‘The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel’ Episode 2 Recap: Meet the In-Laws

The second episode of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel slows things down a bit from the slam-bang finish of the pilot, which involved topless comedy and an arrest. But it’s a necessary pause because Midge (Rachel Brosnahan) has to take the time to come around to her new life. Naturally, she is freaking out about her life, and her parents and in-laws are not helping matters.

Part of her wants to pursue stand-up comedy, and she has Susie (Alex Borstein) on her side, but the rest of her has been so conditioned as to what her life should be that she throws herself into that — keeping her life perfect, going to her ladies’ exercise class, maybe even considering putting her marriage back together (though that one doesn’t last long).

Midge has “help” in this department from her parents, who are also kind of freaking out about their daughter’s future, and her in-laws, Moishe and Shirley, who are played by the delightful Kevin Pollak and Caroline Aaron. They orchestrate a dinner for the whole family, which Rose (Marin Hinkle) is convinced will help Joel (Michael Zegen) and Midge reconcile.

Meanwhile, Moishe is doing his part by getting Joel’s secretary, Penny Pan (Holly Curran), transferred to the billing department at his company so that Joel’s secretary is now the matronly Mrs. Moskowitz (Cynthia Darlow), who knew Joel as a little boy. Well done, Moishe.

Of course, all that goodwill is lost when Moishe throws a tantrum at the dinner table that would make Emily Gilmore’s hair stand on end. He goes on and on about poor Midge, who he says is probably going to sit around all day crying, eating bonbons, and watching Queen for a Day. Then her father, Abe (Tony Shalhoub), piles on, demanding that Midge fix her face and get her husband back. Let’s give Midge a little credit, guys. Seriously.

But then Moishe adds insult to injury by revealing that he owns Midge and Joel’s apartment and that Joel is so bad with money that they’re living paycheck to paycheck. And since Joel is being such an awful human being right now, Moishe is taking the apartment back. Well, that ought to help things. Turn your daughter-in-law and her children out of their home. (Obviously, they are not going to become destitute and homeless, but still — not a nice move, Moishe.)

At this, Midge storms out and goes back to the comedy club to work out her issues. It’s not quite the killer set from her first appearance, but it’s still pretty great. Until the police show up again, at least.

Odds and Ends

  • The exercise class Midge and Imogene (Bailey De Young) attend is amazing. I’m actually kind of surprised that’s not a hipster thing yet — “work out like a woman from the 1950s!” Maybe it is and I just don’t know it.
  • Shirley carries Matzo Meal in her purse. That’s delightful.
  • Special shout-out to Kevin Pollak. I’m so jazzed he’s in this show. I have loved him since I saw the 1993 movie Indian Summer (which is worth the watch if you’ve never seen it) and he’s just as great now as he was then.
  • If you’ve never heard of Queen for a Day, you should definitely go watch some old clips on YouTube. Dave Barry once described it as a show “in which deranged housewives competed to see who had the most miserable life,” and he’s not wrong.
  • Abe: “I am not a violent man, Joel. But if I were, I would take you upstairs to my apartment and throw you out the window. Do you know why I’m not throwing you out this window? Because my window’s on a higher floor and I want to make sure it sticks.”
  • Web series spinoff for the slam poet who recites works about minor U.S. cities. Spokane, man.

(photos via Amazon Studios)

Many people look for the new year to bring new opportunities and, in some cases, a fresh start altogether. But for me? As a longtime entertainment reporter, there is one thing I can’t help but get excited about when another year rolls around: the upcoming movie releases and, of course, the most anticipated television shows. While I'm looking forward to see what happens to Eleven and the rest of the Hawkins crew in Stranger Things 5 on Netflix, there are a bunch of new TV shows that have been at the top of my watch list from the moment they were first announced, including Suits: LA and It: Welcome to Derry.

Here are the 2025 television shows that should be on your radar (if they aren’t already!).

Severance Season 2 — On Apple TV+ January, 17 2025

Apple TV+

After Mark Scout, Helly, and Irving learn the truth about the “severance” experiment and manage to break free from its clutches in the Severance season 1 finale, the three coworkers (along with the rest of the Lumon Industries employees) are forced to return to work in the second installment of the series. Now that Mark and some of his peers know what the company was really doing to the Lumon staff, one could only wonder: What are Lumon Industries's hidden objectives? (And what’s with all the GOATS?!)

Severance season 2 premieres on Apple TV+ on January 17, 2024 and stars Adam Scott, Britt Lower, John Turturro, Dichen Lachman, Dichen Lachman and Patricia Arquette.

The White Lotus Season 3 — On HBO and Max February 16, 2025

Mario Perez/HBO

Pack your bags, White Lotus fans, because our favorite hotel residents are catching a first-class flight to…Thailand! While there are a bunch of new guests checking into a luxury hotel, there’s one returning guest who needs no introduction. Natasha Rothwell, who made her debut at Belinda Lindsey in The White Lotus season 1, is the only returning cast making a brief cameo in season 3. Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui, here we come!

The White Lotus season 3 is coming in February and will star Leslie Bibb, Jason Isaacs, Michelle Monaghan, Carrie Coon, Parker Posey, Patrick Schwarzenegger and Blackpink’s Lisa Manobal.

The Last of Us Season 2 — On HBO and Max in April 2025

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I can’t be the only one still thinking about that bombshell season one finale of HBO’s The Last of Us! And apparently, I’m not the only one who’s eager to see the continuation of Joel and Ellie’s story in season 2. Fans of the video game adaptation have been keeping their eyes peeled for a new update about season 2. And one teaser later, we might have just gotten the news we’ve been looking for. Following the 2024 Emmy Awards, Chairman and CEO of HBO and Max Content Casey Bloys toldDeadline that The Last of Us season 2 will premiere around “generally first half of the year [2025], I expect them to be in the Emmy window.”

The Last of Us season 2 will star Pedro Pascal, Bella Ramsey, Gabriel Luna, Rutina Wesley, Kaitlyn Dever, Isabela Merced, Young Mazino, Spencer Lord, Danny Ramirez, Catherine O'Hara, Jeffrey Wright, Tati Gabrielle and Ariela Barer.

The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 3 — On Prime Video in 2025

Erika Doss/Prime Video

It's almost time to return to Cousins Beach, and I have missed all the hydrangeas, fair rides, and ocean sunrises. We haven't heard for sure whether season 3 will be the end of the road for this series, but if it follows even a few chapters in the third book in The Summer I Turned Pretty series, We'll Always Have Summer, then we will absolutely be getting some drama.

The Summer I Turned Pretty season 3 premieres in 2025 and stars Lola Tung, Christopher Briney, Gavin Casalegno, Sean Kaufman, Rain Spencer, Jackie Chung, and Rachel Blanchard.

It: Welcome to Derry — On Max in 2025

Warner Bros. Entertainment

Bill, Richie, Beverly and the rest of the Losers Club members might have been able to defeat Pennywise in It: Chapter Two, but that doesn’t mean we've seen the last of Derry, Maine. Serving as a prequel series to the It movie franchise directed by Andres Muschietti, Welcome to Derry will delve into Pennywise’s origin story and how the child-preying clown arrived in Derry. But that’s not even the best part: Bill Skarsgård, who starred in It and It: Chapter Two, will reprise his role as the killer clown in the upcoming HBO series, which will be released in 2025. So until then, no accepting red balloons from creepy clowns, okay?

It: Welcome to Derry will star Jovan Adepo, Chris Chalk, Taylour Paige, James Remar, Stephen Rider, Madeleine Stowe, Alixandra Fuchs, Kimberly Guerrero, Joshua Odjick and Morningstar Angeline.

Stranger Things Season 5 — On Netflix in 2025

Netflix

I’ve been a fan of Stranger Things since it premiered on Netflix back in 2016, and come next year, longtime fans like myself will finally get to see how the story ends. Last time we saw Eleven, Mike, Will and the rest of the Hellfire Club crew, they were facing an impending apocalypse after Vecna’s devious plan came to full fruition. So, will the group of friends defeat Vecna and save their home? Guess we’ll just have to wait and see because Stranger Things 5 likely won’t premiere until late 2025. Now, all we need is that release date, Netflix…

Stranger Things 5 is coming to Netflix soon and stars Millie Bobby Brown, Noah Schnapp, Finn Wolfhard, Caleb McLaughlin, Gaten Matarazzo, Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton, Sadie Sink, Maya Hawke, Joe Keery, David Harbour, Winona Ryder, Amybeth McNulty, and Priah Ferguson.

Suits: L.A. — On NBC in 2025

David Astorga/NBC

Court is back in session! Only this time, our favorite lawyers from the OG Pearson Hardman firm are not on the case. Thanks to Netflix, the original Suits (which starred the Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle) experienced a renaissance of sorts upon its arrival to the streaming service in June 2023. And as a result, NBCUniversal ordered a spinoff series earlier this year. But instead of the bustling streets of New York City, a new group of lawyers are setting up shop in the Golden State in Suits L.A.

The new spinoff will center around an entertainment and criminal lawler named Ted Black, who launches his own law firm in California after moving from the East Coast. Originally, Suits L.A was slated to be a part of NBCUniversal’s 2024-2025 lineup. However, according to Deadline, there was a slight change in the production location, making a Fall 2025 release more likely. So, who’s up for a Suits marathon?

Suits L.A. is speculated to premiere sometime in 2025 and is set to star Ted Black, Josh McDermitt, Rachelle Goulding, Victoria Justice, Troy Wingush, Bryan Greenberg, Lex Scott Davis, John Amos, Kevin Weistman and Alice Lee.

Wednesday Season 2 — On Netflix in 2025

Netflix

Looks like Jenna Ortega won’t be giving us another macabre number anytime soon because Wednesday season 2 won’t arrive on Netflix until 2025. In a new interview with Vanity Fair, Ortega teases the upcoming installment will be much “darker” this time around. “I think the feel that we’re going for is a little bit more horror-inspired,” the Beetlejuice Beetlejuicestar adds. “Not to say that suddenly we’re the goriest show of all time. I mean, there’s six-year-olds watching.”

“This season is going to be bigger and more twisted than you can ever imagine," Catherine Zeta-Jones says in the new Wednesday season 2 first look.

“If we showed you any more, your eyes would bleed,” Ortega says. “And I'm not that generous.”

What TV show are you most excited to see in 2025? Personally, I can’t wait for Sweet Magnolias season 4 to drop! (Margarita, anyone?) Make sure to follow us on TikTok and Facebook for more TV exclusives and latest news updates!

This post has been updated.

As much as I've written about Reese Witherspoon's book club, you'd think I was on a first name basis with her (wishful thinking)! But, the truth is that it's the reason I rediscovered reading for fun. As informational as books can be, there's also joy, anguish, fear — and even spicy romance — to lose ourselves in. I'm become a firm believer in holding on to things that bring us joy so if your book stash is overflowing, you're going to love Reese's January pick for 2025.

Learn about Reese Witherspoon's Book Club pick for January 2025!

Amazon

The Three Lives of Cate Kay by Kate Fagan (New Release)

Cate Kay's a literary genius who's cracked the code of keeping readers engaged in her written work. She's also secured a film franchise that's made fans go wild. But, no one's ever seen Cate Kay or talked to her. She's an enigma on purpose.
You see, 'Cate Kay' and her bestie Amanda made plans to live lavish lives in California. They were so sure everything would work out until something awful happens that forces 'Cate Kay' to leave her real identity behind.

It's not until something forces her to make peace with where she comes from that 'Cate Kay' decides it's time to stop running from who she is.

Reese's Book Club

Here's What Reese Witherspoon Had To Say About The Three Lives of Cate Kay

Reese Witherspoon never shies away from telling her adoring fans why she chose a book and this month is no different. On her book club's official Instagram page, she wrote: "Have you ever felt like you were living more than one life? That’s exactly what Cate Kay is grappling with in our January pick, The Three Lives of Cate Kay by @KateFagan3. She’s a literary sensation, the face behind a blockbuster film trilogy, but her life isn’t what it seems. This story swept me away with its big dreams, love, and unexpected twists."

Visit our storefront to check out more of our top book picks!

Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.

The Office and One Tree Hill aren't the only old school TV shows getting the sequel treatment — a new Friday Night Lights is on its way! The reboot is in development at Peacock, with the original series' showrunner Jason Katims, director Peter Berg, and Brian Grazer on board (all of whom were executive producers as well). And it looks like we might just see our favorite stars return to Dillon, too.

Here's the latest news on the Friday Night Lights reboot — and its cast.

Is Friday Night Lights getting a reboot?

Yes, Friday Night Lights is getting a reboot! The news was announced at the end of 2024, and we'll once again see a local football team up against the odds. According to the show's official logline, "following a devastating hurricane, a rag tag high school football team and their damaged, interim coach make an unlikely bid for a Texas High School State Championship becoming a beacon of light for their town."

Will we see anyone from the original show?

The Friday Night Lights reboot cast hasn't been confirmed just yet, but one OG cast member just revealed we might see a few familiar faces. "I've been asked and we'll leave it at that," Taylor Kitsch (who played Tim Riggins) told SiriusXM’s The Spotlight. "I would come in and do something that maybe for an episode or something." He even pitches the idea that he could "maybe play an opposing team's coach or something and be on screen for like eight seconds. I would do that."

If Taylor's been asked then I'll bet some of our other favorite cast members have heard rumblings of the reboot as well. I'd love to see Zach Gilford and Minka Kelly return in literally any capacity.

Although Kyle Chandler (who starred as fan favorite coach Eric Taylor) revealed on TODAY he hasn't gotten any calls...yet. “I don’t know what I’ll say [if I’m asked].”

The Friday Night Lights cast included to Kyle Chandler, Connie Britton, Gaius Charles, Scott Porter, Aimee Teegarden, Minka Kelly, Michael B. Jordan, Adrianne Palicki, Taylor Kitsch, Zach Gilford, and Jesse Plemons.

Where can I watch the Friday Night Lights reboot?

We don't have a Friday Night Lights release date to give you just yet, but we do know we'll be able to stream the new TV show on Peacock. Stay tuned for more!

Check out 25 New TV Shows You NEED To Watch In 2025 for all the new titles to hold you over until you can press play on the Friday Night Lights reboot.

After spending decades in the entertainment industry, some celebs like Pamela Anderson have opted for a makeup-free look. No one can forget when she stunned photographers right before Paris Fashion Week's Vivienne Westwood show last year by rocking a bare face. She told Vogue France, she wasn't thinking about not "wearing any makeup." However, she didn't want to "compete with the clothes" she was wearing. She felt "freedom" from not trying to "be the prettiest girl in the room" which speaks volumes to us!

Now, Pamela continues to embrace the no-makeup life — and not only does she look gorgeous, but she seems SO happy! The star shared recently how this lifestyle change impacts her day-to-day, and it's honestly incredibly relatable. Here's what she had to say!

Here's what Pamela Anderson just said about adopting a no-makeup life!

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1. It saves her a lot of time.

Pamela Anderson stopped by the Live with Kelly and Markshow to talk about filming The Last Showgirl, her childhood, and how not wearing makeup has been beneficial for her. While her makeup-free clip from the episode isn't available on YouTube, PEOPLE reports hosts Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos asking her how her decision has changed her life.

Ripa started with, "You don't travel with a glam squad. How liberating is that for you," while Consuelos followed with, "And how much time have you gotten back?"

The former Baywatch star said she's "saved a lot of time" and admitted that her sons "used to say that I spent half my life in a makeup chair."

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2. She feels more focused in general.

Pamela Anderson also admitted things feel easier for her in general. "I feel like I could focus better when I did the film, too." And her life outside of that? She said she's "gotten out of wearing makeup and it's been fun."

It's interesting because Kelly Ripa shared she's been inspired by Pamela Anderson's makeup-free choice. She remembers not wearing makeup for a short while and said to herself, "'Pamela Anderson is a genius." Kelly even thought for a moment, "This is the way to live." We're so here for it!

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3. She lives for a glam moment, but appreciates simplicity now.

Pamela's all for being makeup-free now, but she's not bashing glam moments. She actually "loved it" because "it's fun when you're new in the business and you get all this attention." She's just at a point where she's "done that" and wants to "simplify and keep it low key."

She really does "love being elegant, sophisticated" but has found what "works best" for her.

Is Pamela Anderson inspiring you to embrace a no-makeup life too? Let us know on Facebook!

Do you hear wedding bells? Because after Tom Holland and Zendaya's engagement, Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco's engagement, and those Suki Waterhouse and Robert Pattinson marriage rumors, it appears Hollywood does. And after all those Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift engagement rumors, Travis just spilled on his ideal wedding timeline — that's right, it appears our favorite IRL rom-com couple could be thinking about tying the knot!

Here's what Travis Kelce had to say about his least favorite time of year to get married.

Travis Kelce wants to avoid THIS wedding season for one reason.

@britandco#greenscreen do you think any of these will come true?! #taylorswift#traviskelce#tayvis#travistaylor#thealchemy#prpredictions♬ the alchemy ts sped up - Swiftie_Jean-Alex 😁✨

On a new episode of the New Heights podcast he hosts with brother Jason, Travis Kelce revealed he would like to avoid an autumn wedding day. And the reason is literally so on brand it makes me laugh.

After a listener revealed over the phone that his girlfriend wants to schedule their wedding during football season, Travis admits that "I actually don't know people who've gotten married in the fall."

"My friends always do it in the summer," he says. "I've seen weddings everywhere but the fall. So, I'm not sure if the fall is a good wedding season."

The weather of an autumn wedding (not to mention the incredible aesthetic of the wedding photos!!) have always made it seem so dreamy. Plus, I've attended more than one summer wedding (some on the beach!) and it can get toasty under the summer sun. Spring then, Travis?

Travis' comments come after he responded to rumors that he'd pop the question to girlfriend Taylor Swift. During the June 1 Big Slick Celebrity Weekend's onstage comedy sketch, Ted Lasso star Jason Sudeikis asked Travis about a potential engagement. "Hey Travis, real talk, OK, just the guys here," Jason says. "When are you going to make an honest woman out of her?"

"Guys," Travis says, "you're really pushing it." It's a pretty kind way to say back off!! I'm excited for whenever Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce tell us they're engaged — should they choose to share at all.

Check out the latest news on Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's relationship!