Topping a season premiere filmed in the romantic city of Paris is indeed a challenging feat, but for the grand finale of season two, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel opted for an episode that resonates like a lengthy, dramatic Instagram Superzoom video. Put simply, it's filled to the brim with thrilling cliffhangers.
Let's be clear: A stellar finale is marked by a judicious amount of unresolved storylines, enough to tantalize viewers and whet their appetites for the next season. However, in the typical "all or nothing" Maisel style, we're left with a plethora of unanswered questions, making the wait for season three feel interminable.
On the brighter side, the episode "All Alone" is structured brilliantly around cliffhangers, making it easier to unpack. So, let's delve into the mysteries:
Are Midge and Benjamin's engagement plans already doomed? It's uncertain, but the signs are ominous. I can't imagine writer-director Amy Sherman-Palladino featuring a rose-tinted flashback of Joel's Broadway-worthy proposal if she had envisioned a wedding for Midge and her surgeon boyfriend. (Nor do I believe she would conclude the episode with Midge returning to Joel for a final night of passion before embarking on her tour.) Nonetheless, I pray this isn't the end of Zachary Levi's character, as he certainly didn't deserve such a fate. Metaphorically speaking, Benjamin is still waiting by the phone for Abe's approval to propose, oblivious to Midge's plan to hit the road and open for Shy Baldwin for half the year.
Will Susie become Sophie Lennon's manager? It's a possibility. This episode shocks Susie when, after her harsh critique, the illustrious comedienne makes her an irresistible business offer. Now, Sophie, having revealed herself as a Yale Drama grad trapped in her own success, is appealing to Susie to fight for her the way she fought for Midge. Adding to the tension is the lingering rift between Midge and Susie after their argument over Sophie in the previous episode, making Susie's decision all the more compelling. As of now, she's supposed to accompany Midge on Shy Baldwin's tour. But whether she'll bring her new fur coat remains to be seen.
What was Abe's activism all about? Whatever it entailed, it was the last time Abraham Weissman felt passionate about anything — and I'm eagerly awaiting more details. Once Abe learns that Midge's security-breaching joke was merely about him using Ethan's potty-training record for his computer-singing project, he's disgusted with his colleagues at Bell Labs and, consequently, the government employing quasi-Orwellian tactics on his family. Realizing his position at Bell Labs was tenuous, Abe delivers a calm yet resolute farewell, referencing his activist past and his renewed desire to reignite that part of his life. In so doing, Abe sets the stage for his season three arc, warning his co-workers to tremble in fear of what's about to unfold — as soon as they buzz him out of the secure room.
Question: Are Abe and Rose destined to become homeless?
Answer: It seems inevitable if Abe follows through with his intention to resign from Columbia. In a complete reversal of roles from the second episode of the season, it's now Rose who must ground Abe back to reality after he declares that he'd rather give up his prestigious position at the Ivy League university than "drift aimlessly through life." However, there's a catch. Rose reminds him that Columbia owns their apartment. While I sympathize with Abe's lament that he "once had a purpose" and "wants it back," it's much easier to find meaning when you have a roof overhead. Hopefully, Abe will realize he can still make a difference in the world while accepting a paid sabbatical, even if it means being "put on the back burner."
Question: What legal action does Abe plan to take with Michael Kessler against Bell Labs (and potentially the US government)?
Answer: Whatever it is, it has reignited Abe's passion. "I'm eager for a good fight," he tells his new attorney. Furthermore, I eagerly anticipate seeing how Midge will factor into this. This lawyer, Michael Kessler, is not just the son of one of Abe's, er, "companions" from the past — he's also the man who defended Midge during her court appearance in season one. (I assume Abe learned about Midge's arrests through his connection with Michael.)
Question: Will Midge and Joel ever divorce?
Answer: It's anyone's guess. It's not as if Lenny Bruce's cautionary tale about the couple who repeatedly broke up and got back together for their kids had any impact on them. Besides, Midge never stopped wearing her wedding rings throughout the season — even when she was dating and preparing to get engaged to Benjamin. On that note...
Question: Is their latest reunion just a one-night stand, or another instance of the vicious cycle Lenny warned about?
Answer: What would truly solidify "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" as an unapologetically feminist show is if Midge sticks to her word about wanting to be with Joel to fulfill her basic emotional and physical needs — and then embarks on that tour without looking back. I understand her hesitation after watching Lenny deliver a more melancholy version of the same speech Declan Howell gave her a few episodes ago: Nobody wants to live "all alone," so let her fall into Joel's arms this one last time before facing the biggest challenge of her career.
Question: Will Midge embark on Shy Baldwin's tour?
Answer: Oh, I sincerely hope so. Turns out Susie isn't the only one with lucrative offers. The pop star, astonished by Midge's spontaneous performance at the arthritis telethon, offers her a six-month tour as his opening act, with half the dates in Europe. Without consulting Benjamin, her parents, or Zelda (who else will take care of Ethan and Esther while she's overseas?), Midge first gasps, then accepts. So I believe her when she visits Joel at his family's factory (which he still hasn't left, despite being fired) and tells him she can't go back to making Jell-O molds or having a third child (though that pressure mostly came from Imogene). By accepting Baldwin's offer, she's also accepting the fate Declan Howell and Lenny Bruce foretold: She's "going to be alone for the rest of [her] life." Like Joel, I believe it's still an open question, and I remain hopeful that she'll find love. Maybe not today, maybe not in six months, but someday. But for all my criticism of Midge's neglect of her parental duties and her romantic flip-flopping, what I want for her now, more than anything, is for her to take that tour. Because she's earned it. She can figure out the rest of her life next season.
