There are thousands of television shows available to stream at the click of a button these days, but there are some that hit harder than others. Case in point: Netflix’s Maid.
The 10-episode series followed a single mum, Alex, who flees an abusive relationship with her young daughter. She attempts to navigate the realties of a life of living below the poverty line, all while trying to gain full custody of her little girl.
It’s an eye-opening true story narrative that really hits home, driven even more perfectly by lead actress Margaret Qualley and mother Andie MacDowell, who plays her on-screen mother in the show.
At the series’ end, it wouldn’t be hard to pin-point why fans felt a void, desparate to be filled with another just-as-hard-hitting show.
That’s why we took it upon ourselves to source five things to watch that will strike a chord just as Maid did. Read on for our list.
Unbelievable
Based on another true story, Unbelievable follows a teenage girl who is raped. When she reports it to the authorities, two female detectives piece together the evidence to reveal the truth. It’s a haunting, devastating story that truly opens your eyes to the criminal justice system.
Watch it on Netflix here.
Gilmore Girls
If you loved the mother-daughter element to Maid, then Gilmore Girls is hands down a must-watch (if you haven’t already, of course). Following Lorelai and Rory Gilmore, the show spans for seven seasons of ups and downs.
Watch it on Netflix here.
Love Life
For something a little less heavy (though still offering plenty of drama) Love Life is the perfect show for anyone navigating life through their twenties. With each episode focussing on a particular stage—and relationship—of the defining decade, it brings a relatable, heartfelt lessons for anyone feeling a bit lost or overwhelmed.
Watch it on Stan here.
Ginny & Georgia
Much like Gilmore Girls, Ginny & Georgia focusses on the bonds that build and break a mother and daughter relationship. Single mum Ginny moves cities with teenager Georgia, and together they navigate fitting in, and growing up.
Watch it on Netflix here.
My Salinger Year
So it’s not a series, but if you loved Margaret Qualley you may be inclined to watch 2020 film My Salinger Year, where she plays an aspiring writer who seeks advice from a reclusive author. In actual fact, Stephanie Land, whom Maid is based on is a talented writer herself and actually wrote the book that inspired the series in the first place: Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay and a Mother’s Will to Survive.
Watch it on Foxtel here.
