The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel: Is the show taking a dark route with Lenny Bruce?

Lenny Bruce is an underused character on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel with a lot of potential. But why do I get the feeling we’ll get a dark storyline soon?

One thing The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel has been able to do is to offer drama and comedy in one. Midge is hilarious on the stage and don’t get me started with Abe and Rose. Those two are a delight every time I see them. But this is a show with heart to it deep down, and Lenny Bruce is one of those storylines.

Since the beginning, he has been the one to offer support and advice to Midge. He’s been her biggest supporter outside of Susie and has shown up when she needs him the most. Season 3 gave us a chance that the two would have a one-night-stand, but it wouldn’t go there in the end. Midge pulled away at the last second.

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But that encounter left me with worry for Lenny in the future of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. There was a hint that he’s spiraling into depression and suicidal thoughts.

Now, Lenny’s mental state has always been up and down. The life of a comic isn’t an easy one. There’s more rejection than success, and for Lenny, there have been a number of arrests because he wants to push the boundaries of free speech. And it’s not like he’s talking about anything too controversial—only for the time!

However, Season 3 gave us one line that makes me worry for him more than before. When Midge walked away, he said they should do it once “before I die.” And that’s the part that stood out. It’s almost like he’s planning on dying soon, that he won’t have much time on this Earth because he’s giving up with his life.

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel does touch on the realities of the 1950s and now into the 1960s. We get to see what life was really like for women, for people of color, and for gay people (hey, you didn’t mention it at all except to the people you felt you could trust). Mental health problems weren’t talked about in the past, and it certainly wouldn’t be out of character for Lenny to bottle everything up. He’ll hide behind his comedy, which is something he did in this moment with Midge.

Should The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel be renewed for a fourth season, and I believe it will, I get this feeling we’ll continue on this darker path for Lenny Bruce. It’s going to break Midge, especially if Lenny commits suicide due to depression.

What do you think about Lenny’s storyline in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Season 3? Would you like to see more from him in the future? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Seasons 1 to 3 are now streaming on Amazon Prime Video.