Season 2 of “Marvelous Mrs. Maizel” starts tomorrow!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love how the Catskills was like family summer camp, but high-end, with dinner and dancing every night. Corny fun. I wish we still had something like it these days.

There are still places like that in the Catskills!!! The Irish-American community in East Durham has them. We used to stay at Gavins’ Golden Hill House every summer for a week and it was loads of fun. Live band and dancing every night.

Oh wow - really? It's funny - I HATE cruises but these Catskills scenes are making me long for that sort of experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love how the Catskills was like family summer camp, but high-end, with dinner and dancing every night. Corny fun. I wish we still had something like it these days.

There are still places like that in the Catskills!!! The Irish-American community in East Durham has them. We used to stay at Gavins’ Golden Hill House every summer for a week and it was loads of fun. Live band and dancing every night.

Oh wow - really? It's funny - I HATE cruises but these Catskills scenes are making me long for that sort of experience.

My family did a week at a dude ranch and it was very similar. Very family oriented and there were scheduled events daily like a rodeo, line dancing, crafts, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Questions After Finale:

1. In both seasons 1 and 2, there are allusions made to Abe's political past, which I am guessing was involvement in the Socialist and/or Communist party pre-Stalinist purges/McCartyhism. If so, why did he hire Midge's constitutional/criminal lawyer from Season 1?

2. Does Joel have siblings? Who is going to run his father's company if he becomes a club owner?

3. Can Susie manage Sophie AND go to Europe with Midge?

4. Will Rose stay with Abe if she can't study at Columbia or live in her apartment?

5. Who will watch the children while Midge is in Europe if Zelda isn't around?

6. Will Ettenberg wait for Midge? He doesn't seem the type looking for a normal doctor's wife.

7. Will Midge want Ettenberg to wait for her after Joel?

8. Will Susie's father come out of the woodwork? If so, who is he?

9. What is Noah working on?

10. Will Midge obtain domestic success after Europe?

I think the "I just want one night with someone who loves me" is going to turn into Midge's accidental pregnancy with Joel's third baby which she discovers while on tour.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Questions After Finale:

1. In both seasons 1 and 2, there are allusions made to Abe's political past, which I am guessing was involvement in the Socialist and/or Communist party pre-Stalinist purges/McCartyhism. If so, why did he hire Midge's constitutional/criminal lawyer from Season 1?

2. Does Joel have siblings? Who is going to run his father's company if he becomes a club owner?

3. Can Susie manage Sophie AND go to Europe with Midge?

4. Will Rose stay with Abe if she can't study at Columbia or live in her apartment?

5. Who will watch the children while Midge is in Europe if Zelda isn't around?

6. Will Ettenberg wait for Midge? He doesn't seem the type looking for a normal doctor's wife.

7. Will Midge want Ettenberg to wait for her after Joel?

8. Will Susie's father come out of the woodwork? If so, who is he?

9. What is Noah working on?

10. Will Midge obtain domestic success after Europe?

I think the "I just want one night with someone who loves me" is going to turn into Midge's accidental pregnancy with Joel's third baby which she discovers while on tour.

Very Gilmore Girls of you. That would be fantastic.

[Anonymous]

I have many of the same questions as PP. But mostly - what is Abe suing about? And are they going to be poor next year with him having no job? Glad they clairified about who owns the apartment. I was wondering if they had family money or something.

[Anonymous]

I'm about halfway through season 2, and it did pick up from the first episode, which I thought was horrible. But I have to say, I fast-forward through much of her comedy routines. They're just not particularly funny! And the uproarious laughter of the audience is incredibly grating, especially when the jokes... just aren't funny. It would be a lot more believable if they wouldn't laugh THAT loudly unless she said something REALLY funny. Which she doesn't.

[Anonymous]

I watched the first episode of Season 2, but skimmed through the parts with her manager. Didn’t even finish the second episode and not sure I ever will.

My main question is: who, exactly, is raising the kids? Is it the maid? I get it that they park the boy in front of the TV for hours, but what about the baby? Mrs. Maizel goes to Paris and leaves the kids with who? Not the father! He didn’t even know she was in Paris.

I realize this is supposed to be escapism, but I’m just not into it. I did enjoy Season 1.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love how the Catskills was like family summer camp, but high-end, with dinner and dancing every night. Corny fun. I wish we still had something like it these days.

Cruises are like that but less corny. DH and I dance a lot and I do think it's more of a lost art now, back then everyone knew how.

I wonder a lot about the childcare. Everyone just expects Zelda to do it. How does that poor woman cook, clean and take care of these kids all day? She's there until late at night too.

I was kind of shocked at her performance at the wedding. She acts like she forgot there was a Priest present, but she grew up around Rabbis and you wouldn't say those things in front of them either.

+1
The childcare issue *really* bothers me. I get that this is just a silly, fluffy show and we're not to think too deeply about it or take it seriously. But honestly, the kids are less than props even. No one ever interacts with them (though we occasionally will see Midge patting one on the head or reading to one briefly). I agree with a PP who said this show would be more enjoyable (and believable) if she hadn't had kids yet. As a mom, all I can think about is "Where are the kids? Who's watching the kids??" Not only Midge, but her parents seem completely disinterested in them.

This should be a different thread, but that's probably the most realistic part of the show. In my family (UMC with a SAHM) in the 50s, kids were never read to. They didn't eat dinner with the parents. The moms went off and played cards/social functions with their friends and the kids just played outside all day. Very young kids like Esther tagged along with the housekeeper during the day, but didn't get too much attention either. Parents went out at night without anyone watching the sleeping kids.

I find it funny that people have a hard time remembering that children weren't coddled and worshipped in ways that they are today. The whole schlep with minding children and living your entire existence for them is very very recent in human history.

no, it's not. The hovering and the making parenting a competitive sport and worrying about doing everything THE BEST evidence supported way. that's newer but it's newer only in this more rarified segment of society as a whole. It was not and has never been the norm to have full time home help staff in the US. It was a small segment in the 50s. Everyone likes to think they were UMC with this kind of life but it's rewriting history. It was an upper class lifestyle. Nothing middle or average about it. Kids were a lot more independent and out of the house to play in neighborhoods at young ages, giving parents more adult time, that's certain. There were certainty much more involved parents than this show portrays in the 50s and 60s, just not helicopters. This show reflects a very narrow set of values/views/lifestyle when it comes to what having a family means, a d that's ok, but it wasn't the norm then either

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have many of the same questions as PP. But mostly - what is Abe suing about? And are they going to be poor next year with him having no job? Glad they clairified about who owns the apartment. I was wondering if they had family money or something.

I’m assuming employment discrimination based on political beliefs/religion..,

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have many of the same questions as PP. But mostly - what is Abe suing about? And are they going to be poor next year with him having no job? Glad they clairified about who owns the apartment. I was wondering if they had family money or something.

I wondered, too! We have a friend who teaches at Columbia, and yes, she has a very nice, university-owned apartment. Definitely an awesome perk of the job.

Abe is clearly having a midlife crisis--any normal person would take the paid sabbatical and go live in France or whatever and get his head on straight.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love how the Catskills was like family summer camp, but high-end, with dinner and dancing every night. Corny fun. I wish we still had something like it these days.

Cruises are like that but less corny. DH and I dance a lot and I do think it's more of a lost art now, back then everyone knew how.

I wonder a lot about the childcare. Everyone just expects Zelda to do it. How does that poor woman cook, clean and take care of these kids all day? She's there until late at night too.

I was kind of shocked at her performance at the wedding. She acts like she forgot there was a Priest present, but she grew up around Rabbis and you wouldn't say those things in front of them either.

+1
The childcare issue *really* bothers me. I get that this is just a silly, fluffy show and we're not to think too deeply about it or take it seriously. But honestly, the kids are less than props even. No one ever interacts with them (though we occasionally will see Midge patting one on the head or reading to one briefly). I agree with a PP who said this show would be more enjoyable (and believable) if she hadn't had kids yet. As a mom, all I can think about is "Where are the kids? Who's watching the kids??" Not only Midge, but her parents seem completely disinterested in them.

This should be a different thread, but that's probably the most realistic part of the show. In my family (UMC with a SAHM) in the 50s, kids were never read to. They didn't eat dinner with the parents. The moms went off and played cards/social functions with their friends and the kids just played outside all day. Very young kids like Esther tagged along with the housekeeper during the day, but didn't get too much attention either. Parents went out at night without anyone watching the sleeping kids.

I find it funny that people have a hard time remembering that children weren't coddled and worshipped in ways that they are today. The whole schlep with minding children and living your entire existence for them is very very recent in human history.

no, it's not. The hovering and the making parenting a competitive sport and worrying about doing everything THE BEST evidence supported way. that's newer but it's newer only in this more rarified segment of society as a whole. It was not and has never been the norm to have full time home help staff in the US. It was a small segment in the 50s. Everyone likes to think they were UMC with this kind of life but it's rewriting history. It was an upper class lifestyle. Nothing middle or average about it. Kids were a lot more independent and out of the house to play in neighborhoods at young ages, giving parents more adult time, that's certain. There were certainty much more involved parents than this show portrays in the 50s and 60s, just not helicopters. This show reflects a very narrow set of values/views/lifestyle when it comes to what having a family means, a d that's ok, but it wasn't the norm then either

Exactly. Parents didn't hover as much, but they were not nearly as neglectful as the show depicts. Middle-class mothers might have household help, like a maid, who kept an eye on the kids, but they weren't just handing their kids over to servants or other family members to raise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love how the Catskills was like family summer camp, but high-end, with dinner and dancing every night. Corny fun. I wish we still had something like it these days.

Cruises are like that but less corny. DH and I dance a lot and I do think it's more of a lost art now, back then everyone knew how.

I wonder a lot about the childcare. Everyone just expects Zelda to do it. How does that poor woman cook, clean and take care of these kids all day? She's there until late at night too.

I was kind of shocked at her performance at the wedding. She acts like she forgot there was a Priest present, but she grew up around Rabbis and you wouldn't say those things in front of them either.

+1
The childcare issue *really* bothers me. I get that this is just a silly, fluffy show and we're not to think too deeply about it or take it seriously. But honestly, the kids are less than props even. No one ever interacts with them (though we occasionally will see Midge patting one on the head or reading to one briefly). I agree with a PP who said this show would be more enjoyable (and believable) if she hadn't had kids yet. As a mom, all I can think about is "Where are the kids? Who's watching the kids??" Not only Midge, but her parents seem completely disinterested in them.

This should be a different thread, but that's probably the most realistic part of the show. In my family (UMC with a SAHM) in the 50s, kids were never read to. They didn't eat dinner with the parents. The moms went off and played cards/social functions with their friends and the kids just played outside all day. Very young kids like Esther tagged along with the housekeeper during the day, but didn't get too much attention either. Parents went out at night without anyone watching the sleeping kids.

I find it funny that people have a hard time remembering that children weren't coddled and worshipped in ways that they are today. The whole schlep with minding children and living your entire existence for them is very very recent in human history.

+1 And of course the housekeeper can "cook, clean and take care of these kids all day". That's what most moms were doing (and SAHMs still to today!) and very little was expected of caring for the kids except to be sure they were fed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Questions After Finale:

1. In both seasons 1 and 2, there are allusions made to Abe's political past, which I am guessing was involvement in the Socialist and/or Communist party pre-Stalinist purges/McCartyhism. If so, why did he hire Midge's constitutional/criminal lawyer from Season 1?

2. Does Joel have siblings? Who is going to run his father's company if he becomes a club owner?

3. Can Susie manage Sophie AND go to Europe with Midge?

4. Will Rose stay with Abe if she can't study at Columbia or live in her apartment?

5. Who will watch the children while Midge is in Europe if Zelda isn't around?

6. Will Ettenberg wait for Midge? He doesn't seem the type looking for a normal doctor's wife.

7. Will Midge want Ettenberg to wait for her after Joel?

8. Will Susie's father come out of the woodwork? If so, who is he?

9. What is Noah working on?

10. Will Midge obtain domestic success after Europe?

I think the "I just want one night with someone who loves me" is going to turn into Midge's accidental pregnancy with Joel's third baby which she discovers while on tour.

But she’s been sleeping with the doctor, also. So it would have to be a case of not knowing which man was the father. I like your train of thought. If the plot doesn’t go in this direction, that scene with Joel is an odd one to throw in there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Questions After Finale:

1. In both seasons 1 and 2, there are allusions made to Abe's political past, which I am guessing was involvement in the Socialist and/or Communist party pre-Stalinist purges/McCartyhism. If so, why did he hire Midge's constitutional/criminal lawyer from Season 1?

2. Does Joel have siblings? Who is going to run his father's company if he becomes a club owner?

3. Can Susie manage Sophie AND go to Europe with Midge?

4. Will Rose stay with Abe if she can't study at Columbia or live in her apartment?

5. Who will watch the children while Midge is in Europe if Zelda isn't around?

6. Will Ettenberg wait for Midge? He doesn't seem the type looking for a normal doctor's wife.

7. Will Midge want Ettenberg to wait for her after Joel?

8. Will Susie's father come out of the woodwork? If so, who is he?

9. What is Noah working on?

10. Will Midge obtain domestic success after Europe?

I think the "I just want one night with someone who loves me" is going to turn into Midge's accidental pregnancy with Joel's third baby which she discovers while on tour.

But she’s been sleeping with the doctor, also. So it would have to be a case of not knowing which man was the father. I like your train of thought. If the plot doesn’t go in this direction, that scene with Joel is an odd one to throw in there.

I thought the same thing! Especially after the line 'I'm not going to have 3 before 30' and ASP's history of pregnancy storylines.

Have to say that I absolutely loved the last scene and how it cut to black. I probably watched it 5 times. Something about that scene made me really root for Joel even though I was sort of meh on him the rest of the season.

[Anonymous]

I am not liking this season as much as I like the first