Episode 5 of Marvelous Mrs. Maisel commences with Susie and Midge gracefully checking into a Florida hotel, while Rose returns home to a surprising sight of Zelda and Shirley cozily watching TV together. At the hotel, Midge patiently instructs Susie in the art of swimming, only to be interrupted by a call from Sophie, who expresses her reluctance to collaborate with Gavin. Despite Sophie's objections, Susie stands her ground, urging the collaboration. Disheartened, Sophie packs her bags, burns with a sunburn, and prepares to depart Florida in search of Sophie's companionship. Before her departure, Midge encourages Susie to be resolute with Sophie and commends her for her efforts.
Meanwhile, Abe, frazzled and agitated, is expelled from Moishe and Shirley's abode, horrified by a barrage of spelling errors and shortcomings in their published article. As they travel together on the subway, Abe questions their dedication and professionalism, ultimately severing ties for the moment as he continues his pursuit. Elsewhere, Joel finds solace in the arms of Mei in Chinatown, their lips locking in a tender kiss over a plate of steaming buns.
Susie arrives and confronts Sophie's erratic behavior, yet she remains steadfast in her rehearsals. Rose, meanwhile, continues to lament her circumstances, while Shirley's shouts for Ethan to enter draw Rose into a fierce verbal altercation.
Lenny's sudden arrival in Florida ushers in an unexpected encounter with Midge. The next day, as she gracefully descends the legendary staircase, all eyes are transfixed on her, dressed in a stunning black dress. However, her joy is fleeting as she realizes Abe and Rose have also made their way to the hotel. She gracefully incorporates their arrival into her opening act, then watches the band from afar.
Lenny then whisks her away, proposing a collaboration, yet he remains tight-lipped about his opinion of her performance. After an impromptu appearance on live TV, Midge and Lenny dance the night away, culminating in their arrival at his hotel room. However, Midge retreats before anything untoward occurs, leaving the episode with a tantalizing romantic subplot filled with mystery.
This episode of Marvelous Mrs. Maisel showcases a captivating visual style, with the static camera capturing the characters' entrances and exits, enhancing the overall aesthetic of the season. The flirtatious exchanges between Lenny and Midge cast her marriage to Joel in Vegas in a new light, suggesting it was more of a shock factor than a pivotal plot development. Nevertheless, the show continues to deliver a captivating and stylish episode, albeit not quite matching the excellence of previous seasons.
