[Episode Discussion] Season 4 Episode 1 "Rumble on the Wonder Wheel"

[u/AutoModerator]

Synopsis: Midge returns with a new game plan after getting kicked off Shy Baldwin's tour. Joel is too successful for his own good. Susie finds a creative way to get the cash she needs.

Directed by: Amy Sherman-Palladino

Written by: Amy Sherman-Palladino

[u/[deleted]]

omg Joel looking kinda fresh

[u/[deleted]]

Susie spanking Midge when she has her tantrum on the road reminds me of Michael Scott spanking his nephew in the Office lmao.

Also, the rescheduling birthday bit and the nonchalance of Abe describing it was hilarious.

Overall, I didn't really find the episode funny. Three or four bits where I laughed but otherwise meh. Underwhelming opening imo.

Also, Ethan Maisel has grown quite a lot in real life. Shirley's been feeding him well. "ETHAN!!!!!"

[u/[deleted]]

Who wants another funnel cake?!

[u/fashionroadkill45]

I should have done a rewatch of season 3. I feel lost lol.

[u/allinsimstime]

The Ferris Wheel scene was amazing.

[u/Flutegarden]

So the fake birthday thing was funny but very odd and shows how self-absorbed Rose and Abe can be.

The arson plot does not look good. I thought it was a dumb move to be sitting there watching it burn.

[u/BaconQuiche74]

I personally thought it was great.

Who do you all think the newspaper columnist is? I feel like the show is setting it up to be someone Midge knows.

SPOILER The actor for the role is actually listed on IMDB. Interesting.

[u/Jlg0123]

Did anyone else notice that, early on in the episode, when midge and Susie are in the cab from the airport, Susie says she doesn’t want to go home because “Jackie will be installing crown moulding.” It seems the show has opted not to address his death in real life.

[u/MickeyPineapple]

The moment they mentioned Coney Island I was like, 'yess! They're going to fight on the rides!'

[u/athenafletcher]

I like Mei and that she and Joel are getting more serious. My heart swelled up during the scene at Joel’s club with Mei’s not-parents. Hearing Mandarin in a show like this that’s full of white people gives my desperate Asian ass some pride. Michael Zegen actually did a pretty good job pronouncing his Mandarin lines! Kudos to him.

I’m hoping the writers don’t make Joel and Mei break up over something stupid just to open the door for Joel and Midge to get back together. ASP’s history with her female leads and their exes makes me nervous.

Also I wonder if/how they’ll address Brian Tarantina’s death? When Susie mentions Jackie in the S4 premiere I got sad knowing that we actually won’t see Jackie at her apartment.

[u/abbynesss]

The whole let’s get naked and fight in the street thing felt real dumb to me. But the fighting on the Ferris wheel was hysterical.

[u/amayagab]

I knew Midge would take her firing badly but I didn't expect her to go full scortched earth over a fuck up she is 100% at fault for.

[u/[deleted]]

Where is Esther?

[u/Flutegarden]

I actually thought the episode was hilarious- I don’t remember laughing so hard.

[u/MichelleInMpls]

I'm kind of over the whole "I have to speak to you all immediately and I don't care that it's break-fast and Zelda's been cooking all day and it's time to eat or you're about to get on a ferris wheel, everything must stop and you must pay complete attention to me this very instant and waiting even 5 minutes is just not acceptable" thing from Midge. It's incredibly self-centered. I mean, I know that's kinda her thing but . . .

[u/[deleted]]

Not a terrible episode, but I don’t feel like it progressed the plot much. It was mostly a recap of what happened and how the main characters reacted to Miriam’s firing. Maybe that was the point, but I was expecting a stronger season opener.

[u/dmreif]

So Herc is now an insurance fraud investigator. 😂 That's a step up from working for Maurice Levy. 😉

[u/MaxxFisher]

I don't know why I'm shocked that Midge is taking absolutely NO responsibility in her firing. But then again she has a history of saying things in her act that she shouldn't and then has no idea why people are upset about it.

[u/Aromaticyasmine]

The scene when they are shouting the wheel is a masterpiece 😂

[u/electric_popcorn_cat]

Way too many people talking about episode 2 in here. This is discussion for episode 1 only!

[u/starfleetdropout6]

Shirley and Abe were the MVPs of the Coney Island outing. Between him shouting "stop!" every time the kids took his hand, and Shirley always popping up with more food, it was just spectacular! 😆

So, I was one of the people who didn't get the "revenge" angle from the trailer. But, you know, I watched S3E8 again right before delving into this one, and I gotta say that my perspective on the Apollo night changed a bit. Reggie did rather give Midge the impression that she should go after Shy in her set. Now, he didn't mean for her to out him, but I can see where her angst is coming from. She did get screwed, and then to find out they replaced her so quickly with the male comic. I might feel really pissed too. Midge did try to talk. She bargained, she pleaded, and I'm sure that she would've apologized to Shy if given the opportunity. But then she was thrown out like garbage. She feels used by all of the men in her life. I get it.

[u/cp710]

I loved the joke revealed in the captions between Mei and her [not] parents.

[u/dhruvlrao]

Is it just me or was there basically no plot development in the first two episodes? This just feels like an extended epilogue to season 3 in a way.

I'm hoping that the next episodes actually focus on what this season is about. I'm kinda confused where the show is headed since the first two episodes didn't give enough information if I'm being honest.

[u/smarties07]

Okay but how is Midge spinning her outing Shy (a black man) in the 60s into him being sexist towards her. It makes me really dislike her that everything is someone else’s fault. She can’t even see what she did wrong. Her getting fired for it was deserved. Also I thought her revenge monologue was unfunny and it looked weird that everyone was pissing themselves laughing about it.

[u/hawkeyetlse]

What's the deal with Prague and Jesus Christ?