DISCLAIMER: This recap of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Season 5 Episode 6, “The Testi-Roastial,” contains spoilers. Proceed at your peril.
Tits up! “The Testi-Roastial” is, hands down, the season’s best episode thus far. It zeroes in on Susie’s prolific career in show business, expertly weaving together flashback and flash-forward sequences interspersed between scenes of Susie getting roasted. Additionally, we learn why Midge and Susie had a falling out. Thankfully, near the episode’s end, we see the beginnings of a reconciliation between the long-time friends and professional partners.
It might not be a conventional Maisel outing, episodic formula-wise, but it’s brilliantly written and fantastically structured, with stellar performances and the show’s trademark quippy dialogue in full force. I also love seeing where these characters are, particularly Susie and Midge, in the future. Plus, it’s lovely to get a Susie-centric episode. Finally.
Ready to delve into “The Testi-Roastial”? Let’s get to it.
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We open with a flash-forward scene in 1985, wherein Midge (Rachel Brosnahan) is in the middle of her stand-up. She tells the audience she just broke up with someone — a woman. Side note: it’s still jarring hearing pop culture references outside of the 1950s/1960s in these sequences. We learn that said woman is none other than Susie. Midge reveals her friendship with Susie lasted longer than any of her marriages combined. We fast forward a few years later to 1990 in New York City, the furthest we’ve gone in the show, time-wise, thus far. Kitchen staff at The Friars Club prepare for Susie’s big roast.
It’s the who’s who in show business, with titans like Mike Carr (Jason Ralph), Stewart Jones (Sean Gunn), Aaron Lebowitz (Danny Strong), Ray Ortiz (Danny Garcia) and Carmine Streeto (Will Sasso) there to pay homage to the guest of honor. Susie (Alex Borstein) arrives in her car, her hair streaked with gray. Hats off to the makeup/hair team for their excellent work regarding the flash-forwards. Stewart Jones kicks off the festivities with a few Susie-themed cracks. Besides getting roasted, she’s being honored for her 30 years as a top talent manager in the industry, hence why it’s called a “testi-roastial.”
Firstly, Stewart dives into one perfect day for Susie in 1970, when she scored three wins in quick succession — all on the golf course. We see she’s using Harry Drake’s clubs. Susie secures deals with a handful of producers while enlisting the aid of caddies to keep her informed. They’re her eyes and ears. Susie launches Andrew Lloyd Webber‘s and Tim Rice‘s careers merely by pitching their concept album for Jesus Christ Superstar. She gets The French Connection starring Gene Hackman off the ground and a sitcom that she makes up on the fly.
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Now, it’s time for Aaron to squeeze in some jokes before delving into another facet of Susie’s storied, prolific career. We flash back to 1963. Susie’s having drinks with an actor named Taylor (Darren Criss) at Toots Shor. Taylor wants Susie to represent him instead of Harry Drake. He rattles off his laundry list of desires; however, Susie shuts him down. She doesn’t appreciate him trash-talking Harry and going behind his back. Obviously, she won’t represent him. So, there’s that. Then, we return to 1990, post-testi-roastial. The fellas sit at a table and drink. Aaron tells them what transpired between Susie and Harry.
In another flashback sequence, Harry’s (David Paymer) on his deathbed. According to Aaron, Susie forged documents he signed, transferring his big-name clients to her. She even kept his daughter out of the room. We hear another account claiming that Harry’s daughter was in on the whole shebang. However, the third retelling seems to hit closer to the truth. We see Susie sitting next to Harry while he’s in bed. They eat Jell-O and watch a Buster Keaton silent flick together. Susie thanks him for everything he’s done for her. Harry vows to give Susie his clientele, citing that she’s the only one he trusts.
Then, one night, he wakes and calls out for his daughter, who’s not there. Susie pretends to be Harry’s daughter, clasping his hand. Aw. I think these short scenes perfectly encapsulate their relationship. Next, at the testi-roastial, Ray takes to the podium to deliver his segment. We cut to after the event, with the guys talking about Susie’s connections with the mob, Frank and Nicky. One scene finds Susie discovering the bruises on Dinah’s (Alfie Fuller) face courtesy of her partner. Naturally, she sends Frank (Erik Palladino) and Nicky (John Scurti) to rough this guy up. Oh, and fun fact: in 1990, Dinah is practically running New York. That’s my girl.
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Stewart introduces Mike, who doles out some comedic jabs in Susie’s direction. She got under his skin in the friendship way, and they’ve been buddies for 30 years. After Mike mentions it’s the 10th anniversary of George Toledano’s passing and how he misses his mentor, Aaron, post-roast, claims it’s false. Mike historically and publicly loathed George. In another flashback, Mike tells Susie Gordon’s hard and fast rule about no staff performing on his show is courtesy of George. It’s George’s rule. Susie started to despise George (Peter Friedman), too.
One evening, she digs through George’s office and discovers the mother lode — evidence of illegal goings-on. George was holding up Gordon’s contract and partaking in some good ole fashioned racketeering. Susie gets George fired, giving Mike a significant promotion. At The Friars Club, Mike flips Susie the double bird, which is part of their love language. After the roast, Carmine tells the boys how Midge got out from under the mob. In a flashback to 1961, we see Joel (Michael Zegen) rummaging through Susie’s office. He turns it practically upside down. Then, he finds Susie’s books, which detail how much the mob takes from Midge’s paychecks.
Dinah’s friend, a cop, seizes Joel and prepares to escort him out of Susie’s office. However, Susie persuades said cop that Joel’s her buddy. She reassures Joel that Midge is safe. Besides, she’ll be raking in so much money the mob’s measly cut will barely make a dent. Then, Joel visits Frank and Nicky while they celebrate Christmas. Nicky’s even donning a Santa costume. Joel asks if he can replace Midge. He mentions his establishment in Chinatown that’s doing well financially. He’ll do whatever they want so long as they leave Midge alone. Frank and Nicky agree to Joel’s terms.
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Of course, we know Joel eventually goes to prison to protect Midge. He ensures the feds steer clear of Archie. Thankfully, he’s only there for, I’m assuming, five years, as the roast guys mention he “just got out of the clink.” Meanwhile, Carmine introduces Tessie (Emily Bergl) to the stage, who flew in from Indonesia, where she now resides. We learn she had one disco hit that made it to #85 on the charts and number one in Indonesia. She performs it for the event attendees, much to Susie’s chagrin.
Then, we travel to 1973 with Susie in Hawaii for Midge’s marriage to Philip Roth. Midge waltzes into the hotel room and claims she doesn’t want to marry Philip anymore. Her reason? He doesn’t make her laugh at the breakfast table. She claims she’s still in love with Joel. Rose (Marin Hinkle) and Abe (Tony Shalhoub) also enter the scene. Initially, they believe she’s referring to Joel Grey, who she also dated. Midge wants Susie to break the news to Philip herself despite Susie’s insistence that this doesn’t affect Midge’s professional life. Susie tries to set boundaries but to no avail. She winds up telling Philip the wedding is off and refunding the Weissmans for the really expensive cake.
Now, we see the reason why Midge and Susie parted ways. In 1985, while Midge and Joel are in the synagogue with their son and grandchild, the FBI appears to arrest Joel. I’m surprised he kept up the mob stuff for 24 years. Joel hands Midge a letter detailing everything he’s done while the feds lead him away. Afterward, Susie appears, and Midge confronts her. She knows that Joel took the fall for her. Susie insists Midge was free of the mob, but Joel knows better. The pair have a heated argument before Midge washes her hands of Susie. Nooo!
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Later, Susie stands before the crowd in 1990 and offers a few words of thanks (and no thanks) for the testi-roastial turnout. Stewart brings one more guest into the fold. We see it’s footage of Midge, with Imogen (Bailey De Young) recording it. Midge reminisces on their decades-long friendship and partnership — the highs and the lows.
She knows they ended things on a sour note, but she hopes to reconnect. Perhaps they can meet in a public place and hash things out? Mend fences? After all, life is short. Susie is in tears when the video ends. I think what got me was the talk about Jackie, followed by the discovery that the proceeds from the testi-roastial go to a charity in Jackie’s name. Susie asks her assistant to retrieve Midge’s number, but we learn the latter already has it. Susie leaves with cream puffs, telling her driver she will walk home. It’s a beautiful night for it. Susie smiles.
Alex Borstein obliterates it in “The Testi-Roastial.” This outing should be her Emmy submission. Her scene with Rachel Brosnahan, where they part ways, is a masterclass in nuance and subtleties. Neither go over the top for the bond-breaking argument; instead, they remain grounded and are compelling presences in their own right. I’m glad we know why Joel went to prison. Folks can complain all they like, but Joel and Midge are soulmates, even if they never remarry. I think Joel spent his life atoning for his infidelity and hoped he could eventually do right by Midge.
This episode marks the first time we see Abe and Rose in a flash-forward scene. Granted, it’s 12 years after the current timeline. We know in 1987 that Midge mentions Rose “rolling in her grave,” so she had passed at that point. Although, I imagine Abe went first because he’s older. No sight of the Maisels, though. That makes me sad.
I love the appearances from Gilmore Girls alumni Danny Strong and Sean Gunn. Will Sasso worked with Borstein on Mad TV. It’s a small world, after all.
Overall, “The Testi-Roastial” is a standout Maisel episode. Hilarious, heartbreaking and heartwarming — a testament to the badass that is Susie Myerson. We’ve only got three episodes left, folks. Here’s to seeing where the journey takes us. Tits up!
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel streams new episodes every Friday 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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