Skip to main content

The Letdown - S2: the baby became a toddler


The Let Down S2


Many months have passed since we last saw Audrey (Alison Bell). Stevie is now one year old, and Audrey keeps trying to put her life back together. 

(If you didn’t watch the show yet, consider stopping reading - spoilers ahead.)

Endless work


The sentiment of inadequacy and inferiority continues overwhelming Audrey, but she fights back. We can now see a different Audrey, trying to be more assertive and take control of her life.

However, it's a difficult task, and she is always afraid of others' judgments. In the first episode, you might get caught by surprise when she is worried about what people will going to think about the cutlery she uses in Stevie’s birthday party.

Motherhood seems to be easier for everybody else. It is, from the beginning, the most realistic part of the show. A new mom often feels so overwhelmed that she looks at other mothers and thinks it’s all easier for them.

Abortion


Season one ended with pregnancy news. After so much time (2 years), we almost forgot about it. Last season, I thought that the focus of this one would be the struggle of having two babies instead of one to take care of. It wasn’t.

Audrey had an abortion. Polemics, as it is, the topic is approached in many shows. However, the protagonist of such scenes isn't usually a woman who is already a mother. It is a curious fact since the statistics show that most abortions are performed on women who already have at least one child, making it an excellent choice for the production.

The experience was, as expected, traumatizing for Audrey, who is already so afraid of judgments. She deals with the situation by hiding it and pretending it didn’t happen. Throughout the season, she battles to accept her own decision.

Using her experience to thrive


After one year, Audrey is finally feeling more like herself again. She is starting to think about her life and her goals, beyond little Stevie. She is back to work and back to studying again. 

Everything seems so much harder now, and she, once more, feels inadequate and even old. Her experience, however, is priceless, and Audrey uses it as best she can in her new life.

A reality check


This season ended as well as possible. I love that they ended it like it had started - Audrey losing Stevie out of her sight. A new mom's class begins, the start of a new cycle…

I loved the doctor’s speech at the end of the episode. A little cliche, no doubt, but definitely, summarizes everything. That is how the modern world sees motherhood: it has to be perfect, or it’s shameful. But it’s never perfect, is it?

Overwhelmingly realistic


The show was produced by a woman (2, in fact), and maybe that’s why it feels so realistic from our point of view. 

Most men in the show are just extras or have a very secondary role. That was criticized, but I believe it is another way to show how we can feel alone at this stage of our lives. They are there, somewhere, probably trying to help, but we feel overwhelmed, and we just can’t see them.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Raising Voices - Why Alma's Mom Had the Right Reaction

  In Netflix’s Raising Voices , there's a raw, emotionally charged moment when Alma confesses to her mom that something happened the night she disappeared — she was drunk, she had sex, and something didn’t feel right. It’s the kind of moment that many parents dread. But Alma’s mom handled it in a way that deserves attention. She didn’t panic. She didn’t judge. She didn’t lose control. Instead, she met her daughter halfway, which made all the difference. What Happened in the Scene? When Alma opened up to her mom, she wasn’t just confessing — she was testing the waters for safety. Could she trust her mom with the truth? Would she still be loved after saying something shameful, scary, or confusing? Her mom’s response wasn’t perfect — but it was real. She was concerned, but didn’t explode. She asked questions. She listened. She let the moment breathe. Why That Reaction Matters Technically, what Alma described can be considered sexual assault , given her level of intoxication. Bu...
Post a Comment
Read more

Zero Day (Netflix): When Power, Fear, and Truth Collide

  What happens when society’s most terrifying vulnerability—our digital infrastructure—suddenly collapses?  Netflix ’s political thriller Zero Day dares to explore exactly that. Starring Robert De Niro as former U.S. President George Mullen, alongside Angela Bassett , Lizzy Caplan , Jesse Plemons , and Dan Stevens , this six-part miniseries blends conspiracy, paranoia, and deeply human drama into a story that feels both timely and unsettling. A Premise That Feels Too Possible The series kicks off with a catastrophic cyberattack that leaves the nation in chaos. It’s not just thrilling entertainment—it’s frighteningly plausible. Watching events spiral out of control, you can’t help but ask yourself: could this actually happen? Twists That Keep You Guessing From backroom deals to sudden betrayals, Zero Day is packed with sharp turns. You might think you know where it’s going, but the finale delivers a conclusion that’s both surprising and thought-provoking. Jesse Plemo...
Post a Comment
Read more

Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story - review

  While I found the pacing of Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story slow and, at times, even boring, the show shines in one particular area: its psychological depth.  What kept me engaged wasn’t the storytelling rhythm, but the way it explored two very distinct and haunting personalities under the same roof. Two Sides of the Same Violence The series captures the sharp contrast between Lyle and Erik brilliantly. On one side, we see the volatile, angry, and violent brother—unpredictable but outwardly dominant, always ready to explode. On the other side, there is the insecure, fragile “mouse” of the family—timid, hesitant, almost paralyzed by fear.  Yet, what makes Erik compelling is that under the right conditions, even he can lash out violently, especially when pulled into the orbit of his more aggressive brother. The dynamic between them feels like a nightmare recipe: one commanding, the other submissive, but both carrying destructive potential. The Many Shape...
Post a Comment
Read more