Come Nov. 29, Amazon will fill the Gilmore Girls-sized gap in your TV lineup with The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, a new comedy series from the duo behind everyone's favorite mother-daughter dramedy. And knowing Amy Sherman-Palladino and Daniel Palladino's past work, eight episodes won't be enough. So, will there be a Season 2 of Marvelous Mrs. Maisel?
Fortunately, fans won't even have to wait until after the premiere for an answer, as Amazon has already renewed the show for Season 2 — the first time the streaming service has ever greenlit multiple seasons of a new series, according to Deadline. That bodes well for two reasons. One, it means Amazon really, really liked what they saw, and based on the rave reviews Maisel has already been raking in, so will viewers. Two, that allows writer Amy Sherman-Palladino and executive producer Dan Palladino to play the long game when it comes to mapping out the series. Rather than shaping the first season around what might land them the best chance at a renewal, they can draw things out, save some surprises, and take more risks than they may have otherwise been afforded. Essentially, they have the freedom tell the story how they see fit instead of relying on outside input, and that often makes for more original, authentic storytelling.
The show stars House of Cards vet Rachel Brosnahan as the titular Miriam "Midge" Maisel, a dutiful '50s homemaker with a picture perfect life: A loving husband, two kids, and an elegant Upper West Side apartment. She spends her days running errands, baking brisket, and sneaking out of bed each morning to make sure her husband never catches her without freshly curled hair and a full face of makeup. She's not the least bit dissatisfied with her pre-imposed roles as wife and mother, and in fact, she revels in the antiquated standards prescribed to her — that is, until her husband has one off night, decides he's leaving her for his secretary, and upends her world in one fell swoop. What follows is a wonderfully imperfect journey of self-discovery in which Midge accidentally stumbles into a fledgling career as a stand-up comic, uncovers a voice she's long had but never fully utilized, and slowly begins to realize that there may yet be more for her in life. It's the sort of fast-talking, funny, female-focused series certainly in line with the Palladinos' previous projects, but, like Midge, has enough gumption to stand on its own feet.
When viewers first meet Midge, she's still firmly attached to the life society has laid out for her, and she spends the bulk of the first season torn between wanting to embrace her newfound independence and wishing things would revert to exactly how they were before. The second season, then, will likely explore broader ideas about what being a female comic meant at that time and how others will react to her encroaching on what was then still considered a man's field.
"The first season is largely about Midge working with [her manager] Susie, [Gilmore Girls' Alex Borstein] and them developing a friendship and a professional relationship," Brosnahan told Bustle via phone. "By the end we’re only just beginning to see what Midge as a professional comedian will look like. I think in Season 2 [how others respond] will be something that will probably be pretty prominent."
So basically, Season 1 will introduce viewers to Midge's world, while Season 2 will push back against it. There's no word yet on when the second batch of episodes will arrive. Usually, Amazon series can take around a year between seasons. But, since they already had the go-ahead, the Palladinos had a rare head start, and hopefully that means a turnaround as quick as their dialogue.
