What Happened To Joel In The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Season 5 (2024)

The series finale of Amazon Prime Video's The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel was satisfying in many respects, most of all in showing the everlasting friendship between Midge and Susie, however, this left other beloved characters with less-than-clear endings, including Midge's ex-husband Joel. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel follows Midge Maisel, a classic 1950s housewife who begins pursuing a career in comedy after her husband leaves her. The show, which began in 2017, has come to an end with its fifth and final season.

Although Joel is introduced as a villain in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel season 1, his character grows exponentially over the course of five seasons. While Joel starts the show having cheated on Midge and resenting her newfound comedy skills, over time he realizes his mistakes and puts effort into creating a new, unproblematic life for himself. In this way, he opens up his own club, starts dating a new woman, and forms a healthy friendship with Midge. By the end of the series, he is unwaveringly supportive of Midge and even sacrifices his own well-being to keep her safe, showing that their love may not be entirely dead.

Joel Most Likely Dies At The End of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Season 5

He'd Be In His 70s By 2005

Unfortunately, the most likely end to Joel's story at the end of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel is his death. The series concludes in the year 2005, which would put Midge and Joel in their 70s. In this way, it's very possible that Joel passed away of natural causes relating to his age in the final scenes of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel season 5. Furthermore, this fate is hinted at when Midge straightens a photo of her and Joel from their wedding day. As the audience sees Joel framed in black and white, a fixture in Midge's home, it seems likely that he has died at this point.

Of course, because the series doesn't make Joel's fate entirely clear, there is still a chance that he's alive. Because Midge and Joel never got back together on-screen, it would make sense that he wouldn't live with her and so wouldn't appear in those final scenes. Additionally, Midge's picture may just be a nod to how much they still care about each other, even decades later. However, while this is possible, Joel's death seems like a better option as the last scene shows how Midge has survived past most of her loved ones and yet still has Susie's friendship to ground her in this new age.

Why The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Season 5 Doesn't Give Joel A Clear Ending

Midge And Susie Are Rightfully The Focal Point

Although Joel is one of many beloved characters in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel season 5, he doesn't have the same clear ending as Midge and Susie because the show is really about their friendship. Without Susie, Midge never would have discovered her talent for comedy, and even though they often disagree, they understand each other in a way that surpasses romance. Plus, Joel's unclear ending doesn't mean he totally lacks one. Based on Midge's photo and the year, it can be assumed that Joel has passed away, which is a sad ending, but an understandable one.

Joel Maisel may not have received the extended ending that Midge did, but his loose ties are definitely still knotted by the end of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. More important than his ending, Joel received major character development in season 5 that made him even more likable and enjoyable to watch. By doing this, Joel got the attention he deserved without needing a grand ending. Overall, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel ended with a focus on where it began: Midge and Susie.