I have loved some of the others in this series, but found this one frustrating and whilst understanding her predicament, couldn’t empathise with her.
So Maria is feeling frustrated because she’s at a point in her life where the kids have left home, and are starting their own lives, she wants more adventure in her life, she wants to still feel attractive and wanted, and her husband doesn’t really feel anything needs to change, and is happy to keep plodding on into old age. Granted he hasn’t much get up and go, but he was doing what he’s always done and she’s the one that’s now changed the goalposts. Nothing wrong with that- but I feel like she should own that- rather than trying to blame him for still essentially being happy with the life they’ve built together; she can’t just expect him to want a sudden pace change just because she does. That’s not to say he shouldn’t make changes and make more effort in general, but big lifestyle/travel changes aren’t something you can just do to make someone else happy.
And then I lost any sympathy for her at the point she made the family meal so awkward (they both did to be fair) and then cried on her daughter’s shoulder about it. Ultimately it’s good that she left if it’s what she wanted, but I felt it was a sad situation and have more sympathy with her family than with her.
But maybe I’m missing something as I know other people loved this one? It did at least make me look at my own situation with 3 young kids and reaffirm to myself that I need to live for myself as well as for them, and also to chat to DH about our plans for when they’ve left home!! Would love to hear other people’s takes on this episode!