“Maid” brings taboo subjects to light

The new Netflix series speaks on important conversations.

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Margaret Qualley and BJ Harrison in “Maid” (2021).

Jennifer Augusts, Correspondent

Netflix’s new series “Maid” tackles a variety of social issues, including domestic violence and economic class.

 Written by Stephanie Land and released last month, the show is about Alex (Margaret Qualley), a young woman going through a break-up with Sean (Nick Robinson), her boyfriend and father of her child. Her own mother and father are not stable and barely in the picture, but Alex works hard to get by.

Struggling with domestic violence and abuse, Alex decides to leave Sean because it would be the best thing for her daughter. They go to a domestic violence shelter as a last resort to avoid homelessness.

“Maid” does a great job of raising awareness about domestic violence by showing examples of what moms go through on a daily basis and highlighting the courage it takes to leave an abuser. The show connects with viewers on an emotional level, and for some, it may be a tear-jerker.

When her ex decides that he is going to fight for custody of their daughter, Alex realizes she needs a job and finds one at a local cleaning company. As the maid, Alex goes from house to house cleaning up other people’s messes.

In the course of her new job, she comes across homes of the extremely wealthy, decorated with elegance and class, and envies this lifestyle. The writer did an amazing job of contrasting the different lifestyles people have depending on how much they make. In one scene, a wealthy homeowner returns home alone on Thanksgiving while Alex is still cleaning. When Alex wonders why the woman is sad, the homeowner tells her she’s been having marital problems and her husband asked for a divorce.

She explains to Alex how she wishes things were simpler and she could just be a mother because that’s all she ever wanted. And although Alex wishes she could live her lifestyle, she realizes she loves being a mother and wouldn’t change it for anything. 

This connected with me — and will resonate with viewers — because you see how someone can have so much and still lack something they dearly want. The writer’s message comes through loud and clear: You can’t have it all.