Madeleine Powell
Copy Editor
“Workin’ Moms” impresses with believable characters and realistic plot.
Netflix original “Workin’ Moms” attempts to show the realities of living as a mom in the workforce with its complex characters, intermittent humor and intriguing structure, but is unrealistic in its portrayal of each character’s privilege.
Released in 2017, “Workin’ Moms” details the struggles of 4 mothers in Toronto, Canada who balance having children with returning to work after maternity leave. The show stars Catherine Reitman as Kate, Danielle Kind as Anne, Juno Ruddell as Frankie and Jessalyn Wanlim as Jenny.
Created by Catherine Reitman, “Workin’ Moms” currently has completed two seasons, which are thirteen episodes each. The show is currently midway through its third season.
The variety of characters “Workin’ Moms” follows is refreshing as well as entertaining. Each mom has her own story that is equally interesting and addresses different aspects of the struggles of a mother trying to find the balance between work and family. Despite their differences, each character is cleverly brought together by the mommy-baby support group each of the mothers belong to, a clever method of tying together their vastly differing stories.
The point of view switches throughout each episode are an additional engaging element of the show that arises from the variety of characters that the show follows. The story will follow one mother for a time, then switch to another, promoting interest as viewers are continually drawn in by the different stories. Not every conflict a character faces is resolved within a single episode, but over a span of episodes, promoting long-term interest in the show.
The development of each mom’s relationship with her partner are another intriguing aspect of the program. Each couple experiences struggles and triumphs as they navigate parenthood and their own shortcomings. The show is realistic in its demonstration that no relationship is perfect, and this lack of glamorized love is refreshing.
Despite its strengths, however, “Workin’ Moms” is unable to recognize that not every mother is able to accomodate the things that the characters on the show take for granted. Mothers on the show are easily able to afford nannies, support their families on the income of a single person and continue to live in a wealthy area. If it were to accurately show the predicaments of mothers who cannot afford childcare while they were away, or to live in the absolute safest community possible, it would be a more accurate portrayal of life as a working mother.
That being said, the show does not shy away from serious topics, such as postpartum depression and infidelity. Despite its comedic mask that gives it an overall lighthearted tone, the struggles the characters face are very real, causing viewers to be highly sympathetic to the scenarios each character is facing.
“Workin’ Moms” succeeds in showing a refreshingly honest portrayal of the life of women who are both mothers and working professionals, adding interest with its comedy and depth of character, but is unrealistic in the privilege all of its main characters possess.
“Workin’ Moms” is rated TV-MA and is available for streaming on Netflix.
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