Devious Maids: Season 1
Apparently, I am now a person who watches Lifetime series? Or at least, two of them.
Inspired by a telenovela, Devious Maids is about 5 Latina maids (Marisol, Zoila, Carmen, Rosie and Valentina) who work in Beverly Hills, focusing on their daily lives, along with a mystery about the murder of a 6th maid, Flora. I was a bit leery when I started seeing the previews before it aired, as it looked to be playing into stereotypes about "sexy and scheming Latinas subordinates," but got more hopeful when I learned Eva Longoria was involved. (In general, I loved seeing a higher percentage than usual of female names flash through the production part of the credits, but "Executive Producer Eva Longoria" made me squeal every time. Internally, but still.)
It does play up the stereotype, but it's also openly critical of the stereotypes it uses and has a deconstructive approach to many, despite its exceptionally soapy nature. And it really is very very soapy. It takes a couple episodes to really figure out its vibe, and once it does, there's unsurprisingly a strong feeling of Desperate Housewives at times, but not in a bad way. The POV of the show is also very definitely that of the maids, with their-mostly white-employers being presented from their perspective (sometimes lovable, often infuriating, almost always embracing their own privilege, even in their kindnesses) and I don't think it's an accident that employer consistently presented in the most sympathetic light is a former sex worker.
It's very well cast, but probably very telling that I went "she looks familiar..." with almost all the 5 leads, only to fin that i'd previously only seen them in one or two guest appearances. Granted, the only cast members I was really familiar with going in were Drew Van Acker because of Pretty Little Liars and Susan Lucci due to watching soaps as a teen. Unsurprisingly, Lucci steals almost every scene she's in, but they made a very wise choice of pairing her with Judy Reyes (Zoila) whose steady and commanding presence helps to balance her out.
I don't really have deep thoughts about the show, just a lot of enjoyment and affection, and appreciation for the things it chooses to do, and eagerly await season 2.
Inspired by a telenovela, Devious Maids is about 5 Latina maids (Marisol, Zoila, Carmen, Rosie and Valentina) who work in Beverly Hills, focusing on their daily lives, along with a mystery about the murder of a 6th maid, Flora. I was a bit leery when I started seeing the previews before it aired, as it looked to be playing into stereotypes about "sexy and scheming Latinas subordinates," but got more hopeful when I learned Eva Longoria was involved. (In general, I loved seeing a higher percentage than usual of female names flash through the production part of the credits, but "Executive Producer Eva Longoria" made me squeal every time. Internally, but still.)
It does play up the stereotype, but it's also openly critical of the stereotypes it uses and has a deconstructive approach to many, despite its exceptionally soapy nature. And it really is very very soapy. It takes a couple episodes to really figure out its vibe, and once it does, there's unsurprisingly a strong feeling of Desperate Housewives at times, but not in a bad way. The POV of the show is also very definitely that of the maids, with their-mostly white-employers being presented from their perspective (sometimes lovable, often infuriating, almost always embracing their own privilege, even in their kindnesses) and I don't think it's an accident that employer consistently presented in the most sympathetic light is a former sex worker.
It's very well cast, but probably very telling that I went "she looks familiar..." with almost all the 5 leads, only to fin that i'd previously only seen them in one or two guest appearances. Granted, the only cast members I was really familiar with going in were Drew Van Acker because of Pretty Little Liars and Susan Lucci due to watching soaps as a teen. Unsurprisingly, Lucci steals almost every scene she's in, but they made a very wise choice of pairing her with Judy Reyes (Zoila) whose steady and commanding presence helps to balance her out.
I don't really have deep thoughts about the show, just a lot of enjoyment and affection, and appreciation for the things it chooses to do, and eagerly await season 2.