Warning: This article contains spoilers aboutThe Marvelous Mrs. Maiselseason 5, episode 6.
Guilt is a hell of a motivator.
At least for Joel Maisel (Michael Zegen) it is.
Michael Zegen on ‘The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel’.Philippe Antonello/Prime Video
This exposes the truth that he saved Midge after Susie basically sold her to the mob.
That character arc was creatorAmy Sherman-Palladino’sgoal from the start.
That is a tragic hero."
Joel (Michael Zegens) begins to realize the predicament Midge is in with the mob on ‘The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel’.Philippe Antonello/Prime Video
“Other than Midge, he’s the one who has evolved the most,” he says.
“It’s almost like he’s a different person.
He’s learned a lot and he’s matured.
Rachel Brosnahan and Michael Zegen on ‘The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel’.Philippe Antonello/Prime Video
He was young and acting like a baby; he was the villain.”
“I love how people have come around to Joel,” he adds.
They’ve found a fragile peace as co-parents and friends, looking out for each other in various ways.
Midge (Rachel Brosnahan) and Joel (Michael Zegen) share a rare romantic moment on the fire escape in ‘The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel’.Philippe Antonello/Prime Video
“Their bond is only second to the one that Midge and Susie have,” Brosnahan says.
“They love each other deeply.
They grew up together.
They became parents together, and they’ve seen each other at their highest highs and their lowest lows.
They’re deeply intertwined forever.
But the day of Joel’s arrest is far from the happiest day of her life.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Joel decides to put his life and business on the line to protect Midge.
MICHAEL ZEGEN:He loves Midge.
Does he fully understand how dangerous Frank and Nicky are?
He knows that any sort of organized crime is not going to end well.
But I don’t think he knew the total ramifications.
I don’t know.
But I would sure love to see that at some point.
This FBI raid at the synagogue is such a classicMaiselmoment.
What was your reaction when you first read it?
Suddenly everything made sense.
Because we filmed in the synagogue every year, and it’s always miserable in there.
It’s so hot and we’re wearing suits.
I knew we were going to be broiling in there and we were.
He fully takes the rap, but Midge blames Susie.
Does any part of him want to blame her or throw her under the bus in this moment?
At this point, he’s taken the blame.
He did what he did and he’s going to pay the consequences.
Midge tells Susie that Joel saved her.
Do you agree and what do you think would’ve happened if he hadn’t intervened?
Sure, I would say he saved her.
I don’t know what would’ve happened.
Maybe they would’ve gotten mixed up with some other criminals.
He knew that Susie and Midge doing business with these guys was never going to end well.
He did what he did, and I don’t think he has any regrets.
This arrest fractures Susie and Midge’s relationship.
How do you think he feels about that?
Does he want Midge to make amends with Susie?
That’s a tricky question.
He’s always had a real love-hate relationship with Susie.
It’s sort of moot at this point.
But he probably always wanted her to find a different manager.
His choosing to do this feels like his penance for leaving her.
He basically goes to jail for her.
Can he finally feel like he’s atoned?
That guilt that you have when you did something wrong never really goes away.
He wronged her, and he’s still paying for that in his mind.
There’s a lot of time between the early 1960s and his going to jail.
Do you think they ever get back together?
If they do, it’s never for more than one night.
I personally don’t think they ever got back together.
They’re always going to be in each other’s lives.
They share children together and they’ll always have this shared love for each other.
But they’re better off leading these separate lives.
That being said, Joel will love Midge until his dying breath, yes?
That’s part of the reason why everything blew up.
Both of them didn’t know what they wanted out of life.
But he’ll always have love for Midge.
This interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity.
