If you’ve spent any time in the candy-colored, fast-talking world of the Upper West Side in the 1950s, you know that the Weissman family isn't exactly easy to join. They’re brilliant, neurotic, and incredibly set in their ways. Then there’s Astrid Weissman. Played with a heartbreakingly funny desperation by Justine Lupe, Astrid is the secret weapon of The Marvelous Mrs Maisel. She isn't just Midge’s sister-in-law. She’s a woman running a marathon in a room where everyone else is just sitting down for coffee.
Most people focus on Midge’s stand-up or Rose’s Parisian escapades. But honestly? Astrid’s journey is where the real grit is. She’s a convert to Judaism who tries so hard it physically hurts to watch sometimes. She’s the person who brings homemade gefilte fish to a dinner party and wonders why no one is eating it.
The Astrid Weissman Struggle (and Why We Love It)
Astrid is a total outsider. Born a gentile, she converted to marry Midge’s brother, Noah. But here’s the thing: while the Weissmans take their Jewish identity for granted—it's just the air they breathe—Astrid treats it like a high-stakes exam she’s constantly failing. She has "Jewish impostor syndrome" before that was even a phrase.
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Remember the giant mezuzahs?
In Season 1, she shows up with these massive, comically oversized doorpost scrolls from her eleventh trip to Israel. She’s looking for a "win." She wants Rose and Abe to look at her and say, "Yes, you are one of us." Instead, she gets polite, confused nods. It’s brutal.
But it’s also relatable. Who hasn’t tried way too hard to fit in with their partner's family? Astrid just does it with more Yiddish and a lot more anxiety.
The Tisha B'Av Incident
One of the most defining moments for Astrid Weissman happens in the Catskills. While the rest of the family is lounging, eating, and gossiping, Astrid is fasting for Tisha B'Av. It’s a somber day of mourning in the Jewish calendar, but the Weissmans—who are culturally Jewish but not particularly observant—completely ignore it.
Astrid, the convert, is the only one actually doing the work.
She eventually snaps. She’s starving, she’s lightheaded, and she’s watching her family shovel down food while ignoring their own history. When she yells about the "important, f***ing temples," you realize she isn't just a caricature. She’s the only one taking the heritage seriously. She’s more "Jewish" than the people born into it, yet she feels like she has the least right to claim it.
Beyond the Comedy: The Fertility Battle
While the show is mostly a comedy, Astrid’s storyline gets heavy fast when it comes to her desire for a child. For years, she and Noah struggle to conceive. In a family like the Weissmans, where Midge has the "perfect" two children (even if she’s rarely home to see them), Astrid feels broken.
It adds a layer of desperation to her religious fervor. She isn't just trying to be Jewish; she’s trying to be a "good" Jewish wife and mother. She’s looking for a miracle.
- She seeks out every "treatment" possible.
- She prays with a ferocity that scares the people around her.
- She buys into the superstitions because science isn't giving her what she needs.
When she finally does get pregnant in the later seasons, the relief is palpable. But it’s a hard-won victory. It’s the one time we see the mask of the "perfectly helpful sister-in-law" slip to reveal a woman who is genuinely terrified of being left behind.
Why Justine Lupe Was the Perfect Choice
You probably know Justine Lupe better as Willa from Succession. It’s a wild pivot. In Succession, she’s cool, detached, and playing a very long game. As Astrid Weissman, she’s a raw nerve.
Lupe plays the comedy of the character with her eyes. They’re always darting around, looking for approval. She makes Astrid’s high-pitched, frantic energy feel grounded in a real need for love. Without Lupe’s performance, Astrid could have been a one-note joke about a "try-hard" convert. Instead, she’s the most empathetic person on the screen.
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Real-Life Impact of the Character
The character sparked a lot of conversation among Jewish converts. Many saw themselves in her. That feeling of being "too much"—of knowing the prayers better than your spouse but still feeling like a guest in your own home—is a very real experience.
The show doesn't mock her for wanting to belong. It mocks the family for not making more space for her.
Moving Past the "Shiksa" Label
In the 1950s, the term "shiksa" was thrown around a lot. Noah’s father, Moishe, even makes a comment about how "shiksas are for practice." It’s a cutting, ugly sentiment.
Astrid hears these things. She knows what they say behind her back.
Her entire arc is about proving them wrong. She isn't "practice." She’s the real deal. By the time the series ends, Astrid has carved out a space for herself. She isn't Midge, and she’ll never be Rose. She’s something else entirely: a woman who chose her family and her faith, even when they didn't make it easy for her.
If you’re doing a rewatch of The Marvelous Mrs Maisel, keep an eye on the background during the big family dinners. Watch how Astrid watches Rose. Notice how she always tries to help Midge, even when Midge is being incredibly self-centered.
Actionable Insights for Fans:
If you want to appreciate the depth of the character more, pay attention to these specific episodes:
- Season 1, Episode 6: Her introduction and the "Giant Mezuzah" scene.
- Season 2, Episode 6: The Tisha B'Av fast in the Catskills. This is her best scene.
- Season 3, Episode 3: Her prayer at the Western Wall in Jerusalem.
Astrid isn't just a side character. She's the heart of the show’s exploration of what it means to actually choose a life, rather than just falling into one.
Next time you see a "try-hard," maybe think of Astrid. Sometimes, trying too hard is just another way of saying you care more than everyone else in the room.