The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

show2017

68%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

A 1950s housewife discovers stand-up comedy after her husband leaves her—witty, gorgeous, and definitely not for the kids.

90%

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The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

show

TV-MA, 2017

68%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

A 1950s housewife discovers stand-up comedy after her husband leaves her—witty, gorgeous, and definitely not for the kids.

90%

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90%

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Screenwise Verdict

Let's be clear: this is not a family show. It's a brilliant, award-winning series that happens to have a female lead and gorgeous costumes, but it's as adult as they come.

The good news? It's genuinely excellent television. The writing is whip-smart, the performances are stellar, and it tackles interesting questions about gender, ambition, and identity. If you have a 16-17 year old who's into theater, comedy, or just smart TV, this could be a great co-watching experience.

The reality check? There's sexual content, strong language, and adult situations throughout. It's not gratuitous, but it's consistent. This isn't a show you accidentally put on during family movie night and hope for the best.

For parents of older teens: this could spark great conversations about women's history, pursuing your passions, and what it means to break societal expectations. Just make sure your kid is mature enough for the content first.

Age Fit

This is squarely adult content, best for ages 16+ despite the 15+ CSM rating. The sexual content, language, and mature themes require teenage maturity at minimum. It's excellent television that parents and older teens could watch together, but younger viewers will miss context and encounter inappropriate content.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Period dramedy with strong female lead and family dynamics, but includes adult themes like infidelity, divorce, and nightclub culture. Models ambition and resilience, though not always cooperation (protagonist is often self-centered). Pacing is fast and witty rather than chaotic.

Imaginative

Highly original take on 1950s New York, blending stand-up comedy with period drama. The show's rapid-fire dialogue, vibrant cinematography, and creative exploration of a woman breaking into male-dominated comedy is genuinely fresh. Won multiple Emmys for writing and directing, signaling creative excellence.

Safe

Common Sense Media rates it 15+. Contains mature sexual references, some nudity (brief), frequent strong language, alcohol use, and adult themes (adultery, divorce). No graphic violence or gore, but the content is clearly adult-oriented with surprise inappropriate moments that would be jarring for younger viewers.

Enriching

Explores gender roles, ambition, artistic expression, and Jewish-American culture in the 1950s-60s. Strong character development and historical context. The comedy career arc offers insights into resilience and self-discovery. However, it's primarily entertainment rather than educational, with some superficial treatment of serious issues.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Exceptional writing and performances (8.7 IMDb, 90% RT) with razor-sharp dialogue that showcases language at its best
Strong feminist themes about a woman finding her voice and independence in a restrictive era—great role model for ambition and resilience
Stunning period detail and cinematography that's genuinely educational about 1950s-60s New York culture and Jewish-American life
Explores the creative process and what it takes to succeed in entertainment—could inspire teens interested in performance or writing
Multiple Emmy wins signal this is prestige television that adults and older teens can appreciate together

⚠

What to Watch For

Sexual content and references throughout—this is HBO-level adult content on Amazon, including some brief nudity and lots of innuendo
Strong language peppered throughout (it's about a comedian, after all)
Adult themes of infidelity, divorce, and relationship dysfunction that younger teens won't have context for
The protagonist can be self-absorbed and make questionable choices—she's complex, not a perfect role model
Very fast dialogue requires full attention and maturity to follow

Conversation Starters

"What do you think it was like for women who wanted careers in the 1950s? How is that different from today?"
"Midge has to choose between what her family wants and what she wants—have you ever felt that kind of pressure?"
"The show is about finding your voice and what you're good at. What do you think you might want to be known for?"
"How does Midge's comedy reflect what's happening in her life? Do you think art should be personal like that?"

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