Maid (miniseries)

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Maid
Maid (TV series) Title Card.png
GenreDrama
Created byMolly Smith Metzler
Inspired byMaid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother's Will to Survive
by Stephanie Land
Starring
Music by
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of episodes10
Production
Executive producers
Producers
  • Colin McKenna
  • Terri Murphy
  • Bonnie R. Benwick
Production locationVictoria, British Columbia
Cinematography
Editors
  • Annie Eifrig
  • Annette Davey
  • Jacquelyn Le
Running time47–60 minutes
Production companies
Release
Original networkNetflix
Original releaseOctober 1, 2021 (2021-10-01)

Maid is an American drama[1][2] limited series created for Netflix by Molly Smith Metzler. The series is inspired by Stephanie Land's memoir Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother's Will to Survive. Its story focuses on a young mother who escapes an abusive relationship, subsequently struggling to provide for her daughter by getting a job cleaning houses. It premiered on Netflix on October 1, 2021.[3][4]

Premise[]

Alex leaves her abusive boyfriend, moves herself and their toddler daughter into a shelter, and gets a job cleaning houses for Value Maids. The show follows Alex's struggles with raising a young child, dealing with both an abusive ex-boyfriend and her own dysfunctional family, and navigating the red tape of government assistance, all while working as a maid and dreaming of a future as a writer. The story takes place near Seattle with the Alex character frequently commuting via ferry to the fictional Fisher Island.

Cast and characters[]

Main[]

Recurring[]

  • Rylea Nevaeh Whittet as Maddy,[4] Alex and Sean's lively toddler daughter who turns three years old in the sixth episode
  • Xavier De Guzman as Ethan,[4] Sean's best friend
  • Raymond Ablack as Nate,[4] an acquaintance from Alex's past
  • BJ Harrison as Denise,[4] the woman who runs the domestic violence shelter

Guest stars[]

Episodes[]

No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release dateProd.
code
1"Dollar Store"John WellsMolly Smith MetzlerOctober 1, 2021 (2021-10-01)T13.22651
Alex Russell, a young mother and aspiring writer living in Port Hampstead, Washington, leaves her alcoholic, emotionally abusive boyfriend Sean in the middle of the night, taking their two-year-old daughter Maddy with her. Forced to sleep in a car and with scant money to spare, Alex visits a social worker, who informs her that she needs to present two pay stubs to qualify for subsidized housing. The only available job is at Value Maids, a cleaning company whose owner Yolanda hires her on the spot. Alex has her manic, freewheeling mother Paula - who works as an artist out of her boyfriend's RV - babysit Maddy while she takes the ferry to Fisher Island for her first shift at a lavish home owned by wealthy client Regina. Alex passes out midway through her shift; she returns to the mainland to discover that Paula has returned Maddy to Sean's care, unaware that Alex left him. Alex returns to Sean's trailer and takes Maddy back despite his protests. Yolanda calls to report that Regina was not satisfied with Alex's standard of cleaning; Alex opts to return to complete the job, but she and Maddy get into a car crash on the way there. Alex has her estranged father Hank drop them at the ferry point, and waits for the next arrival with Maddy.
2"Ponies"John WellsMolly Smith MetzlerOctober 1, 2021 (2021-10-01)T13.22652
Flashbacks show Alex first meeting Sean while reciting some of her personal writing at a restaurant. In the present, Alex is contacted by Sean's lawyer, who informs her that Sean has filed to reclaim full custody of Maddy. Alex's social worker advises that she take refuge at a nearby domestic violence shelter. While there, Alex befriends Danielle, a fellow resident. Alex loses her court case, granting Sean full custody of Maddy for 7 days till the court reconvenes. Danielle learns that Regina never paid Alex for her cleaning shift, and helps her steal Regina's dog to force her hand. Regina is initially irate and threatens to call the police, but Alex stands up to her, and later finds that Regina has sent the full payment. However, she discovers Danielle has left the shelter to return to her ex; the shelter's owner Denise informs Alex that most women only commit to their stay after several attempts. In her journal, Alex recounts her relationship with Sean souring after she chose to carry Maddy instead of undergoing an abortion.
3"Sea Glass"Nzingha StewartMarcus GardleyOctober 1, 2021 (2021-10-01)T13.22653
Denise introduces Alex to her lawyer friend, who advises that while the legal system does not consider emotional abuse to be domestic violence, her claim may still grant her joint custody of Maddy. After a particularly grueling cleaning shift, Alex finds Sean drunk at a bar with friends and chastises him for his negligent parenting. Alex attempts to obtain a signature from her mother Paula as a character witness deeming her fit to parent Maddy, but Paula is inattentive and fixated on her art, and the two eventually have a bitter argument. Alex learns that Sean missed a bartending shift for the first time and discovers him intoxicated on the beach, reeling from the breakdown of his and Alex's relationship. Alex reminds him of the responsibility of being a parent and brings him home; the next day, Sean decides to drop his court case and agrees to share custody of Maddy with Alex. Alex and Maddy arrive at their new subsidized housing unit and find that Paula has painted it for them.
4"Cashmere"Nzingha StewartRebecca BrunstetterOctober 1, 2021 (2021-10-01)T13.22654
Alex's former acquaintance Nate, recently divorced and living on Fisher Island, provides her with his car; Alex is grateful, but politely declines Nate's romantic advances. On Thanksgiving Day, Alex works a shift at Regina's house while Regina is away with her husband on a weekend trip. After the job is complete, Alex treats herself to Regina's wine, tries on her clothes, and invites a Tinder date, Wayne, to the house, claiming it to be her own. However, Regina returns home that night, feeling miserable after being asked for a divorce by her husband. Regina shares with Alex that she struggled to conceive and that she and her husband had a child via surrogacy in an attempt to fix their failing marriage; she advises Alex not to let anyone take advantage of her. Alex reflects in her journal on how even the wealthy are often deeply unhappy. Prior to picking up Maddy from Sean's care, Alex texts Wayne to tell the truth about her circumstances.
5"Thief"Lila NeugebauerColin McKennaOctober 1, 2021 (2021-10-01)T13.22655
Alex struggles to pay tuition for Maddy's daycare, and Maddy falls ill from black mold exposure while staying at the subsidized housing unit, which Alex is thereby forced to vacate. With Sean unable to care for Maddy amid working two shifts at the bar, Alex reluctantly takes Maddy to the home of her estranged father Hank, who has since remarried and yearns to help Alex. While cleaning a house in the woods once belonging to an infamous local thief dubbed "Barefoot Billy," Alex briefly gets trapped inside a crawlspace and suffers a panic attack. She later learns that her mother has gone missing; while searching for her, Alex encounters Danielle, who is with her boyfriend and pretends not to recognize Alex. Alex willfully reenters the crawlspace in Barefoot Billy's house after the cleaning job is complete, and recalls that she and her mother fled home because Hank was physically abusive to Paula. Alex immediately removes Maddy from Hank's home and goes to stay with Paula, who has returned after spontaneously getting married to her boyfriend, Basil.
6"M"Helen ShaverMichelle Denise JacksonOctober 1, 2021 (2021-10-01)T13.22656
Alex searches for a new residence, but struggles to find a landlord willing to accept a TBRA voucher. Alex grows closer with Regina while sharing mothering advice for the latter's surrogate child. After witnessing the negligence of Maddy's daycare staff, Alex decides to find Maddy a better daycare center. Nate agrees to help and puts her in contact with a Fisher Island nursery, where Alex learns she will be eligible for a needs-based scholarship if she can provide proof of residence on the island. Alex eventually finds an apartment on Fisher Island whose landlords agree to cover half the rent in exchange for Alex's landscaping services, and additionally allow Alex to use the home for Maddy's third birthday party. However, Alex is forced to vacate the apartment after Sean becomes intoxicated at the party and is discovered the following morning asleep on a couch after having broken into the living room. Alex and Maddy temporarily move into Nate's house.
7"String Cheese"Helen ShaverRebecca BrunstetterOctober 1, 2021 (2021-10-01)T13.22657
After Yolanda refuses to give her extra shifts, Alex visits a Value Maids client herself and offers a cheaper cleaning rate. Alex learns that Basil disappeared with his trailer and rented out Paula's family home under his name, leaving Paula homeless; Paula temporarily takes refuge at Nate's home. During dinner, Nate confides his feelings for Alex, but Alex believes their unequal power dynamic would make a relationship untenable. Sean interrupts, having recovered Paula's mortgage papers and learned that the property she owns is facing foreclosure. Alex, Sean and Paula track down Basil to a casino, where they learn that he is a con man and gambling addict who recently lost all of Paula's mortgage money. A heartbroken Paula takes out her anger on Alex and soon vanishes; Alex and Sean find her attempting to break into her family home and realize she has severely cut her wrists on broken glass as a result. Paula is rushed to the hospital while Sean comforts a traumatized Alex; the two return to Sean's trailer and have sex.
8"Bear Hunt"Quyen TranMarcus Gardley and Molly Smith MetzlerOctober 1, 2021 (2021-10-01)T13.22658
Nate has Alex move out of his house after learning she had sex with Sean, but allows her to keep his car. Alex moves back into Sean's trailer with Maddy and learns that Sean is learning carpentry from Hank, who is also Sean's AA sponsor. While cleaning Regina's house, Alex receives a call from the University of Montana informing her that she is allowed to reapply for a past creative writing scholarship free of charge; Alex uses Regina's computer to submit a writing sample of her journal entries as part of the application. Yolanda fires Alex for stealing business from Value Maids; Regina, however, insists on keeping Alex's services and offers her weekly shifts and a ferry pass, which Alex accepts. Alex learns that Paula has been discharged from psychiatric care by Basil. While at her friend's wedding, Alex is overjoyed to learn that she has been accepted for the scholarship, but Sean is enraged that she is deciding to move away with Maddy without asking him. The following morning, Alex learns that Sean returned Nate's car, effectively trapping her with him, and breaks down crying in shame.
9"Sky Blue"John WellsColin McKennaOctober 1, 2021 (2021-10-01)T13.22659
Alex spends several days in Sean's trailer in a deep depression, while Sean resumes drinking. One night, Hank visits for dinner; when Alex attempts to leave, Sean forcefully orders her to join the table in front of Hank, who does nothing to intervene. Soon after, Sean returns home drunk after being fired from his bartending job and smashes a vase, narrowly missing Alex. Alex discovers Maddy hiding from the scene inside a cupboard and decides to flee the trailer on foot, contacting Regina to drop her off at the DV shelter. Denise provides Alex with free clothes and a new phone. Regina, having read Alex's notebook left behind at a cleaning job and impressed with her writing ability, sets up Alex with a high-powered family lawyer who can ensure she leaves for college with custody of Maddy. Alex makes considerable money cleaning the homes of hoarders, applies for housing and financial aid at Missoula, and buys a new car. She serves Sean with the relocation papers, but Sean refuses to give up custody of Maddy and decides to take the case to court. Alex meets with her mother - now selling art at a flea market with her new boyfriend, Micah - and informs her she is going to college. She follows Paula's car afterwards and discovers that Paula is homeless.
10"Snaps"John WellsMolly Smith MetzlerOctober 1, 2021 (2021-10-01)T13.22660
Alex's lawyer Tara informs her that Sean has rejected Alex's ex parte motion for custody of Maddy - citing lack of evidence of abuse - and that if Alex loses the court case, she will be unable to move with Maddy out of state. Alex has Paula supervise Sean's court-approved, 4-hour visitation session with Maddy. She then visits Hank and asks him to testify that he witnessed Sean emotionally abuse her, but Hank refuses, empathizing instead with Sean's struggles with alcoholism. After yelling at Maddy and causing her to have a meltdown during their visitation session, Sean admits to Alex that his alcoholism is endangering Maddy and making him unfit to be a father; he signs over full custody of Maddy to Alex and drops the court case. Alex asks Paula to move to Montana with her; Paula agrees, but reneges the next day, opting to stay with Micah and encouraging Alex to pursue her future. Alex and Maddy depart for Missoula, finally free.

Production[]

Development[]

On November 20, 2019, Netflix gave production a series order inspired by New York Times best-selling memoir Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother's Will to Survive by Stephanie Land. The series was created by Molly Smith Metzler who was also an executive producer alongside John Wells, Erin Jontow, Margot Robbie, Tom Ackerley, Brett Hedblom, and Land. Production companies involved with the series consisted of John Wells Productions, LuckyChap Entertainment, and Warner Bros. Television.[3][6][7] Directors of the series included Wells, Nzingha Stewart, Lila Neugebauer, Helen Shaver, and Quyen "Q" Tran. The limited series was released on October 1, 2021.[4]

Casting[]

In August 2020, Margaret Qualley and Nick Robinson were cast in leading roles.[8][9] On September 14, 2020, Anika Noni Rose joined the cast in a leading role.[10] In October 2020, Andie MacDowell, Tracy Vilar, and Billy Burke joined the cast in leading roles.[11][12][13] On November 25, 2020, Xavi de Guzman joined the cast in a recurring role.[14] Aimee Carrero landed a role as Danielle, who is a fellow survivor of domestic abuse and becomes friends with Alex, Margaret Qualley's character, at the women's shelter.[15]

Filming[]

Principal photography for the series began on September 28, 2020, and concluded on April 9, 2021, in Victoria, British Columbia.[16]

Reception[]

Critical response[]

The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 94% approval rating with an average rating of 8.2/10, based on 48 critic reviews. The website's critics consensus reads, "Maid takes great care with its sensitive subject matter to craft a drama that is not always easy to watch, but undeniably powerful, grounded by an outstanding performance by Margaret Qualley."[17] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 82 out of 100 based on 19 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".[1]

Kristen Lopez of IndieWire gave the series an A and wrote, "We need more stories like this and, hands down, Maid deserves all the acclaim it gets."[18] Reviewing the series for Rolling Stone, Alan Sepinwall gave a rating of four out of five stars and said, "Parts of it are deliberately difficult to get through, yet the show is surprisingly watchable given the nature of the story, and at times even light and charming. Much of this is a credit to Qualley, who delivers a movie-star-level performance."[19]

Awards and nominations[]

Year Award Category Nominee(s) Result Ref.
2021 12th Hollywood Music in Media Awards Original Score — TV Show/Limited Series Chris Stracey & Este Haim Nominated [20]
2022 26th Satellite Awards Best Miniseries Maid Pending [21]
12th Critics' Choice Television Awards Best Limited Series Nominated [22]
Best Actress in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television Margaret Qualley Nominated
79th Golden Globe Awards Best Miniseries or Television Film Maid Nominated
[23]
Best Actress in a Miniseries or Television Film Margaret Qualley Nominated
Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Miniseries or Television Film Andie MacDowell Nominated
28th Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie Margaret Qualley Nominated
[24]
74th Writers Guild of America Awards Adapted Long Form Bekah Brunstetter, Marcus Gardley, Michelle Denise Jackson, Colin McKenna, Molly Smith Metzler Pending
[25]

References[]

  1. ^ a b "Maid: Season 1". Metacritic. Red Ventures. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  2. ^ Tallerico, Brian (October 1, 2021). "Incredible Performance Anchors Netflix's Moving Maid". RogerEbert.com. Archived from the original on October 1, 2021. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
  3. ^ a b Petski, Denise (November 20, 2019). "Netflix Orders Female-Driven Dramedy Series 'Maid' Produced By John Wells & Margot Robbie's LuckyChap". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on February 23, 2021. Retrieved August 20, 2020.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Lane, Carly (August 23, 2021). "'MAID': First Trailer and Images Reveal Margaret Qualley's New Netflix Series From Executive Producer Margot Robbie". Collider. Archived from the original on August 23, 2021. Retrieved August 23, 2021.
  5. ^ Malkin, Marc (November 9, 2020). "Nick Robinson Talks Overcoming COVID and His New FX Series 'A Teacher' With Kate Mara". Variety. Archived from the original on February 12, 2021. Retrieved November 12, 2020.
  6. ^ Otterson, Joe (November 20, 2019). "Margot Robbie, 'Shameless' Team to Adapt Stephanie Land Memoir 'Maid' at Netflix". Variety. Archived from the original on November 25, 2020. Retrieved August 20, 2020.
  7. ^ Goldberg, Lesley (November 20, 2019). "'Shameless' Boss John Wells Sets 'Maid' Dramedy at Netflix". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on January 3, 2020. Retrieved August 20, 2020.
  8. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (August 26, 2020). "Margaret Qualley To Headline Netflix's Dramedy Series 'Maid' Produced By John Wells & Margot Robbie". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on February 27, 2021. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
  9. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (August 28, 2020). "Nick Robinson To Star Opposite Margaret Qualley In Netflix's Dramedy Series 'Maid' Produced By John Wells & Margot Robbie". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on February 27, 2021. Retrieved August 28, 2020.
  10. ^ Andreeva, Nellie; Petski, Denise (September 14, 2020). "Anika Noni Rose Joins Netflix Series 'Maid' Produced By John Wells & Margot Robbie". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on March 8, 2021. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  11. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (October 2, 2020). "Andie MacDowell To Star Opposite Margaret Qualley In Netflix Series 'Maid'". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on April 30, 2021. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  12. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (October 9, 2020). "'Maid': Tracy Vilar Joins Cast Of Netflix Series". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on May 16, 2021. Retrieved October 9, 2020.
  13. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (October 13, 2020). "'Maid': Billy Burke Joins Cast Of Netflix Series". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on May 27, 2021. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
  14. ^ Del Rosario, Alexandra (November 25, 2020). "'Maid': Xavi de Guzman Joins Cast Of Netflix Series In Recurring Role". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on June 13, 2021. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
  15. ^ Chaney, Jen (October 1, 2021). "Maid Is a Stressful, Refreshingly Honest Portrait of Poverty". Vulture. Archived from the original on October 1, 2021. Retrieved October 2, 2021.
  16. ^ "DGC BC Production List" (PDF). Directors Guild of Canada. February 12, 2021. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 13, 2021. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  17. ^ "Maid: Season 1". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  18. ^ Lopez, Kristen (October 1, 2021). "'Maid' Review: Margaret Qualley Gives an Award-Worthy Performance in Netflix Limited Series". IndieWire. Archived from the original on October 6, 2021. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  19. ^ Sepinwall, Alan (September 22, 2021). "There's No Clean Break From Poverty in 'Maid'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on October 6, 2021. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  20. ^ "2021 Music In Visual Media Nominations". Hollywood Music In Media Awards. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  21. ^ Fuster, Jeremy (December 1, 2021). "'Power of the Dog' and 'Belfast' Lead Nominations for IPA Satellite Awards". The Wrap. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
  22. ^ Mitovich, Matt Webb (March 13, 2022). "Critics Choice: Ted Lasso, Succession Lead TV's Big Winners; Squid Game and Yellowjackets Among First-Timers". TVLine. Retrieved March 14, 2022.
  23. ^ Swift, Andy (January 9, 2022). "Golden Globes 2022: Succession and Hacks Lead TV Winners, Pose's Michaela Jaé Rodriguez Makes History". TVLine. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
  24. ^ Moreau, Jordan (January 12, 2022). "2022 SAG Awards 2022: The Complete Nominations List". Variety. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  25. ^ Schneider, Michael (January 13, 2022). "Writers Guild Unveils 2022 WGA TV Award Nominees: 'Yellowjackets,' 'Hacks,' 'Reservation Dogs,' 'Only Murders in the Building' and More". Variety. Retrieved January 13, 2022.

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