Maid - Netflix

[CanofCant]

Just starting this. Judging from the trailers I will be crying and shouting at the telly in frustration before long.

@MyVaginaHatesMe

It was grim when Shaun brought his gf back to his and Alex was in bed with Maddie. That made me feel sick.

Yes

I binged this last week and it was the best series I've watched for a while. Can't criticise it at all. Amazing acting and really interesting characters. Surprised to see the comments about Andie Macdowell, I thought she played Paula spot on.

Also
I keep thinking why didn't she work in childcare?

@batmanladybird

Also I keep thinking why didn't she work in childcare?

Not qualified

@NannyR

I think this is brilliant, it reminds me a bit of "the pursuit of happyness" with Will Smith. I'm three episodes in and hoping things are going to get better for Alex soon. The little girl who plays Maddy is gorgeous and looks like she has a great bond with Margaret Qualley.

Also reminded me of that film. I'm not sure I can cope with watching it. I've done 1 ep so far

I found episode 1 the most harrowing. Don't get me wrong, the rest of the series isn't all sweetness and light but it's not a misery-fest either, so it isn't as hard a watch as episode 1.

This is the first series I have watched on netflix and really enjoyed it.

If I like this what else would I like?

I watched one recently called Unbelievable that was also based on a true story - different to Maid but had that sort of feel to me. It's about a serial rapist though so might not be your thing.

@jacquelinecarlyle I'm just watching The Bold Type now so loving your user name! Very different show to MAID but light relief hey (and Jacqueline is my favourite character)

The Bold Type is ace - love that it's all women supporting each other and no bitchiness or back stabbing but just going through stuff!

@JacquelineCarlyle

I watched one recently called Unbelievable that was also based on a true story - different to Maid but had that sort of feel to me. It's about a serial rapist though so might not be your thing.

Unbelievable is incredible though deeply disturbing.

@BlueFlavour I also escaped a DV relationship with a 3 year old (fluffy and blonde, like Maddie!) who is now 13. She was my everything, like you say. My comfort and home and the only thing that kept me going at the worst times. And when things got better, my little pal. We went on so many adventures together! I also wonder if children in that situation have a tendency to be more placid? It may be a level of shell shock. All children are different, I know but just as a point of comparison my other two (born into a loving relationship) have been much harder toddlers!

Anyway - agree with others - so moving and heartbreaking. And close to the bone. I sobbed with relief at the end of ep10 and I am still welling up at the thought of various bits of the series now. I imagine it will resonate with a lot of women who have escaped DV situations and hopefully will empower some women who are currently trapped in one, or for friends and family to be more clued up to spotting the signs and supporting.

@LittleWingSoul I agree that I hope it'll open people's eyes. Not just women but men too. I was basically Maddie so found some episodes, esp ep5, very difficult to watch (I grew up thinking the sun shone out of my dad's arse, but found out about the abuse and the real him when I was in my late teens).

Would highly recommend following Stephanie Land on Insta for those on there. She posts some brilliant stuff on domestic abuse support and knowledge. Can't wait to get the book for Christmas.

Agree @LondonGrimmer. Although my DH is well versed in this area due to my experiences, the Nate character still proved a talking point. Yes, a phone call would have been helpful but she did not owe him anything else. That was an abuse of his power. He did not have the right to choose who she had sex with, even if it was a bad call. If Nate had been a female character that would have played differently.

@LittleWingSoul
I hope you and your little pal are both happy now.
Dd has never met her bio dad. We have had some ups and downs, but we are ok now.

@BlueFlavour Yes thank you, she is 13 now, so a bit of a stroppy teenager but still my little pal! Glad you are ok now too

@LittleWingSoul

I am reading a book which has an abused character in it... she was abused by her father and then again in her marriage. She said that her husband was the first person to tell her she was beautiful and that he 'smelled like home'... 'that should have been a sign of what was to come'. I often wonder what it is that draws us to repeat patterns and what immense strength it takes to break out of that cycle.. like swimming out of a whirlpool that draws you back in.
"

Just binged this. It has really captured me. Brilliant acting from Margaret Qualley as Alex and the little girl Maddy was adorable.

The filmography was excellent, loved the count down of dollars and imagined flashes (Nate as the cowboy rescuer) and the location beautiful BC west coast light. I loved it.

Andi McDowell is not a great actress I think there is always too much of the eyebrows maybe it's just her face didn't fit the role but the portrayal did come across as a bit of a parody.

Lovely the lady in the shelter and all the women clicking in the group and how they began to share stories and raising their faces more each time.

Both her parents let her down massively ... and Sean ... all with their own stories of intergenerational abuse.

Hank was weak and listening to his lines about alcohol being a disease and helping Sean is all part of his own recovery. She had to be the one to break out of the cycle for Maddy.

I want to read the book now. I hope that's the end though and it was a one off.

I’m on the ep w the casino. It’s such a good series although it gets me shouting at the TV sometimes, esp at Paula!
I assume Paula is not properly medicated for her bu-polar (apart from smoking pot every 5 minutes), as she’d be a lot more stable if so (having had a family member with the illness).

i think the phrase was undiagnosed bi-polar

she should have called nate since he had her daughter in his house - i dont think he was a bad character, although he turned bad then

@MrsLargeEmbodied agree he was probably convincing himself he was coming from a place of kindness (which he partly was) and it came out then. She should have called him.

Also when he used the phrase 'you didn't come home', it showed that he felt some kind of ownership over her.

I grew up in an abusive situation, have received DV and UK state benefits as an adult. I have also worked with WA & been a Counseller. I thought it was simply excellent. All the characters were very believable and it was very well made.

Just jumped on the Maid wagon on Netflix. Can resonate with this so much.. Walked out the door of my exes house with just my daughter and 3 black bin liners. Crying.