DISCLAIMER: This recap of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel episode “Maisel vs. Lennon: The Cut Contest” has spoilers. Proceed at your peril.
Tits up! We’ve reached the sixth episode of this season, “Maisel vs. Lennon: The Cut Contest,” and it features Midge and Sophie’s best scenes together. Seriously, the banter and delivery are top-notch. Despite Sophie’s generally holier-than-thou attitude, she’s growing on me.
Luke Kirby proves why he’s the king — even though his screen time for this outing clocks in around 10 minutes, he steals the show. Kirby nails Lenny Bruce, from his looks to his physicality and vocal inflections. Everything is intentional, and Kirby encapsulates Lenny’s need for love. His undeniable connection with Midge eclipses the comedian’s real-life tragic end; for now.
“Maisel vs. Lennon: The Cut Contest” sports top-notch comedy, superb acting and significant developments for our main characters, namely Mei, Midge, Joel and Susie.
Ready to dig deep into this episode? Let’s get to it.
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We open with Lenny (Kirby), waking up at the Weissman residence after a night on the town. He appears to rise from Ethan’s bed. Lenny walks down the hallway to the kitchen, where Rose (Marin Hinkle) and Abe (Tony Shalhoub) greet him. Lenny’s utterly confused, unsure of what’s up or down.
Lenny finally spots Midge (Rachel Brosnahan), who informs him that she brought him back to her apartment after finding him unconscious on the sidewalk. He wishes to leave, so Midge escorts him outside. Lenny waits for a cab, stewing in anger at Midge for helping him. He tells her not to extend that helping hand the next time she sees him in a drunken stupor.
Kirby and Brosnahan’s chemistry is electrifying, even when they’re arguing. Maisel needs to do the right thing and hook ’em up already!
Meanwhile, things are rockin’ and rollin’ at Susie Myerson and Associates. Susie (Alex Borstein) receives an endless supply of gift baskets courtesy of Sophie for the latter’s triumphant appearance on Gordon Ford’s show. Dinah (Alfie Fuller) works her first day as Susie’s secretary, while Alfie (Gideon Glick) eats Susie’s food on her bed. Very helpful.
Susie calls Joel (Michael Zegen) with a request: Does he have room on his entertainment roster for a magician? She tries to squeeze Alfie in for a performance or two. If Alfie works out, then Susie proposes Joel place him on the rotation as a regular at The Button Club.
Abe and Rose have TV dinner trays now, so they can eat while laughing their asses off at Sophie’s new NBC game show. Midge doesn’t understand why her parents wholeheartedly support the women who tried to destroy her career, but here we are.
A bewildered Midge finds more women than men in the audience when she performs her routine at work. Boise (Santino Fontana) also notices the surge in ladies, and he’s none too pleased about it.
Later, Abe times Imogene (Bailey De Young) while she types for him. Her time in secretarial school paid off handsomely. Even though Abe refuses to call her anything but Doty, he wants to hire Imogene to type his articles for The Village Voice for him.
Meanwhile, Solomon Melamid’s single daughters enter the Weissman home for their appointment with Rose.
A dismayed Susie finds exponentially more gifts from Sophie, including a brand new car. Susie speaks with Sophie’s butler and begs the filthy rich actress to cease giving her lavish presents. Susie thought their arrangement ended when she helped Sophie snag the NBC hosting gig.
Next, Midge calls Moishe (Kevin Pollak) and informs him that her rent will be significantly late. Of course, this news almost gives Moishe a heart attack.
Susie and Midge meet with Boise and his bosses to discuss the club’s state. Sure, Midge’s presence boosted sales and raked in more clientele, but Boise asserts this establishment is for dicks to see titties. There are too many women!
Then, Boise discloses the club itself isn’t on the up and up. Despite that, the bosses seem happy, so Midge and Susie ask for a cut of the bar tab. Get that cheddar!
Later, Susie tells Midge that L. Roy Dunham, the journalist affixed as a perpetual thorn in Midge’s side, strikes again in the papers. So, Midge takes matters into her hands by visiting L. Roy Dunham (Hari Nef) herself. Yes, L. Roy’s a woman writing under a pseudonym.
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L. Roy insists that all press is good press, so she’s doing Midge a favor. Sure, she doesn’t find Midge funny, but that’s show biz, baby!
Next, Midge heads home, encountering Sophie Lennon (Jane Lynch) in her living room as she regales the building staff with lively stories. But Sophie’s here with a proposition: she wants Midge to open for the NBC game show. Not only will Midge receive a ton of money, but it’s a great way to get Susie’s attention. She’ll even silence L. Roy Dunham for Midge, all in the name of feminism!
Susie waits for Alfie at The Button Club, but the latter fails to appear. He’s a magician; maybe he made himself disappear.
Meanwhile, Mei (Stephanie Hsu) tells Joel she’s pregnant. Holy shirt! Despite the slight road (baby) bump, Mei refuses to let this derail her from becoming a doctor. But she might need to remind herself a few times (or 12) to make sure her dreams come to fruition.
Susie finds Alfie wandering through a store in Chinatown, talking himself out of going on stage. Susie recognizes this pattern of self-sabotage and reassures him that he’s going to blow up. If Susie knows one thing, it’s natural talent. He’s the best magician out there. She vows to schedule another timeslot for him the following night.
Midge informs Susie about her conversation with Sophie and the proposition following it. Naturally, Susie loses it, but Midge will take the job. Firstly, it’s NBC, and secondly, tons of cash.
Rose hits up a restaurant for what she believes is a luncheon for female small business owners. However, it’s a bona fide ambush from the matchmakers of New York City. They urge her to stand down because she’s encroaching on their territory. Solomon Melamid belongs to someone else! But we all know Rose won’t stop — she’s in too deep (into Solomon’s pockets) now.
Then, Midge starts her new gig opening for Sophie’s game show. Things appear to go swimmingly, and Midge scores some hearty laughs. However, Sophie’s envy gets the best of her, and she arrives on air early to upstage Midge.
Meanwhile, Susie encounters Mike Carr (Jason Ralph), and the two chat about Sophie’s triumphant appearance on Gordon Ford’s show. Susie floats the idea of getting Midge on Gordon’s series, gushing about our fave Mrs. Maisel’s brilliance. However, when Mike asks where he can watch Midge’s set, Susie storms off, unable to provide an answer.
Midge and Sophie continuously upstage each other on the set and the competitiveness ramps up to an 11. What starts as somewhat harmless ribbing morphs into venomous insults as the duo hurls incendiary remarks at each other.
The episode ends with the crew of the game show throwing out merchandise to distract audiences from the swirling storm of chaos. Before departing in a huff, Midge executes the perfect “mic drop” moment.
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Susie’s trajectory this season might be the most drastic: she’s gone from only representing Midge to creating her company and taking on two more clients. She’s a business mogul now!
Do you think Rose will stop matchmaking (Short answer: no)? Did Midge ruin her chances of working on an NBC show? When will Lenny stop sabotaging his relationships and recognize Midge’s feelings for him? Will Joel tell Midge he’s going to be a father again? Join me next time while I recap The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, only on Geek Girl Authority.
Put that on your plate (or don’t — I’m not the boss of you)!
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel streams two new episodes weekly on Prime Video.
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What I do: I'm GGA's Managing Editor, a Senior Contributor, and Press Coordinator. I manage, contribute, and coordinate. Sometimes all at once. Joking aside, I oversee day-to-day operations for GGA, write, edit, and assess interview opportunities/press events.
Who I am: Before moving to Los Angeles after studying theater in college, I was born and raised in Amish country, Ohio. No, I am not Amish, even if I sometimes sport a modest bonnet.
Bylines in: Tell-Tale TV, Culturess, Sideshow Collectibles, and inkMend on Medium.
Critic: Rotten Tomatoes, CherryPicks, and the Hollywood Creative Alliance.
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