New blog time! And this week I’ve decided to write my first blog on a television show. To be more specific I guess I should say Limited Drama series but same remit so I think that’s acceptable for me to say! As those who are familiar with my blogs will know, my titles are normally much more descriptive but for this one, I thought to keep it simple and impactful regarding the themes of the show.
I do consider myself a fan of Margaret Qualley from watching her roles in numerous productions such as playing Manson family hippy girl in Tarantino’s 'Once Upon A Time in Hollywood' along with her role in 'The Nice Guys’ and various other parts here and there but this has to be the best performance of hers to date.
Qualley has a family background in the entertainment industry too, with well-known parents, model Paul Qualley as her father and her actress mother, (and costar in Maid) Andie MacDowell. Whilst I felt it was interesting to give some background on Margaret as an individual, I won’t dwell on her life story because that’s not what the blog is about, but I just feel I should reference some details of her life to provide a bit of context for those that are unfamiliar with her and because it's nice to consider when her own mother in real life is portraying her mother in the show too!
I had no idea she had a new upcoming series but it was through her interview with Jimmy Fallon a few weeks ago that I heard her discussing the project and I thought it sounded incredible. To put it simply, I was blown away by how captivated I was by it. And completely consumed the entire 10 episodes in one sitting. I have been telling myself to try and stray away from the phrases I know I tend to use such as ‘raw and visceral' but that is exactly what this show encapsulates and so much more, so I am sorry for using it again but I promise that this shall be the last time I will use that exact pairing of terminology within my blogs!
For those who haven’t heard about the show and haven’t watched, the series is inspired by a memoir written by Stephanie Land titled ‘Maid: Hard Work, Low Par, and a Mother’s Will to Survive.’ The show, based on the book by Land, has has been created by Molly Smith Metzler and details the experience of a young mother fleeing a domestic abuse situation and getting a job as a house cleaner to support her new life as a single parent. Without revealing too much about the show, there are many blocks faced by the protagonist Alex (played by Qualley), including her struggle to find somewhere to live, her conflict with her eccentric and free-spirited mother Paula (portrayed by MacDowell), and her internal struggle as she debates whether she is considered to be a domestic abuse victim when society clearly has its own opinion on her position.
Stephanie Land with her children
It should also be noted that I am not someone who has endured the horrific experiences of these women, nor do I claim to have any knowledge on what it is truly like for these women - all I can do is lend an extremely sympathetic yet supportive view from the sidelines of women having to endure this and aim to educate those to the best of my ability about the show and why I feel people should watch it.
It’s breathtakingly painful, emotional, impactful and in parts funny with a sense of bittersweet sadness running throughout as the audience is exposed to flashbacks of when times were idyllic between Alex and the partner she is fleeing - Sean (played by Nick Robinson). There are additional dreamlike sequences woven throughout the development of the story too to reflect the hopes and desires Alex has as she attempts to remain strong for her little 3-year-old Maddy (portrayed by Rylea Nevaeh Whittet) and straddle the balance of attempting to maintain a stable home life and upbringing for her.
There are points of desperate frustration and pain that you are led to feel as an audience member whilst you begin to feel closer to Alex as a character and there are moments of joy and relief; overall the rollercoaster of it all is truly unlike anything I’ve felt with a limited series. Yes, I’ve come across shows where I’m being pulled every which way due to twists and turns in plot but I think there is something about a show presenting the harsh reality of a domestic abuse victim and her will to survive that hits you harder than the tense cliche drama you get from watching teen drama shows like ‘Riverdale,’ or ‘YOU’ - which tend to be the most trending shows on streaming platforms such as Netflix. (Although I shall mention I have heard that ‘Squidgame’ does have its moments of tension but I am yet to watch that so I am excluding that from this argument - apologies I digress).
The story is based on real tales detailed within the book from both Land and other women she encountered during her period of struggle within the poverty line in America as a result of domestic abuse and that’s why it feels more impactful watching. I must mention that at the end of each episode, there is a statement asserting the stories in the show are not directly reflecting specifically named women's experiences, yet there ARE women out there going through the same exact struggles and having to navigate all of this whilst the system seems to push everything against them.
In reference to the book, there are differences between Land's original work and the show as it does not directly detail the entire account of Land’s experiences as some names were changed for the show and within the original book Land accounts no details regarding any interactions with her parents - unlike the character of Alex. It is also clear the story portrayed within the series takes place over a shorter timeline but that is something that a book is able to extend in contrast to a condensed television show. Overall, one can only hope the exposure of this show will offer wider discussion surrounding the support we are offering not just to women within this bracket, but women fleeing from these horrific and devastating situations because it is the first time I’ve really seen it presented this honestly and raw in any form of media.
I do feel I should elaborate on MacDowell’s amazing performance. It’s no lie that she is incredible in everything that she does, yet what runs throughout this story is the crucial support women lend to one another and therefore her role as Alex's mother. Don’t worry I won’t spoil much regarding her character but it is evident that her story runs parallel to Alex’s and that’s seen from the first episode when she is established as a free-spirited individual that clearly doesn’t hold on to sustainable relationships for very long. She seems to justify her actions through her spirituality and her unstable art career. Whilst Alex leans on her for support during her rough period, Paula's dismissiveness of all that’s occurring and her ability to disappear for days on end to make visits to the Californian desert, prove it difficult for Alex to rely on her during her time of need. Additionally, we encounter many different women throughout the development of the show and these individual stories reveal the many struggles that women of all classes have been forced to endure, overall asserting the importance of female relationships and a shoulder to cry on through it all.
Whilst Alex does have a father in the show (played by Billy Burke), it is made apparent from the beginning of this series that he has set up his own family and therefore there is a distance between the father and daughter. As the show develops, this relationship is explored further and as an audience we become exposed to the level of intricacy of the dynamic between Alex, Paula, and her father during Alex's childhood.
After completing all 10 episodes of the show (each an hour long), I wish I could keep watching more, but to anyone who hasn’t yet seen it I hope this blog has outlined some of the key aspects of why I feel it's truly remarkable and really worth a watch. No matter what gender you are I feel the impact of what we are seeing will affect anyone watching as displaying a brutal struggle of a woman’s will to survive to protect her child and ultimately provide a better life for them both. Anyone can relate to that. We all have mothers we have seen work hard to provide for us or if in some circumstances not, we have all known what it is like to fend for ourselves in any barrier we encounter within life.
I know I normally end the blog with a recommendation of when best to watch the film I have been discussing, but in this case, all I can say is watch this whenever you feel is right. A thoughtful outlook is required before delving into the show but I promise you it is worth every minute of watching. If not for being able to see how cute the little girl Maddy is too because I realised that cannot go unnoticed!!
The show has also been created by a woman (Molly Smith Metzler) with a large proportion of the crew being female too and for a show that deals with such sensitive issues women face, it is best that a team of women are working behind the scenes to bring it all together. This show achieves just that. More female representation behind the camera is needed more than ever in a male-dominated entertainment industry, and it's a breath of fresh air to see women presenting women's stories.
As always I welcome any discussions regarding productions I write about and I welcome that in the comment section below, or in the red chat box icon where you can message me directly if you don’t feel comfortable voicing your opinion publicly on the page! I have also included some insightful articles below about the show which can add to further discussion surrounding the show and it’s themes.
*If you, or anyone you know have experienced issues regarding domestic abuse, then please find below some useful resources and numbers to get help. Additionally, if you are wanting to donate to charities both nationally or internationally, those can be found below too.*
Domestic Violence links and information:
UK
If you are in immediate danger, call 999 and ask for the police. If you can’t speak and are calling on a mobile press 55 to have your call transferred to the police - https://www.gov.uk/guidance/domestic-abuse-how-to-get-help
National Domestic Abuse Helpline Number: 0808 2000 247
National Domestic Abuse Helpline:
National Sexual Violence Helpline:
0808 802 9999
Open between 12:00-14:20 and 19:00-21:30 every day.
Muslim Women's Network UK- Aiming to achieve an equal and just society through Islamic feminism:
Muslim Women's Network UK Helpline:
0800 999 5786
GOV - Find out how to get help if you or someone you know is a victim of domestic abuse:
International
American National Domestic Violence Hotline Number: 1-800-799 (SAFE)/ Text "START" to 88788
American National Domestic Violence Hotline Website: https://www.thehotline.org/
National Coalition Against Domestic Violence Number: 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE)/ 1-800-787-3224 (TTY - Teletype)
National Coalition Against Domestic Violence Website: https://ncadv.org/get-help
Wanna talk about it? - Netflix's website which provides support on a range of issues portrayed within their productions including Sexual Violence and Relationship Abuse resources, as well as Mental Health & Well-Being resources and Self-Harm & Suicide resources: https://www.wannatalkaboutit.com/gb/
Charities:
UK Led Charities;
Women's Aid Website - Working together against domestic abuse until women and children are safe:
Bright Sky App - Safe, easy-to-use app and website that provides practical support and information on how to respond to domestic abuse:
Rape Crisis - Provides specialist support and services to women and girls who have experienced rape, sexual violence, or sexual abuse at any time: https://rapecrisis.org.uk/get-help/find-a-rape-crisis-centre/
Imkaan - UK-based Umbrella women's organisation dedicated to addressing violence against Black and Minoritised Women and Girls:
Internationally Led Charities:
Wish - A voice for women's mental health:
Women for Women International - Provides support for Women survivors of War and Conflict and provides them with social and economic skills to transform their own lives: https://www.womenforwomen.org/
CARE International - Care works around the world to save lives, defeat poverty and achieve social justice. They put women and girls in the center because they know we cannot overcome poverty until all people have equal rights and opportunities:
Articles about MAID:
Stephanie Land's Blog:
Writing inspired by the book by: Stephanie Land
Creator: Molly Smith Metzler
Executive Producers: John Wells, Molly Smith Metzler, Margot Robbie, Tom Ackerley, Erin Jontow, Brett Hedblom, Stephanie Land
Certificate: 15
Genre: Drama
MAID is now available to watch on Netflix. A link to the show on Netflix can be found below: