#ethan maisel

He was living on a kibbutz in Israel and going to rabbinical school there.

Okay, so I want to be clear here, and I hope this post doesn't incite backlash but I really wanted to get my thoughts out on the flashforwards provided in the first three episodes of Mrs Maisel

Spoilers Ahead!!!

So it did come as a shock to have these flashforwards, but I like it mainly for three reasons: 1) it gives light to Midge's future which is something very realistic as well as shed light on the fact that Midge's decisions have downsides as well; 2) it has This is Us vibes but something that was a little Forrest Gump meets How I Met Your Mother vibe and is set in the beginning of the episode instead of the end or a misleading event to hide a bombshell 3) ASP doesn't plan on returning it so don't expect a AYITL part to Mrs Maisel.

So with that, let's dive into the flashforwards:

First Flashforward- Esther Maisel

So for those who thought Esther was annoying and the fact that Midge Maisel is a terrible mother is unwarranted, you're wrong!!! Esther is definitely unique, given that she's very much a version of Abe and Midge in the earlier season with her mother in terms of how she views her relationship with her mom, but you can't help but be empathetic to her because yes, being a child of an uber-famous parent is not easy. Take for example, Gypsy the musical, or children of famous actors- its something that happens. Given that Esther was a baby when Midge started out her career unlike Ethan, her mommy issues are bigger and more intense. I hope the show extends this further.

Second Flashforward- Midge's 60 Second show

So, I think this is by far the biggest of them all, because it gives some great and not so great updates on Midge's life- her career has skyrocketed, she's got multiple awards, she did an infamous show at Carnegie Hall a decade after Lenny's own show, she toured worldwide (as she would've done at Shy's own tour), with Bob Hope (something Moishe thought she was doing) and made friendships with renowned faces. On the downside- 4 failed marriages and multiple romantic relationships. This... is not exactly normal, but if you look at the romantic lives of these actors/celebrities- Cary Grant, Myrna Loy, Ginger Rogers, Irene Castle, Rita Hayworth, Sonny and Cher, Marlene Dietrich, even comedian Fanny Brice, you'll find that busted romantic lives is a common thread. If you also want fictional examples- A Star is Born, Blue Valentine, Revolutionary Road, Once, The Way We Were and many other similar movies.

With regards to Midge and Suzy's certain rift, it can be considered the opposite of Elvis Presley and Colonel Tom Parker. It's sad (but you kind of see it coming). It's like when bands break up- they'll find success but everyone wants their own identity. The worst enemy is yourself.

Third Flashforward

Ethan Maisel at 24 being a little aimless and having an unconventional professional journey (honoring his Jewish identity by working in Israel at a kibbutz and becoming a rabbi) and actually marrying a woman who is controlled and strong (an Army version of Midge- I like that they named her Chava, it's a callback to Fiddler on the Roof's third youngest daughter) shows his mommy issues which are different from Esther's but still there- it's all pretty in character. The fact that he keeps his engagement from his mother but still respects her nevertheless shows how much of mothering that we've seen from Midge from throughout the show has affected him.

Did you like this analysis???

Fandom: The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

Relationships: Lenny Bruce/Miriam “Midge” Maisel, Ethan Maisel & Miriam "Midge" Maisel

Words: 7,762

Chapters: 2/2

Summary: What Ethan noticed, and what he did about it.

What Kitty planned, and how it worked. (Ethan's and Kitty’s POV throughout the series and a post-finale AU).

Prior to the final I made some predictions about where the show would end up. One was that Esther would grow up to resent her mother like Lorelei resented Emily Gilmore. I was right about that. I also speculated that maybe this was the story of how Midge could make anybody laugh, but could not make it as a comic. I was wrong about Midge’s career.

Ethan shows up at the house unexpectedly one day in early May with his six year old daughter, Gillian. It’s not unwelcome, of course. She loves her son and her first grandchild more than almost anything.

Despite that, she’s worried. Ethan never just shows up like this.

So, once Gilly is set up with a coloring book and crayons, she and Ethan go and sit out of earshot but still within sight of Gilly. Midge may be older now, but she remembers what kids are like.

“So. What’s wrong, Ethan?”

He sits there and sips the coffee she’s served, fidgets with his hands and finally he sighs.

“You know how Aggie left?” She nods, encouraging him to continue. “Well…Gilly has been handling it pretty well…” He frowns. “Or, I thought she was. Something odd has been happening the last week or so. I was hoping that you’d know what was going on. You’ve done this whole single parent thing, after all.”

She doesn’t point out that it was a little different. Joel was still around to help out. Aggie had just up and left not just the state but the country.

“What has she been doing?”

He rubs his forehead. “Staring at me in my sleep.”

She can’t help the laugh that bursts out of her. She’s glad that she hadn’t been drinking just then. Coffee out of the nose is painful.

“Gee, Ma. Thanks. You're such a big help.” He looks so much like Joel but sounds so much like Lenny.

“Oh, I’m sorry darling. Like father, like daughter…” she composes herself a little. “You did the same thing when Joel left. I would wake up in the night and you’d be standing by my bed staring at me.”

“I did?”

She nods and takes a drink of her coffee. “Scared the shit out of me the first few times you did it too. It took me a while to figure out what it was. You had gone to bed one night and daddy was there and then when you woke up, he was gone. You were reassuring yourself that I was still there. That I wasn’t going to do the same thing.”

“Fuck.” The swear was soft but emphatic. “I’m sorry?”

“It’s okay, Ethan. It’s a perfectly normal reaction to losing a parent.”

“Ma. What do I do about it?”

She thinks about it. “Comfort her. However you can. Hugs, letting her sleep with you a few nights until she feels safe again.”

“Is that what you did?”

She gives a grimace. “Honestly? At first, I bought that stupid fucking Dr. Spock book and…” she pauses for a moment. “I went out with Lenny, got high on pot for the first time, did a set about it and then…threw the book out and decided to see if you did it again.”

He snorts. “Sounds about right. Did I do it again?”

“Yep.”

“And then?”

(Since it's still the summer let's set this in the Catskills)

“Hey! What’s wrong with glitter?”

Lenny was sat crossed legged on the ground, while sporting a small pink glittery heart on his cheek right underneath his eye.