#Susie Myerson is in love with Midge Maisel and Midge is in love with Susie (Delusional)

[mrgaretcarter]

[dollsome-does-tumblr]

5.01 - Go Forward | 5.09 - Four Minutes

[livelovecaliforniadreams]

[ostruka]

God I loved this ending. So perfect.

I must be one of the only people who loved this final season. I loved the flashbacks, I found them way more elegant than a cliché epilogue. I loved that the focus was Midge's relationship to her family and to Susie, and not to romantic love interests. And this finale was perfect - funny, tender, nostalgic, and incredibly not tacky at all (the way finales so often are!).

One of my favorite shows of all time. Can't wait to rewatch it a thousand more times!

5x9 Four minutes

[vinatintasupernovita]

Susie and Joel’s argument at the end of S1 makes it very clear they stand on the same level of importance in Midge’s life. And it has the same air as the ex and the current partner arguing about the protagonist’s happiness and life. They continue and continue to be clear parallels, the only two true loves of Midge Maisel’s life. The only two people who could make her laugh like that, in the beginning and the end

[hexblooded]

midge and susie really are the love story of this show

[incipientdreamer]

Midge and Susie breaking up because of a MAN (and that man being Joel of all people) makes me so so sick

[violet-witch-6]

The tmmm finale will always be iconic for ending with too old women watching a recorded episode of jeopardy 50 years after the majority of the show takes place

[laufire]

I'm seriously going to need to rewatch The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel soon, because that final season? FUCKING. FANTASTIC.

after so many disappointments when it comes to female characters' arcs this show (that I enjoyed but wouldn't have claimed among my favourites) has truly delivered for Midge and Susie, and Midge&Susie, beyond my expectations.

so, yeah, I'll definitely want to watch it again and see how everything holds up in light of this.

[tidalwavesandquietstorms]

I just finished watching the last episode of the marvelous mrs. Maisel and my head hurts from emotions. I'll miss this show so much you don't even know. I have already started rewatching the whole tv show, already on third season, I am going crazy for it. A lot of things makes sense now with susie and midge with rewatching it with brand new eyes. I'm very sad that we didn't get to know how things went with imogene though but that's okay. If I had to choose which tv show I wanted to go on endlessly, this would be it for sure.

[dollsome-does-tumblr]

5.08 - The Princess and the Plea

[livelovecaliforniadreams]

[charcubed]

Listen. I'm going FUCKING. INSANE. because it seems like almost no one on the internet gives a shit about Shy Baldwin/Reggie Harris from The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, which boggles my mind because like ???? they're in love?????? and their relationship is so compelling??

And what we see of what becomes of Shy's story is so tragic obviously but to me it also hints at potential for him and Reggie to maybe someday get out of showbiz and be together. And from what I can tell, no one in fandom TALKED ABOUT THISSSS when season 4 came out!!! What the fuck!!!!! This is maddening!!!

So. I'm making this post mostly to get this off my chest and as a yell into the void. Because maybe somewhere, someday, someone else will ALSO be searching tumblr to see even a glimpse of content about these 2 exceedingly compelling characters, and I will write this so that I save that person the despair of coming up empty-handed like I am.

I'm also gonna drag other people down with me if anyone who hasn't seen this show happens to be curious enough to read this, so in that vein, I will cover some basics to outline this. Because I want to TALK ABOUT THEM despite most of this being obvious and no one giving a shit, Goddammit!!

(Spoilers or whatever I guess but who cares)

This is Shy Baldwin. He's a singer (clearly) and canonically a Black gay man who (obviously) has to hide his sexuality because this is set in the 60s.

This is Reggie Harris, Shy's manager and longtime best friend.

This is how Reggie introduces himself:

Let me tell you what kind of manager I am, Susie Myerson and Associates. I've been looking after Shy since we were kids tossing rocks in vacant lots. We was running numbers for Stephanie St. Clair before we were ten. When he found his singing, I collected the money, kept him out of trouble, kept people from bumping him. I'll be at his side when he draws his last breath unless I get there first. I would lay down my life for him. That's what's going on here. You hear me?

–3x02, "It's the Sixties, Man!"

In episode 3, they casually sing "Is You Is or Is You Ain’t My Baby" together just for fun.

INSANE harmonies. And their flirty banter in this whole 1 minute long scene makes me want to eat my own arm.

Anyway... hold those thoughts.

So, Midge Maisel (the titular character) is the opener for Shy on tour with her comedy act in season 3. The show reveals in episode 3x06 that Shy is gay, in a scene where Midge finds him bruised and bleeding because he hooked up with a guy and it went sideways. Shy comes out to her as part of his explanation, and she helps cover up the bruises on his face with makeup so he can get on stage that night.

That leads to him doing a sitting "stool set" with slower songs because his ribs are fucked so he can't stand/dance, and the unsubtle song the show has him sing is "No One Has To Know."

The clip isn't even on Youtube, which is indicative of how much I'm suffering with how under-appreciated Shy's storyline is, but you can listen to the song here or on Spotify.

No one else can tell I think you're beautiful No one else can tell You're my favorite view Let the world all think what they will I'll wait until they're through 'Cause no one has to know I need you No one but you

^^^ Literally the whole song is like this / about being gay but that's a piece of it.

Shy looks at Reggie as he sings.

Thankfully Tumblr user microclown made several GIFs. Here are two.

KILLL MEEEE

Clearly, obviously, this is deliberately not subtle. Everything telegraphs that Shy is in love with Reggie.

Now, considering wider context of Shy hooking up with a random man etc., one could be forgiven for thinking it's meant to be seen as unrequited love... but I really don't think that's the case. I think there's a delicious undercurrent of angst that ties into how Reggie tells Susie (Midge's manager) at various times throughout the season that their job is to make the hard decisions on behalf of their clients, and Reggie references making hard decisions on Shy's behalf or for Shy, because his job is to do what's best for Shy even at the times Shy doesn't like it. So... are they in love and Reggie tries to keep them from properly being Together to protect Shy? And/or does Shy think his love is unrequited at this point? Lots of room to play there.

So now comes the part that no one's talking about!

More explanation: season 3 ends with Midge being very straight and very white as she does a comedy routine in which she makes way too many cheeky references that out Shy as gay on stage if you know gay-related coding/lingo. There are Reasons why she sort of panics and does this, and the audience loves her jokes, but that is very much Not The Point. She's fired from the rest of the tour as a result–rightfully so.

In season 4, it's announced that Shy is suddenly getting married to his longtime girlfriend and it's totally a publicity stunt 🙃 Midge and Susie are invited to the wedding... but not by Shy; by the team of straight white dude management who stepped in to control Shy's every move in the name of "helping him to stay on the straight and narrow" to keep his career on the rails. Midge's fuck up gave them the opportunity they needed to control him. (Shy and Midge end up reuniting in a bathroom at the reception but we won't be unpacking that conversation and how I disagree with how Midge leaves things between them).

So the suits invite Midge and Susie to the wedding so they can escort them to a side room and have a meeting with them, and they try to pay them off to sign an NDA. (Midge declines for them both, saying she will keep her silence for the sake of Shy, not for the suits.) Come to find out that that management team also forced Shy to pay off / fire his entire band–who were shown to be like family to him throughout the tour in season 3–and also forced him to pay off / fire Reggie.

LOU: Look, he's a good guy, Reggie. I like him. But he's too close with Shy to control him. There's too much history.

...

SUSIE: Reggie got Shy to where he is now. You realize that?

LOU: Reggie's taken care of. Big severance. We threw him some publishing. He's buying a house in Westchester. Everybody's happy.

SUSIE: Oh, I bet. 'Cause when you think Reggie, you think Westchester.

–4x05, "How to Chew Quietly and Influence"

Here's the obvious thing: Shy and Reggie clearly had no choice in this matter.

There's no way in hell that Reggie would have left Shy willingly. Absolutely no Goddamn way in hell. Whether he's in love with him or not, Shy is "his boy" (his words, repeatedly) and he said "I'll be at his side when he draws his last breath unless I get there first." That was his character introduction! Holy shit!

But here's my hot take: I DO think Reggie is in love with Shy, and I do think he intends to keep that promise of being by his side as much as possible. And I'll tell you why.

At the wedding, Shy sings a short excerpt from his new single to his new wife:

Come close to me, baby Cool as the river When you're here in my arms Manhattan's getting dimmer I know it sparkles, too But city lights don't shine as bright as you

Once again the clip is not on Youtube and I am suffering.

There are a few more lines from the song in that episode referencing Paris and Rome (where Shy and Reggie and the band went on tour in season 3...), but it's a piece of a longer song. We thankfully have the song in full, here or on Spotify:

And in the episode, Shy says on stage that the song was written by Reggie.

"You just heard a little of my new single. And it's a special one because the lyrics were written by my boy Reggie Harris. Which is fitting because that man's been putting words in my mouth since we were kids begging his grandmom to buy us ice cream.

–4x05, "How to Chew Quietly and Influence"

This makes me FUCKING FERAL.

Especially because of the lyrics in the full version of the song... which, as it turns out, is all about giving up fame and the spotlight to be with the one you love.

There are hidden lyrics in the full track that are meant to actually be in between the shortened ones we hear in the episode. The lyrics from the full version that Shy doesn't sing at his wedding are as follows:

I’ve had the spotlight Been bewitched by wealth and fame But I’d give up that hot light Just to hear one special someone Call my name

...

I could search the world over Go as far as a man can roam But nothing I’d see Would mean nothing to me Like the vision of you when I’m coming back home Baby, you are my home

Buildings may rise And reach for the skies They twinkle and flash But they won’t ever last Like the beauty in your eyes

Whatever they may do Those city lights won’t shine as bright as you

Reggie wrote this song for Shy. He literally wrote this song for Shy. Shy says it himself! And Reggie's not in attendance at Shy's publicity stunt wedding because the suits are keeping them apart for now, but he's in Shy's heart, and Shy chooses to sing this song and share that backstory about the lyrics because they're each others' home in secret.

I can't handle it! I can't FUCKING handle it!!!!!

Like are you SERIOUS!!!! And in the episode where the suits say Reggie took his severance pay and went and bought a fancy house? BITCH. If he even actually did that (and didn't just claim he was doing it to fly under the radar), then he bought a house so Shy could one day join him there because ???? "You are my home." Ohhhh myyyy Goddddd ;___; A song about giving up the spotlight to be with the one you love........ I have connected the dots. Just wow.

So yeah I'm literally going insane. I LOVE them. I've been thinking about this for like 2 weeks and no one gives a shit but I love them! They are important to me and every part of their subplot is so compelling and makes me so emotional!

There is fic about all this that's in my brain and outlined in my google docs and if I ever write it I will post it on AO3 for the maybe 2 people who will care someday. But yeah.

WHERE is their spinoff!!!!!!!! Jk I don't want it because I don't trust they'd be handled properly. However, I am manifesting even a crumb of information about them in season 5 because Shy Baldwin is my son and I would like any kind of hint he and Reggie manage to eventually orchestrate their happiness <3

If you actually read this post, thank you so much for indulging me. I had to get this off my chest, okay, I'm losing it.

I love them and they're in love. That is all.

[femslashrevolution]

Popular Pairing List Update

The following pairings have more than 10 recent posts in their pairing tag, and are therefore too popular to be posted on Rarepair Thursdays:

Aaliyah Amrohi x Cruz Manuelos (Special Ops: Lioness)

Ainhoa Arminza x Luz Romaña Lasierra (4 estrellas)

Audrey Jensen x Emma Duval (MTV Scream)

B'Elanna Torres x Seven of Nine (Star Trek: Voyager)

Bette Porter x Tina Kennard (The L Word)

Gwen x Morgana (Merlin)

Gyoza x Manaow (Love Senior)

Hannah Taylor x Shira Bolitar (Harlan Coben's Shelter)

Hermione Granger x Narcissa Malfoy (Harry Potter)

Isabel x Josie (Bottoms)

Laura Lee x Lottie Matthews (Yellowjackets)

Mantis x Nebula (Marvel Cinematic Universe)

Riri Williams x Shuri (Marvel Cinematic Universe; Marvel Comics)

Seo Ji-wan x Yoon Sol (Nevertheless)

Tendo Akane x Unryu Akari (Ranma 1/2)

The following pairings have been posted less frequently recently, and have therefore been removed from the popular pairing list:

Aerith Gainsborough x Tifa Lockhart (Final Fantasy)

Alice x Ludmila (Rune Factory)

Anne Boonchuy x Sasha Waybright (Amphibia)

Bernadetta von Varley x Petra Macneary (Fire Emblem)

Bess Till x Miss Audrey (Snowpiercer)

Candace Powell x Lilly Fortenberry (Astrid and Lilly Save The World)

Cora Hale x Lydia Martin (Teen Wolf)

Dani Ramos x Grace (Terminator: Dark Fate)

Eleanor Roosevelt x Lorena Hickok (The First Lady)

Ellen Waverly x Pam Horton (For All Mankind)

Esther Warner x Max Chapman (Amazon A League of Their Own)

Eve x Mazikeen (Lucifer)

Franki x Taylor Bloom (Love Classified)

Ginny Weasley x Pansy Parkinson (Harry Potter)

Haniwa x Wren (See)

Jester Lavorre x Yasha Nydoorin (Critical Role)

Kira Yukimura x Malia Tate (Teen Wolf)

Laurie x Mira Harberg (Irma Vep)

Lucy Westenra x Mina Murray (Dracula)

Midge Maisel x Susie Myerson (The Marvelous Mrs Maisel)

Regina Mills x Ruby (Once Upon A Time)

Root x Sameen Shaw (Person of Interest)

[eddysocs]

Introducing: Dottie Friedman

Fandom: The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

Face Claim: Rose Williams

Full Name: Dottie Rachelle Friedman

Nickname/Alias/Pet Names: Dot

Age: 24

Myers Briggs Type: ENFJ

Hogwarts House: Hufflepuff

Love Interests: Susie Myerson, Midge Maisel

Occupation: Showgirl/Dancer

Collections: Lipsticks

Style/Clothing: Dottie likes to describe her style as 'secondhand, but first class'. She’s not a wealthy woman, but she knows how to thrift. She prefers light, happy colors, like pink and purple.

Signature Quote: "Don’t I look like a million bucks? Secret is, it hardly cost me a dime."

Plot Summary: During her number at The Wolford Dottie starts flirting with Susie in the audience, not realizing, under the cover of darkness, that Susie isn’t actually a man. While Susie doesn’t love having Midge at that club, she sees nice, sweet Dottie as one of the perks of the gig. After their misunderstanding, Dottie doesn’t stop her flirting, so why not take the girl up on it? But ultimately, Susie can’t bring herself to go through with it. Dottie still stays, as a friend, then becomes thoroughly entangled in Susie's and Midge's lives until both women don’t know what they’d do without her.

Forever Tag: @arrthurpendragon, @baubeautyandthegeek, @foxesandmagic, @carmens-garden, @chickensarentcheap, @endless-oc-creations, @unheolycs-ocs, @fawera, @themaradaniels, @that-demigirl, @iloveocs, @bossyladies