The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (2017)

The critic praises the series as a sharp, feminist period piece about a housewife turning to stand-up comedy as rebellion. Rachel Brosnahan's performance is highlighted as a standout in Amy Sherman-Palladino's rapid-fire, witty world.

This 1950s-set comedy drama is warming and watchable like Gilmore Girls. Rachel Brosnahan brings steel to the role of a housewife-turned-stand-up comedian.

The review calls it an ambitious, visually dazzling expansion of Sherman-Palladino's style into 1950s New York, with a compelling heroine and strong ensemble. It notes some pacing issues but highlights the period detail and Midge's liberating journey.

There is a lot to love, with rapid-fire jokes and a magnetic lead actress. The show stands out when Brosnahan stands up as the upbeat optimism and forward-looking aspects prove addictive.

The critic praises the spirited tempo and genuinely funny jokes that make the show zip along as both a loving historical homage and effortlessly funny. Rachel Brosnahan's charming and sharp performance stands out.

The critic finds the show charming and lively, especially when Midge performs stand-up, crediting Brosnahan's energy and the sharp, period-authentic production design. It notes the familiar Sherman-Palladino rhythms but praises the heightened Manhattan moxie and costumes.

The critic finds the series flawed and uneven in places but praises its very good core elements, especially Rachel Brosnahan’s performance as the housewife-turned-comedian who weaponises her wit in a man’s world, along with the strong period detail and the developing relationship between Midge and her manager Susie.

The series bristles with an energetic sense of discovery and Rachel Brosnahan is flat-out fantastic. Watching Midge hone her stand-up craft is the central pleasure, though the show is uneven.

The critic hails the series as Amy Sherman-Palladino’s best work yet and a glorious new phase for the creator in the streaming era. It singles out the smart setup of a content 1950s housewife discovering her voice as a stand-up comic.

The series has strong visuals, costumes, and acting but feels artificial overall, with unlikeable self-centered protagonist Midge and underdeveloped supporting elements like her children.