Bear Hunt

Episode 8 of Maid Season 1 begins with the familiar sound of Sean breathing. Much like episode 1, Alex struggles to sleep but this time she’s in Sean’s arms on the ferry. Freaking out, Alex gets dressed and waits in the car, managing to get a lift from Sean to the island. ..

Sean starts to suffocate Alex in the morning and tries to keep her close all morning. When Alex finally shows up at Nate’s place, he is understandably upset and struggles to hide his jealousy when he finds out she has slept with Sean. ..

Alex’s mother is in a lot of pain and Alex is trying to cover for her, but the doctors are adamant this is what’s best. The alternative is that Alex would need to care for Paula, which isn’t really an option given her job.

Alex heads back to Sean’s place, where he’s made them dinner and Maddy has done some artwork to try and cheer her up. Alex has decided to stay at Sean’s temporarily too, just until she can afford a place of her own.

Sean decides to give up bartending and start doing carpenting, gaining inspiration from Hank to try and better his life. However, he wants to try and make amends with Alex too and live as a happy family again…which obviously isn’t going to happen.

Alex heads over to Regina’s house in the morning and finds her the worse for wear in the wake of baby Leo returning home. Regina is very clearly struggling, whispering and trying to stay quiet. Alex though effortlessly manages to put Leo down in the crib to bed, playing classical music.

Regina has post-natal depression and she’s struggling. Sobbing, Alex reassures the woman and encourages her to go and have a nap while she clears up.

With a new scholarship opportunity in sight, Alex is excited to get started on her writing career. She attaches excerpts from her journal to her application form, hoping that the admissions committee will see the quality of her work and give her the scholarship she needs.

Alex’s rollercoaster ride of emotion takes a turn for the worse. Value Maids, the company she was paid cash in hand for a gig with, have found out and are not happy. In fact, Yolanda fires her outright. ..

Alex, who is unemployed and has mounting bills, takes a long look at Maddy while they’re in Sean’s trailer. Eventually Alex decides to take Maddy out for a hike to try and get her mind off of things, disguised as a bear hunt. ..

Alex is a freelance writer who offers her services as a freelancer and gets paid by the hour. She put up flyers around town but unfortunately Sean slips into old habits later that day, suggesting they go back to sharing a phone again when she asks for cash.

Regina comes to the rescue by offering three shifts a week, paying $20 an hour, and with a guaranteed 15 hours. Regina also offers supplies and a ferry pass – which is a lifesaver in a difficult situation. Not only that though, Alex gets accepted for her scholarship at Missoula. When Sean finds out he snaps, confronting her and claiming she’s taking Maddy away from him. ..

Maddy and Alex are stranded in their home after Sean took their car. They wake up to find that Sean has given it back to Nate, leaving them stranded. They also find out that Sean grabbed Alex and threw her against the wall, telling her he’s late for work.

After Sean leaves, Alex slumps down sobbing, repeating the words “I’m so stupid,” as memories of Danielle and what happened to her come flooding back. Alex is trapped again, and going back to Sean has opened up that black hole beneath her once more, threatening to swallow her whole. And to make matters worse? Sean comes home with a six pack of beer. ..

The Episode Review

This episode of “Maid” was difficult to watch as Sean slowly slipped back into old ways, culminating in him sitting with a six pack of beer at home. This blow for Alex is particularly hard to take. ..

In the scene where she sinks into the sofa, the analogy is to wish the world would just swallow her whole. She remains positive for Maddy’s sake and there are a few glimmers of hope that she’ll come out of this in a positive light.

Sean continues to exert control over Nate here, giving him back the car and suggesting they share a phone, repeating that cycle of control that Sean wants to have over Alex. However, Alex slips back- even unwittingly- into his control and by the end, everything looks like it’s ready to come crashing down around her. ..

Alex losing her job and Paula slipping into a depressive mental state have added to the girl’s already difficult life. ..

With two chapters left, Maid has been a really special show but a difficult one to binge. Let’s just hope the ending completely knocks it out the park!