Miriam (Midge) Maisel is the '50s housewife turned performer in the Prime Video series The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. Always having a knack for jokes, Midge drunkenly takes the stage after discovering that her husband was having an affair and ends up being a hit with the audience. This leads her down the difficult path of trying to make it as a performer in New York City.
Entertainers in show business are known for being difficult, however, and Midge seems to fit that bill. She may stand out against the predominantly male comedians that she has to compete against, but has proven with every season that she has the low tact that is a staple of the trade. This has made her less than popular with some audiences, including some s on Reddit who were all too willing to share why Midge Maisel is just the worst.
She Is Self Centered
Midge grew up in a well-off family. Her parents could be critical at times, but they always gave their children everything they needed and more. When Midge became an adult, she immediately married Joel and between him and his parents, Midge continued to receive a very comfortable life.
For this reason, Torimisspelling1 could not stand Midge as the main character, stating that she is "painfully self-absorbed." Especially once her life fell to pieces, Midge never put much thought into the people around her, even those that had gone out of their way to care for her.
She Never Learns From Her Mistakes
Midge is one to act first and think later. For this reason, she has a tendency to get herself into a lot of trouble. This is not altogether uncommon for protagonists, however, as it often creates a lot of entertaining conflict that audiences can watch the main character work through.
The difference with Midge, as pointed out by Amr_m, is that "she never learns from her mistakes and there is no growth." No matter how many times Midge hurts someone who cares about her with her tactless words, she continues to talk without thinking, making her self-inflicted problems grow old.
She Talks Too Much
Comedians get paid for talking, and it is not uncommon for their words to get them into trouble. Performers will often build a reputation for loving the sounds of their own voices, and Midge is no different. She also grew up with parents who talk a great deal, but this detail makes Abe and Rose two of the most likable characters on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. The same can not be said for Midge.
Redditor YagaDillon feels that the issue with Midge is that she "has a tendency to run her mouth." Not only does she love to hear her own voice, but she relentlessly complains disrespectfully to the people that have always taken care of her, such as her parents and ex-in-laws.
She Doesn't Care About Her Kids
Redditor YagaDillon also complains that Midge "doesn't care about her kids." Watching the show, it is easy for audiences to forget that she even has kids. Part of what made her relatable at the beginning of the series was that she was a housewife and mother, but by season 4, she barely fits that role anymore.
Between working late at shows, traveling the world on tour, and simply being absorbed in her own problems, being a mom becomes one of the things that just make no sense about Midge Maisel.
She Is A Terrible Friend
Midge is friendly enough when she meets people, and other women seem to be drawn to her outspoken nature. However, it seems to be only a matter of time before she puts her foot in her mouth and pushes away friends.
Smilingseal7 points out that they "would not want to be her friend," and for good reason. Midge has outed her friends' secrets multiple times on stage, such as when she outed her pregnant friend at her shotgun wedding, or made gay jokes about Shy Baldwin when opening for him.
She Is A Snob
Midge's family is very white collar. Her father is a mathematician and college professor, while her mother is the perfect image of the socialite that she should be. While Midge sees herself as more down-to-earth than her parents, it was impossible for her not to internalize their worldview.
This is seen from time to time when Midge shares her feelings about different ways of life. Redditor ZeroWasted called her an "overwhelming snob," citing a time in the series when she ranted about the low quality of life in Queens. When her parents do it, they are comically ignorant, but for Midge, she just comes off as mean.
She Treats Susie Poorly
Susie is Midge's manager and is responsible for some of the funniest lines in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. Susie saw Midge's first performance on stage and immediately believed in her. Redditor N0bodyFool points out that no matter what goes wrong, Susie has been "a great manager to Midge."
However, N0bodyFool does not think that Midge has been a great client. "She is downright nasty and does not show [Susie] any care." No matter how many times Susie has shown that she has great instinct, Midge continues to do things her own way.
She Is Full Of Herself
Confidence is a great thing and women in comedy need it more than anyone, especially in the mid-20th century. Midge certainly has plenty of confidence, and it has helped her achieve success in a relatively short time.
Redditor 1LittleSunflower thinks that Midge's confidence may be a little too much, however. "She's full of herself. She thinks she's so awesome and thinks her personality just charms everyone." This may be true, as any time Midge receives even the smallest criticism, such as when Lenny tells her she is blowing her shot with her poor decisions, she looks as if she just heard the most outrageous news of her life.
She Is Oblivious
With Midge's affluent upbringing, she is fairly naive about some aspects of life. She spends her professional time in a very different atmosphere than the privileged world she lives in at home, but she still sometimes misses the mark when it comes to how to talk to people that haven't had the same experiences as her.
"[She is] oblivious and sometimes even uncaring of other's feelings," says Redditor Latelinx, pointing out that Midge's naivety gets in the way of her making connections with the people around her.
She Isn't Funny
Midge's parents will often participate in quick witty banter and debate, making them some of the funniest characters on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. It seems that these kinds of discussions and debates were common as Midge grew up and she, therefore, developed an ability to think on her feet and always have something quippy to say.
Redditor Cupcake179, however, feels that Midge may not be as funny as she thinks she is, hoping that she will get "funnier as the show goes on." While Midge's act typically gets a laugh-out-loud response from the crowd, it may not be getting the same response from every viewer at home.