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| Episode Number | 5.1 |
|---|---|
| Written By | Amy Sherman-Palladino |
| Directed By | Amy Sherman-Palladino |
| Premiered | April 13, 2023 |
| Runtime | 57 minutes |
| Previous Episode | How Do You Get to Carnegie Hall? |
| Next Episode | It's a Man, Man, Man, Man World |
Go Forward
Go Forward is the first episode of the fifth and final season of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.
Table of Contents
Official Description
Midge worries about her future while Susie has a light-bulb moment.
Plot Synopsis
Partial draft:
The day before Thanksgiving, Susie sneaks into a taping of the Gordon Ford Show to try and talk Mike into booking Midge on the show. As Gordon gives the opening monologue, Susie mouths and mimes an extensive conversation across the studio to Mike, who refuses to come over to her. George, who is standing at a podium next to Mike, eventually takes notice and looks mildly irritated. Eventually, Willie the security guard arrives and escorts Susie off the set. As he lets her go in the corridor, she overhears Hedy chatting with a friend, and follows behind them for a moment, shocked.
At the Stage Deli, the patrons eat a Thanksgiving dinner consisting of things brought in by various people from the neighborhood. Patrons (including Billy Jones and Lonny) repeatedly fail to understand that this is not food prepared or endorsed by the Stage Deli, and Verla becomes increasingly irritated as she is forced to explain over and over. Dinah also grows frustrated, as she attempts to arrange a group saying of grace, but is mocked and ignored by patrons including Billy Jones and Russell. At the good booth, Susie and Alfie eat as Susie prepares him for an upcoming two-week stint at the Hacienda in Vegas. Alfie does not want to fly on a plane, which becomes a point of contention. Susie breaks her tooth by biting into a hard dinner roll, which it turns out was brought in by Fred. Fred explains that they’re made hard intentionally, and that you’re supposed to soak them in water for ten minutes before eating them. Midge arrives and appraises Susie’s tooth. Susie tells her that she has been groveling to Bobby, and that he has finally relented and agreed to book Midge in the 15th Street Club again - she has a gig there next Thursday. Susie also tells her that Boise called to say that he paid off the right cops and the Wolford is reopening, and that Midge is welcome to emcee there again. As Midge and Susie begin to leave, Dinah gives up and Verla exclaims her frustration to the whole room.
At the Wolford, Susie talks Midge through some pre-set jitters as she prepares to do her closing act, reassuring her that it’s fine if she sucks since the point of the Wolford is to be a place where she can work out material. During the conversation, a dancer dressed as Annie Oakley runs up and hands Midge some lipstick, which she applies. Susie goes up and sits in a balcony seat, where she orders some ice for her tooth from Tawny. After a moment, Susie notices Gordon Ford entering with a pack of guys. She grabs Tawny and asks her to confirm what she’s seeing, then wonders to herself whether the better strategy would be to let Midge know about the visitor or not. Ultimately, time makes the decision for her, as the lights go down for Midge’s set and Susie orders a Scotch with a whiskey in it from Tawny. The set does not start well, but Midge recovers and eventually gets some chuckles from Gordon, which Susie notes approvingly. As Midge wraps up her act, Susie sends Tawny to fetch her and then goes up to talk to Gordon. In the background, the dancers (Can Can Mademoiselle, Raincoat, Philomena, Islander, Cotton Ball, Ringmaster, Magnolia, Bubbles, Sapphira, Gilded Age, Annie Oakley and Peacock) perform the finale of the show. Susie tries to get Gordon to book Midge on his show, but he won’t bite, so she pivots and pitches him on hiring her as a writer. As he begins to come around to the idea, Midge arrives and Susie introduces her to Gordon. Midge is initially confused and uninterested by the prospect of writing, but Susie pulls her aside and tells her that the job will be a stepping stone, telling Midge to trust her. Thinking back to her vision on the billboard in the snowstorm, Midge acquiesces. Gordon turns to Mike and tells him to set it up, that she’ll start on Monday. To add insult to injury, Susie spits her tooth at Mike and flips him off as she leaves with Midge.
Cast
Starring
Guest Starring
- Nina Arianda as Hedy
- Stephanie Hsu as Mei
- Will Brill as Noah
Co-Starring
(in order of appearance)
- Colin Keane as Ethan
- Andrew Polk as Fred
- Chris Brennan as Guy
- Gabriel Aprea as Man
Dance/Music/Stunts
Uncredited
- Unknown as Chaim Weissman
- Unknown as Mrs. Chou
Locations
(in order of appearance)
Soundtrack
Trivia
- The song playing when Midge Runs into Lenny Bruce at the airport is a muzak version of “Till There Was You.” The Peggy Lee version of the song appeared earlier in the series, when Midge and Lenny dance in the Cuban Club in Season 3, Episode 5.
Quotes & Dialogue
MIDGE: I don't want to be a writer.
SUSIE: Of course not. No one wants to be a writer, but this job gets you in the building. And once you're in the building, you will get in his face, and you will make him fucking laugh every time you see him. And finally he will see you for what you are, a god damn star. This is it. This is the break. You in?
– S5E1