Netflix's breakthrough hit Maid left audiences reeling with its emotional depth, the awareness it imparted to the world about the lack of safety nets for abused women, and the compelling performances by Margaret Qualley, Andie MacDowell, Nick Robinson, Anika Noni Rose, and several other fantastic actors.
Apart from the obvious story arcs and locations that Alex traversed in her search for asylum and safe living conditions for Maddy and herself, the show was full of little hidden facts, details, and subtle happenings that the audiences could easily blink and miss.
Alex's Braiding Habit
Fans may not have noticed this, but Alex had a habit of braiding her hair when it came to facing difficult situations, whether it was a tough clean to finish in Barefoot Billy's house, a move-out clean, or stressful times with her mother.
When Alex was feeling relaxed or confident, she used to keep her hair in a loose half down hairstyle, and even accessorized with earrings and a smile. She was a brave character in Maid, but her little ticks often gave her nervousness away.
Danielle's Car
Alex's first friend, and one of the best characters of Maid, may have appeared on screen for a short period, but she was not one dimensional. She was at a domestic violence shelter, but she had a fancy Lexus that she drove Alex in so she could get her money from Regina. The car also had a suitable "Kiss Kiss" license plate.
Moreover, she also had some amazing blackmail and dog-napping skills, which made viewers question what Danielle's life really was like beyond her terrible relationship with her partner.
Maddy's Comfort With Alex
Alex's daughter Maddy, performed by the adorable Rylea Nevaeh Whittet, was attached at the hip quite literally with Margaret Qualley's Alex and grabbed at her like she would her mother.
This level of comfort and affection between the two actors was so natural looking that audiences took it for granted, but Qualley worked hard to build that bond with little Rylea — through playdates on weekends and cooking breakfast together before the show began so they could be well acquainted on set.
Alex's Mom Is Margaret Qualley's Real Mother
Similarly, the mother-daughter tussle between Alex and Paula was extremely realistic because Andie MacDowell (Paula) and Qualley are actually mother and daughter.
While their real-life relationship is not as contentious as the one they shared on screen, the two were perfect in Maid, as they both gave their absolute best performances and even when they were annoyed with each other, the warmth and the draw of a real relationship could be felt clearly.
Alex And Paula's Choice Of Partners
It's true that children learn a lot from their parents, especially how to be treated and the choice of partners that they make. Paula had the unfortunate knack of picking partners who either abused her physically and emotionally or took advantage of her and stole from her.
In some way, Alex had subconsciously learned to choose men the same way as her mother, and she ended up with an exciting but abusive Sean instead of a stable but boring Nate. It was a blessing that she realized early on that abuse is abuse, whether it left scars or not, and left Sean for a better life — one of the smartest decisions a character made on the show.
Regina's Characterization
Regina, the wealthy woman who initially looked down upon Alex but became her most trusted allies later, was based on a real woman that Stephanie Land, author of the book that Maid is based on, had worked for and written about.
Although Alex gave her another name, she was known as the "cigarette lady" in Land's memoir, and the connection between the two women was heavily fictionalized in the show.
The Subtle Breaking Of The Fourth Wall
Breaking the fourth wall doesn't always mean a direct look or talking to the camera. Maid did it brilliantly when Alex went through a huge sheaf of government documentation, none of which she could understand, except they screamed out sentences like "You are an unfit mother." or "You will lose this case."
Even the speech of Sean's lawyer and the judge at the ex parte motion hearing that Alex went to was just "Legal, legal, legally legal", slipping through the show and talking directly to audiences about how intimidating and difficult the system is made for women who need help.
The HAIM Soundtrack
A couple of songs by rockers HAIM featured in the show, especially when Alex was cleaning and listening to music. "Now I'm In It" and "Up From a Dream" were big parts of Maid, and it makes sense because HAIM's Este was one half of the duo that composed the soundtrack for the show.
The lyrics of the songs really fit the situation that Alex was in, and were great choices for the scenes. Other artists featured included Sharon Van Etten, Thom Yorke and Salt-n-Pepa.