In the Maisel-verse, Sophie Lennon (five-time Emmy winner Jane Lynch) is a trailblazer, one of the few women of her era making a living in comedy. The downside: Although Lennon oozes sophistication offstage, in front of audiences she is "Sophie from Queens," a crass, cartoonish character who aims only for low-hanging fruit.
Her quest to become a serious actress leads her to hire Susie as her manager, who claws tooth and nail to get her cast in a Broadway play. Much to the surprise of everyone in Sophie's orbit, all signs point to a breakout hit. Until she chokes. Big time. Halfway through opening night (near the end of Season 3), Sophie devolves into her bread-and-butter persona, trashing everything Susie had set up for her.
Although Sophie is many things — successful, funny, filthy rich — she is not self-aware. She blames her meltdown on Susie, asserting unironically that she favors her other client, Midge. Susie fires back, calling Sophie a fraud who "didn't have the stuff to make it on Broadway." Twisting the knife, she knocks Sophie down a few more pegs, telling her, "You're a star, for now, but (Midge) is gonna be a goddamn legend."
That sets a hell of stage for Season 4, and a trailer confirms Sophie is back in the fold. Chances are she'll be a headache for Susie and Midge, which is hardly a stretch given Sophie's wealth and influence. She's a pro at holding a grudge, so a showdown feels imminent.
