Maid (2021) is a 10-episode limited Netflix drama series starring Margeret Qualley as the titular character. The miniseries has won the praise of critics since its release, and rightfully so. This show, as you’ll see later in this review, has amazing performances and a heartfelt story.
It follows a mother named Alex, who struggles to provide for herself and her 3-year-old daughter, Maddie, after she leaves her abusive alcoholic husband. There’s Alex’s mom, played by Qualley’s actual mom Andi Mcdonall, who does an amazing job portraying a manic artist. There’s Sean, Alex’s ex-husband and antagonist who attempts to win Alex back and have custody of Maddie. There’s Regina, one of Alex’s rich clients who ends up growing a friendship with, which I find so refreshing considering that the media nowadays satirize and villainize rich people.
Margaret Qualley as Alex
Qualley does a breathtaking performance as the titular character: the way she screams in anguish when her car gets hit with Maddie still in it; the way she stammers and holds back her tears as she pleads to the landowners to let her stay after Sean broke the vase; And the little giggles she makes when she talks about her happiest day. Her overall performance was believable enough for the viewers to sympathize and get invested in her determination and perseverance.
The Visuals
This show does a great job of conveying Alex’s state of mind through interesting visuals. A good example is the courtroom scene in the second episode “Ponies”: which shows Alex’s confusion and ignorance towards legal terms by literally replacing almost every word with “Legal.” Another good example of this is in the episode where Alex realizes that getting back with Sean is a terrible idea. They show how lost and trapped she is by having her get swallowed by a sofa and at the bottom of a hole. There are many more amazing visuals, but these are some of my favorite ones.
Nostalgia
My personal favorite scene was at the end of the episode “Dollar Store,” where Alex and Maddie spend the night at the airport. It took me back to the days when I was younger when it was still safe to travel; me and my mom would go through the same process to catch a flight and visit my dad in Doha. I remember the coldness and that soothing feeling as the plane gently flew into the air and landed.
Finale
The rational part of my mind wanted a full-on court battle, but the logical part thought that the actual conclusion made for a good catharsis. Sean simply realized he was wrong and made the right choice by letting Alex finally have full custody of their daughter; there really was no need for extra drama. The last scene between Alex and her mother was also heartbreaking to watch because it was preceded by a glimpse of hope that their relationship would healthily improve. But in the end, her mother is once again in a one-sided relationship.
Perhaps the best part about this show is how RAW the emotional scenes are, they aren’t artificial and use over-dramatic music. Maid lets the performances take the wheel and the scene flows naturally and therefore realistically. You FEEL the intended emotion of several scenes. I highly recommend giving this show a watch, because it tells you that no matter how harsh your life is or was, you’ll be okay; things will eventually get better.
Comments