I'm going to be forgiving and say this is a transitional episode. There are some links to first episode. We have the frenetic Mrs. Maisel zooming around getting her apartment in shape. She then gets her parents to move in, but it's on the condition that people think they were paying for it. Susie goes to a mental institution to visit Jane Lynch to get her to sign off on her obligations as a talent agent. There are a few little moments. But Midge's behavior is almost as out of control as it can be.
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (TV Series)
Billy Jones and the Orgy Lamps (2022)
User Reviews
Review this title5 Reviews
Better Episode, Still Waiting on Lenny
julianmx93-21 February 2022
Visual Metaphors
screenwriter-972-14961228 February 2022
There are more than a few extended and excellent verbal exchanges in this episode. They are witty and insightful. The wittiest? Susie's 'nut house' visit with Sophie Lennon. It shifts from surreal to cunning to a hilarious punch line seamlessly. The most poignant? Again, it's Susie talking with the old agent in the park. He explains comedians to her and also reveals a lot of what it must be like when you hitch your wagon to them. It's so very well done.
One more 'Susie' moment involves a phone conversation with her sister. Probably meant to be some sort of comment on what women have to do to get things done, it's so darn funny that as a stand-alone it's right up there with any Abbot and Costello routine imaginable.
I'll omit my personal quibbles about too many story lines to get right to the highlight of the show, the visual metaphors. Whether it's Midge rearranging her bedroom (the slightest visual treat and almost over-done with pratfalls) to three exquisite representations within the storytelling.
First there's Midge on stage. A woman in a man's world which tosses her aside. Then Mrs. Maisel in 'language prison'...literally. Honestly, this scene alone would make the episode outstanding. But then, it gets even better.
At the end of the episode we see Midge exploring...wondering and then wandering through a sleazy theater. We take the journey right beside her. We're there. And then she sees, as do we, that if she does what others want her to, her life will become a sad burlesque of what it could, what it should, be. She won't be telling jokes. She'll become a joke. And, a sad one at that.
One more 'Susie' moment involves a phone conversation with her sister. Probably meant to be some sort of comment on what women have to do to get things done, it's so darn funny that as a stand-alone it's right up there with any Abbot and Costello routine imaginable.
I'll omit my personal quibbles about too many story lines to get right to the highlight of the show, the visual metaphors. Whether it's Midge rearranging her bedroom (the slightest visual treat and almost over-done with pratfalls) to three exquisite representations within the storytelling.
First there's Midge on stage. A woman in a man's world which tosses her aside. Then Mrs. Maisel in 'language prison'...literally. Honestly, this scene alone would make the episode outstanding. But then, it gets even better.
At the end of the episode we see Midge exploring...wondering and then wandering through a sleazy theater. We take the journey right beside her. We're there. And then she sees, as do we, that if she does what others want her to, her life will become a sad burlesque of what it could, what it should, be. She won't be telling jokes. She'll become a joke. And, a sad one at that.
Meh...
MetsDvls21 February 2022
Warning: Spoilers
I rewatched all of season 1 through 3 inside of last week anticipating season 4. I laughed my ass off again like I had never seen the show and the script, story and jokes were so good. Those first three season were a funny, tight story that made me want more by the end of season 3. I like everyone was heart broken after season three for Midge and Susie and ecstatic for Joel, wished I had the guts of Abe and Rose and longed for the freeness of Moishe and Shirley. In short the show was a phenomenon and I felt entertained. Then the "pandemic" hit...
Two years later we got Amazon dropping only two episodes on release day and it was crap.
I watched episode one "The Wonder Wheel". The only wonder about that episode was I was wondering when I would laugh. I thought- okay it will get better after the season premier and subsequent episodes would be funnier.
The only thing funny about Billy Jones and the Orgy Lamps was I wasted 55 minutes of my life watching this crap. The whole running gag about the kitchen organization and Midge's bedroom were about as funny as dropping a brick on my foot and these were the only gags that were anywhere near funny. The entire episode was depressing and sad. Even when the characters faced adversity in the first three season- it was funny.
Two years in between season and this is the best they could come up with? The first two episodes of this season were summed up when Midge and Susie were in Bobby's club making fun of the old boy boy comedians doing the same schtick. Season 4 seems like a rerun of the last 3 season.
Two years later we got Amazon dropping only two episodes on release day and it was crap.
I watched episode one "The Wonder Wheel". The only wonder about that episode was I was wondering when I would laugh. I thought- okay it will get better after the season premier and subsequent episodes would be funnier.
The only thing funny about Billy Jones and the Orgy Lamps was I wasted 55 minutes of my life watching this crap. The whole running gag about the kitchen organization and Midge's bedroom were about as funny as dropping a brick on my foot and these were the only gags that were anywhere near funny. The entire episode was depressing and sad. Even when the characters faced adversity in the first three season- it was funny.
Two years in between season and this is the best they could come up with? The first two episodes of this season were summed up when Midge and Susie were in Bobby's club making fun of the old boy boy comedians doing the same schtick. Season 4 seems like a rerun of the last 3 season.
When
vintagegeek-9746523 February 2022
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