Maid has got it made!

Courtesy of SpoilerTV

When I first heard about the book Maid (which I never got around to reading) becoming a TV series, I was curious to check it out. A few friends recommended it, as well. I was hooked from the very beginning of the first episode and then taken on this emotional ride throughout all ten of them. Margaret Qualley was fantastic as Alex and her performance was flawless throughout. If she doesn't get an Emmy for this next year, I will be completely shocked. 

I will be posting spoilers after the trailer, but here are some reasons to watch it, if you haven't yet thought to do so.

1. Margaret Qualley and Andie MacDowell are not only mother and daughter on the show, but also in real life. (Margaret even looks like her mom did at that age!)

2. The little girl who plays Maddy is so adorable! I was impressed that she was played by one actress the entire time, instead of twins. I love how she only wanted to listen to "Shoop" (brings back 90s memories) and that she had this mermaid doll named Shmariel.

3. It's impossible to not get emotionally invested. 

4. There are some actors who you may recognize aside from Margaret and Andie. Nick Robinson from Love, Simon plays Alex's ex-boyfriend. Raymond Ablack from Degrassi and Ginny and Georgia plays Alex's friend. Anika Noni Rose, who has performed on stage and also did the voice of Tiana in The Princess and the Frog, plays a woman who Alex cleans for and later becomes a confidant to. Erin Karpluk from Being Erica and A Million Little Things plays a small role, as well. (I was also excited to find out that Jessica Steen, from my favorite movie, Sing, also has a small role.) If you are ready to read the spoilers, I found two other people I recognized. :)

5. It's just such an interesting story and stays that way the entire time. Seeing Alex trying to get back on her feet is worthy of cheering on every time she has a win and then you want to cry for her each time she experiences a setback. 

6. This show will stay with you for a long time. It will also help you see what you take for granted. 

Funny story: One night we were watching an episode and our younger son came downstairs to tell us he was going to take a bath. Right after that, Alex told Maddy it was time to take a bath. Such funny timing!

**Please keep in mind that there are triggers for abuse/domestic violence throughout the series.**

Watch the trailer:

 

Thoughts with spoilers:

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1. There were so many times I wanted to reach through the screen and slap Alex's mom and dad. Mostly her mom, but definitely her dad by the end. One of the first was when her mom and Basil took Alex out for dinner and then expected her to pay for everything when she barely had a dollar to her name! My husband said that her mom was like an older version of Kimmy Gibbler from Full House. Her dad really infuriated me at the end when he wouldn't stand up for Alex in regards to Sean being emotionally abusive.

2. I like how there were some symbolic things and how we'd view the story from Alex's mind, like when they were in court and people kept saying "legal, legal, legal..."

3. I loved her friend Danielle and was so sad that she went back to her abusive relationship and then pretended not to know Alex when they ran into each other later on. 

4. I really liked how Regina came around and helped Alex later on. I think she really did see Alex as more than a maid, even when Yolanda had told Alex otherwise.

5. There were so many things that were just so frustrating, like all the hoops Alex had to jump through. Or when a client cancelled and then Alex lost payment from that. 

6. Sean was so infuriating overall, but he had some redeeming moments that most other guys in his position are too selfish to even consider. 

7. I really liked Denise, who ran the DV shelter. I was sad to find out that she was also a victim and her happiest day story was so harrowing. 

8. The show had some funny moments to balance out all the darkness, which I appreciated.

9. That one house Alex had to clean was so disgusting. I couldn't even imagine having to deal with all that. Also, the time when she was in another house and got stuck in that crawlspace was so anxiety-provoking. I hate the idea of getting trapped into a small space like that.

10. I love how Alex was helping the woman who was a hoarder and how she helped Alex in turn with building up her business and starting to get back on her feet some more. 

11. I liked when they would show how much Alex was spending and how the amount of money she had kept dwindling. It made things feel even more desperate for her.

12. I loved the montage with "Don't Stop Me Now" by Queen. It was such an uplifting moment.

13. I recognized two minor actors from The Baby-Sitters Club in small parts on this show. One was the girl playing the piano at one of the houses where Alex was cleaning. She was the girl in "Kristy and the Snobs." The woman Alex rented the nice house from (that Sean got her kicked out of) was Stacey's doctor in "Stacey's Emergency."

14. The boutique at the DV shelter made me think of a non-profit in our area where I have volunteered a couple of times. Having volunteered, I understand why they made it feel like an actual store.

15. In the last two episodes, Regina helps Alex secure a pro-bono lawyer who really helps her out with the whole custody situation so that Alex can move to Montana with Maddy. I have taken to calling her a "magic fairy lawyer." I know people who could really use someone like this, particularly one of my close friends. So if anyone has connections to a "magic fairy lawyer" in Maryland, please let me know and I will share the information with my friend. 

I'd love to hear your thoughts on Maid! Please feel free to share them in the comments.

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