Watching Netflix MAID: I don’t get what’s so wrong with her ex?

[MoonBaby1]

Okay, so he’s a flawed character but he’s got sober, he’s there for her and he loves her and her daughter.

He just supported her through her mums breakdown.

Am I the only one who doesn’t see why she doesn’t give Sean a second chance?

@Flamingo49

Also, I found the scene in the trailer when Sean gets her to sit at the table for dinner absolutely excruciating- I just wanted to cry at how helpless and hopeless it all felt

I felt the same in the scene where she gets 'dragged' into the back of the sofa.

I have a lovely life now, but I occasionally have bad dreams where for some reason I make poor decisions and I go back to past situations and people etc, which even in the dream I know I don't want...but I can't stop myself.

Not explained that very well. but that's what that scene reminded me of

I thought this was amazing.
I left an abusive relationship when I was 21 and my daughter was 1.
My abusive ex did hit me but was very charming to others.
This programme brought back a lot of memories and from the 1st scene Shaun reminded me of my ex.
My DD is 22 now and graduated from Uni.
I can't imagine where our lives would of went had we stayed.

I admit I felt the same.

I’ve only watched one episode though.

It was so well done. Your opinion will change

Okay, I stand corrected. It was very well done.

I watched this over 2 nights, compulsively. I grew up in an abusive home and have experienced DV as an adult. I have worked for WA and as a Psychotherapist.
I thought it was really exceptionally well made.

I don't agree with the OP, though I have watched it all but I can sort of see where the opinion comes from.
He could be ok, albeit temporarily and given her background she probably felt sympathy with him for his also abusive upbringing.
However, he wasn't her problem to fix, she shouldn't be abused and have their daughter go through it to help him.
Nate was horrible too, and her Dad was vile.
I wasn't a fan of her Mum either.

Alex was bloody marvellous, a brilliant mother, and example to Maddie.

Yes he did have a horrible childhood but so too did she, would have been very difficult to grow up with a mum who had an untreated mental illness as well as a dad who was abusive.

Emotional abuse is the hardest abuse to prove as it leaves no scars -except for mental ones and is therefore often minimised.

He was violent in episode 1! I wouldn’t accept someone throwing things at me, smashing things and screaming. He also tells her she can’t manage without him as she has nothing and no skills and so needs to stay with him as she will fail on her own. That behaviour is designed to humiliate her and make her feel worthless without him. It is controlling and abusive and absolutely not acceptable. Being charming and sorry is part of the m.o of abusers like him - he is manipulating and controlling her. Yes he has a complex backstory and yes he is also a victim of abuse - that doesn’t mean what he did is ok and that she should forgive him for what he did to her.

I thought this was quite clever as I would have agreed with you OP, then it escalates. It shows why women often go back to abusive partners.

Sorry OP I’ve just seen that you already said you stand corrected. Hate to be one of those people who just piles on for no reason!

I think this show is absolutely amazing at showing how complex and insidious abuse can be.

Agree. Such an excellent series, I learned a
lot from it

@Sagealicious

Yes he did have a horrible childhood but so too did she, would have been very difficult to grow up with a mum who had an untreated mental illness as well as a dad who was abusive.

Emotional abuse is the hardest abuse to prove as it leaves no scars -except for mental ones and is therefore often minimised.

I agree with all of this.

I thought that their shared history of abusive families was one of the things that tied them closely together and perversely that bond of understanding was one of the things made it even harder for Alex to leave.

I’ve got two episodes to go and am finding it really upsetting, just knock after knock after knock. 😭

Am really hoping it has a happy-ish ending