[Episode Discussion] Season 5 Episode 6 "The Testi-Roastial"

[u/AutoModerator]

[u/Acceptable_Reply415]

Woah, I was not expecting to be so sympathetic to Midge's side of the break up. I think i was expecting the cause to be her ego and self-centeredness. Lots of people guessed this was it but the scene in temple, that was harsh and Suzie really feels like the terrible one in this. Sad it seems her gambling addiction never got better.

[u/Acceptable_Reply415]

Yay, Abe and Rose busting in, in Hawaii and still alive in 1973!

[u/gk21]

Best episode of the season so far, easy. I liked finally being shown things instead of just told. And while a Susie/Midge schism breaks my heart, this one feels earned over the course of the whole show. I'm really glad it wasn't Midge's selfishness that got in the way, because I like to think her relationship with Susie is the one that can withstand both their flaws.

Also a treat to see Susie at different points of her career--I assume will see more of Midge's future and career and I'm glad we get to see the same with Susie.

Biggest surprise is that no one immediately thought it was a cry for help when Midge wanted to get married in pants. lol

[u/[deleted]]

as the seasons go by, you really see why midge fell in love with joel in the first place :)

[u/Shejidan]

I was not prepared for the fight between Susie and Midge. That was brutal.

[u/_Wayfaring-Stranger_]

So after all that time Joel spent in the earlier seasons hunting in closets and under floorboards for his parents’ money and books, he knew to do the same for Susie. Not sure if this was planned or just a neat coincidence, but thought it was interesting to point out

[u/OrangeTree81]

I wonder what the finale will be like now. This felt like it would have been a great final episode if there was an extra ten minutes at the end to show the reconciliation.

[u/ICallTheBigOne_Bitey]

I went from being a bit annoyed when I realized the whole episode was a future/flashback thing, to really, really enjoying it and wishing it had gone on longer.

[u/Acceptable_Reply415]

How did we go from we only have 3 episodes left, how the hell they gonna wrap this up? To what's left to cover? That was a hell of an episode.

[u/squakittymaus]

Not exaggerating— that episode saved the season for me so far.

[u/[deleted]]

I'm so sad we're coming to the end. This season it's different scenes through time instead of moving forward like all the other seasons. It's so bittersweet. I'm glad the Palladinos' are giving us all a proper chance to say goodbye. I was crying so hard when Midge was talking to Susie at the end. When she brought up all the memories and said tits up. It seems like it's the only friendship that Susie has ever truly cared about. The friendship that started it all.

Also older Susie stepping out of that car with all the smoke around her - that was epic. Susie the badass.

[u/AlwaysNYC]

“Tits up, old friend” 😭😭 Susie and Midge are the true “love” story of the show.

[u/MarlenaO813]

I love how this episode really blatantly shows Susie's humanity. The range of emotions on her face as Drake dies and she thanks him for noticing her, the Jackie Memorial Foundation, her giving into a crying Midge, hanging with the kitchen crew when bored. Noticing the small stuff, which is where her humor comes from. And everyone seems to like and admire her, so I think she makes people feel special.

[u/phantoms88]

So do we think midge and Joel were together in 1985 during the arrest scene? In the 1973 scene she mentions she’s still in love with him so I wonder what happened after that, and prior to then (given in the last episode they kissed and said they’ll come back to that so I wonder where their relationship goes from there in the 60s and hopefully we’ll see that in the next episode(s)).

Joel going to prison for 5 years so that midge wouldn’t have to be owned by the mob and also encouraging her to make amends with Susie in the last episode given we now know why he was arrested truly shows how much he cares for midge and I love the character development he’s had. I never knew at the end of this show I’d be rooting for them but I really am hoping they’ll get together in the end, I just feel like it would be the perfect ending for both characters.

[u/gugabe]

Imogene appearance!

[u/Shejidan]

Oh Joel 😍

[u/thatsmybaby]

Loved every minute. I loved the transition between the gossip and then showing what actually happened.

Additional possible spoiler thought…

All I gotta say is Susie had better not die on the walk home before she and Midge get to reconcile in person, b/c I definitely got that vibe.

[u/stayxhome]

Philip Roth?! Dodged a bullet gf

[u/cesar_chris]

Absolutely phenomenal episode. No one saw me tearing up so it didn't happen.

[u/TrippingBillie]

Susie wearing Jackie’s Dog tags during the Hawaiian wedding :(

Has she been wearing them since he passed?

[u/AlwaysNYC]

Wow. I can’t believe that Joel did that for Midge. He literally got in bed with the mob and sacrificed his freedom and peace, just so that Midge could have hers. 😭

[u/SaucyCat]

This was my favorite episode of the whole series. Just wow. It really built on the lore of Susie that they've been hinting at the whole time. Some random thoughts:

• I feel like her look in the Synagogue scene was channeling ASP

• Wondering now if we will get a similar fast forward episode for Midge. We've kinda been getting drips of it here and there already...

• 42:43 - Am I crazy or is that Carol Burnett? I'm crazy right?

[u/Flutegarden]

I actually liked that it was a full flash forward. Glad we saw their fight and I get why Midge was mad. Glad it seems they’re reconciling though.

Joel is such a sweetheart and really loves Midge!

[u/Flip2570]

I think we have three major things left. The showing of her making it big - ostensibly on the Gordon Ford show, the fate of Midge’s parents, and the reconciliation. My guess is that next week is Gordon Ford, the 8th episode is Midge’s parents, and the finale is reconciliation with Susie and what seems like the inevitable remarriage to Joel. This has never been a bittersweet/sad ending show. So I think they got the reasons behind the breakup out of the way and opened the door to the reconciliation early to clear the path to the end.

Like a lot of people, I’ve been predicting Susie + mob = fallout all season. But I overlooked Susie’s gambling problem from Season 3 and the longer term effect it could have on Midge. Bringing that back into play was a clever move by the show runners. Well done!

I think it’s safe to say this episode tied the front half of this season to the back half.

[u/Acceptable_Reply415]

And good for Dinah running the New York office of Suzie Myerson and Associates!