband Joel (Michael Zegen) with issues surrounding an embittered professional acquaintance in the form of fellow comic Sophie Lennon (Jane Lynch), Midge eventually finds herself emceeing at a Manhattan strip club and finding unlikely success from the ground up once more — all before it’s raided by the police and she’s bailed by her long-time comedian friend Lenny Bruce.
With the pair finally admitting their attraction to each other after a few seasons-worth of will-they-won’t-they romance, the series came to a close with Midge's career looking up while realising the true extent of Bruce’s drug problem, something the comedian battled in real life.
Will The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel end with series five?
Series five of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel will act as Midge’s final bow to audiences in the show and in real life too — and it will hopefully see her story end on a high note.
As for why the show is coming to a close so soon, married series creators Amy Sherman-Palladino and Dan Palladino have admitted that their story has simply reached a natural endpoint.
"The first year was her discovery, the second year things unravel, the third season she goes on tour. Amazon... had already heard the bullet points for what the seasons were going to be,” explained Sherman-Palladino on TV's Top 5 Podcast, squashing any rumours about the show’s cancellation.
The series' success was echoed by Amazon Studios Head Jennifer Salke who said: “The dozens of awards cement 'Maisel''s legacy in many ways, but what's even more enduring and poignant are the characters Amy created and the joyous, brilliant, singular world she and Dan brought to life.
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“This series has meant so much to Prime Video and the effects of its success will be felt long after its final season."
Meanwhile, its cast has since shared their thoughts about saying goodbye to a show that has formed such a large and important part of their careers so far.
“This thing was lightning in a bottle,” said star Brosnahan in an Instagram post marking the wrap of season five. “A cast, a crew and creators who got to time travel for 5 years together. It changed my life. I’m eternally grateful.”
When does The Marvellous Mrs. Maisel series five start?
Series five of The Marvellous Mrs. Maisel will land on Prime Video on Friday, 14 April, 2023 with the first three episodes immediately available to stream. The series as a whole will feature nine episodes which will air weekly throughout April and May 2023.
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel season five airs from Friday, 14 April.
