A New Take on Mother’s Day Streaming
As Mother’s Day approaches, streaming platforms are once again rolling out their curated collections and recommendations for movie nights and binge sessions. These selections often include a mix of popular shows and films that families can enjoy together. Some of the usual suspects around this time include The Nanny, Parks and Recreation, Never Have I Ever, Pride and Prejudice, and Gilmore Girls. Alongside these, nostalgic classics like The Lion King, The Princess Bride, and Freaky Friday are also making appearances.
This year, there’s an extra layer of excitement with the release of The Devil Wears Prada 2. The film has been heavily promoted with a range of Mother’s Day-themed brand activations, adding to the buzz around the holiday.
While these offerings are undoubtedly entertaining and well-researched, it might be worth checking in with the mothers in your life to see what they truly want to watch. Many mothers, including myself, tend to be hard on themselves, often setting high expectations for their own performance.
Instead of sticking to upbeat comedies, family-friendly animated features, or escapist romantic dramas, perhaps this year could be about offering something different. What if we provided content that showcases strong, complex female characters who challenge traditional notions of motherhood? This could be a refreshing change from the usual fare.
Strong Female Characters to Inspire
If I were curating a cross-platform content collection for Mother’s Day, I would draw inspiration from the pantheon of prestige-TV monster matriarchs. Shows like Arrested Development, White Lotus, The Bear, Empire, and Mad Men feature some of my favorite characters. These women are not always easy to love, but they are undeniably compelling.
For instance, consider Lucille from Arrested Development. Would you tell your kid he looks like a lizard in his glasses? Probably not. Then there’s Betty from Mad Men, who is cold, detached, and competitive. She might not intervene if her child was walking around with a plastic bag over her head.
Donna Berzatto from The Bear is another example. If you’ve recently driven a car into a house full of your closest relatives, you’re not alone. But if you haven’t, you’re doing better than her. Victoria Ratliff from The White Lotus is another character who might make you feel grateful for your own parenting style. And then there’s Cookie from Empire, who might make you feel even more appreciative of your own choices.
Confronting Realities of Motherhood
Mother’s Day isn’t necessarily the time to delve into why these characters do what they do or to analyze the pathologies or social conditions that may have shaped them. Instead, it could be a moment to offer the mother in your life a bit of a boost by highlighting how she’s better than some of these characters.
In recent years, there have been some compelling stories that confront the realities of motherhood. Films like If I Had Legs I’d Kick You and All Her Fault have tackled themes of maternal ambivalence and even horror, offering a more realistic portrayal of the challenges mothers face.
Apple TV’s Margo’s Got Money Troubles is another standout. Starring Elle Fanning and Michelle Pfeiffer, the show follows a cash-strapped young mother who starts an OnlyFans account to make ends meet. Fanning delivers a brilliant performance, especially in her comedic handling of the physical demands of early motherhood and online sex work.
Pfeiffer brings a unique energy to her role as the grandmother, approaching her character with a mix of reservation and regret. The show challenges preconceptions about motherhood, grandmotherhood, fatherhood, friendship, and online sex work.
With its kink, energetic sex scenes, and projectile body fluids, Margo’s Got Money Troubles might not be the typical choice for a “watch with mum” recommendation. However, it offers a big-hearted and unwholesome story that many mothers might find appealing.
Sophie Quick is the author of The Confidence Woman. Instagram @squickens
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