Netflix’s Maid Review: Profound Take on Emotional Abuse

Maid, a limited series inspired by Stephanie Land’s memoir ‘Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother’s Will to Survive’ is now out on Netflix. Created by Molly Smith Metzler, it stars Margaret Qualley, Nick Robinson, Anika Noni Rose, Andie MacDowell, Tracy Vilar, Raymond Ablack and Billy Burke. There are 10 episodes of at least an hour.

The synopsis reads – After fleeing an abusive relationship, a young mother finds a job cleaning houses as she fights to provide for her child and build them a better future.

Netflix’s Maid Review Contains Mild Spoilers (Trigger Warning: Emotional abuse, alcohol addiction, dirty toilets)

One night, Alex (Margaret Qualley) leaves her partner Sean’s (Nick Robinson) house with their daughter Maddy. Alex can’t take her Sean’s alcohol addiction and aggressive behaviour anymore. She is, however, completely unaware that emotional abuse is also a form of domestic violence. In fact, she has no clue that Sean has abused her emotionally. The realisation only comes when someone else tells her.

After leaving Sean, Alex struggles to find a job and find shelter for her daughter. She shares a complicated relationship with her parents (Paula and Hank, played by Andie MacDowell and Billy Burke), who are separated. So they’re not the first option for her. After many setbacks, Alex finally gets a job as a Maid and a temporary place to live at a shelter for domestic violence survivors.

Maid on Netflix holds your attention from start to end. Alex’s personal and professional lives are both in shambles. However, she does receive help from a few people in coping with certain situations. The show mentions how some  DV survivors frequently return to their husbands. Alex makes the same mistake, only to learn Sean is a lost cause.

Physical violence towards women has been depicted in a number of shows and films. However, there aren’t many films on emotional abuse. A person’s behaviour and words can traumatise you without even hitting you. Sean, an alcoholic, is a solid example of this type of person. He “loves” Alex, but he treats her poorly. He’s verbally abusive, prone to rage, manipulative, and lies frequently. Alex realises she deserves a better life in the last episode, and it’s past time to quit living for others.

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Margaret Qualley makes you want to know Alex’s story because she is so strong and compelling on screen. Alex’s pain, resilience, and motherly love for Maddy are all well-represented by the actor. Despite everything that has happened to her and continues to happen, she is full of dreams and hopes. It shows that no matter how hard life knocks a person, they still want to keep going on. But it doesn’t mean they deserve to suffer, and that’s what her character has to realise soon.

Andie MacDowell as Alex’s mother Paula, is a free-spirited woman. You can’t detest her, even if she can be harsh to her daughter at times. Andie has done an outstanding job. Nick Robinson’s portrayal of Sean is excellent. It’s difficult to represent an abuser who is dealing with his problems. Sean lies and manipulates with such determination that I believed there was room for growth in him. Raymond Ablack, who plays Alex’s friend Nate, deserves special mention. He’s a wonderful character who adds a positive aura to Alex’s life.

Netflix’s Maid Review: Final Thoughts

Overall, Netflix Maid is a profound take on emotional abuse. Based on one of the best books, it is well-made, well-acted, and a must-watch.

Maid is now streaming on Netflix.

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