Ep 1. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel is set in the late 1950s and follows the life of Miriam "Midge" Maisel, a woman who seemingly has it all - a perfect life, a perfect husband, and a perfect apartment on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. In the first episode, appropriately titled "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel," we see Midge's life unravel as she discovers that her husband, Joel, has been having an affair and wants to leave her.

The episode begins with Midge and Joel getting ready for bed after a night out with friends, during which Joel bombs horribly as a stand-up comedian at a local club. Midge, however, is a natural comedian herself and proves it the next day at work when she spends her lunch break at the club where Joel bombed. She drunkenly takes the stage, railing against the unfairness of life and her husband's inadequacies, much to the delight of the audience.

The morning after Midge's impromptu performance, Joel announces that he is leaving her, confessing to having an affair with his secretary. Devastated, Midge tries to hold it together for her children but eventually breaks down in front of her parents, who have arrived to offer support.

While Midge tries to pick up the pieces of her broken marriage, she continues to find solace in performing stand-up comedy. She seeks out the club owner from the night before, Susie, and convinces her to let her perform again. Midge bares her soul on stage once more, drawing laughs from the audience and finding a sense of purpose in the process.

"The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" sets the stage for the rest of the series, introducing us to Midge's world and the many colorful characters in it. As Midge navigates her newly single life and burgeoning career in stand-up, she proves to be a witty and insightful protagonist who is impossible not to root for. With its sharp writing, pitch-perfect performances, and stunning visuals, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel is a true gem of a show that is not to be missed.