The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel fans are likely throwing their arms up in the air with joy right now—because Amazon’s best new series just had a very good night at the Golden Globes. But wait: how did a series that just premiered two months ago manage to build such momentum so quickly?
Our best guess? The formula for victory included an ineffably charming and determined heroine, a widely acclaimed female creator, and, perhaps more importantly, perfect timing.
On Sunday night, Maisel walked away with statuettes for both categories in which it was nominated: best actress in a comedy or musical for first-time nominee Rachel Brosnahan, and best TV series, comedy.
These wins are likely not a great surprise to anyone who’s been keeping track of the awards race this year. Maisel won over critics almost immediately after its release; even H.F.P.A. president Meher Tatna listed the series among her favorites during her recent interview with V.F.. And it’s easy to see why: Rachel Brosnahan brings a rare and inspired performance as Miriam Maisel, playing a woman as raw as she is hilarious, and as brilliant as she is clueless. Especially as the entertainment industry reckons with a wave of sexual misconduct allegations, the series and its hero came at the perfect time—a moment in which many viewers are likely craving an uplifting story of a woman scorned who manages to turn things around. (Amy Sherman-Palladino’s glowing reputation likely didn’t hurt.)
“This is a story about a bold and brilliant and complicated woman and I am endlessly proud to be a part of it,” Brosnahan said as she accepted her award. “But there are so many women’s stories out there that still need and deserve to be told. So as we enter this new year, please, let’s continue to hold each other accountable and invest in and make and champion these stories.”
As exciting as this victory is for the stars and creators of Maisel, we’re guessing Amazon Studios execs are just as happy—because they could use a win right now.
To be clear, Amazon Studios is not a total stranger to awards, especially the Globes; Transparent was the first streaming series to win best series Globe, and Mozart in the Jungle had a surprise winning streak in 2016. But still, this victory comes at a crucial moment for the studio: last fall, former studio chief Roy Price resigned from his post following an accusation of sexual harassment, and now Jeffrey Tambor’s future as the star of Transparent is uncertain. Before he was ousted, Price also earned a reputation for allegedly passing on female-centric projects that turned out to be awards magnets, including Big Little Lies and The Handmaid’s Tale; he also chose to cancel Good Girls Revolt, a series about discrimination in the workplace during the 1960s, after just one season. Price reportedly never even bothered to learn the names of the characters on the show before he decided to ax it.
Within that context, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel takes on extra import. Perhaps its success will inspire Amazon—and its next studio chief—to green-light more female-centric stories, and give them the time and backing they need to find an audience. As Maisel fans know better than anyone, Midge is pretty convincing. Maybe those gold statuettes will prove to be just as tantalizing as her brisket.
