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Devious Maids: The Complete First Season
R1 - America - Buena Vista Home Entertainment Review written by and copyright: Ethan Stevenson (15th April 2014). |
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The Show
 A whodunnit murder mystery sets the stage for a skewering of the suburbs, which is rife with scandal and no one is as squeaky-clean as their finely polished parquet may make them seem. I suppose the title “Desperate Housemaids” would’ve been a little too on the nose? “Devious Maids” is a cable series developed by “Desperate Housewives” (2004-2012) creator Marc Cherry and executive producer Eva Longoria, based on an original Mexican television program called “Ellas son... la alegría del hogar” (2009-present). Before it was picked up by the female-leaning Lifetime network––which really is the perfect place for the show, with all its soapy impropriety––“Maids” was setup as a pilot at ABC. Although ABC ultimately passed on it, “Maids” has carried over some aspects of network television to cable: a decent-but-not-movie-quality cast, and the overall feel of a polished primetime production. Beverly Hills. A hellish home to the rich and famous, and at least the workplace of the little people who do their laundry and raise their kids. A place where everyone has secrets, and everyone else––especially the maid––already knows them. From housewives with coke habits to husbands who’re closet cases, to bastardized a phrase, as the saying goes, nobody knows anything in Hollywood; least of all, that everyone actually does. Evelyn (Rebecca Wisocky) and Adrian Powell’s (Tom Irwin) party is the talk of the town… or it will be, as soon as word gets out that their maid, Flora (Paula Garcés), wound up at the bottom of their pool, dead. Flora’s boyfriend, Eddie (Eddie Hassell), is the prime suspect, and seems the likely murderer considering he was found wandering around with a bloody knife in hand. But there’s more to the story, at least according to Eddie’s mother, Marisol (Ana Ortiz), a college professor. She’s so convinced her son didn’t do it, to prove her son’s innocence, she goes undercover as a domestic worker. In the employ of the Stappord’s, Michael (Brett Cullen) and Taylor (Brianna Brown), Marisol quickly befriends several other maids in the neighborhood who might’ve known Flora best. There’s Zoila (Judy Reyes) and her daughter Valentina (Edy Ganem), who both work for the giddy Genevieve Delatour (Susan Lucci), a slightly slow-witted socialite; Rosie (Dania Ramirez), housekeeper and nanny for Hollywood power couple Spence (Grant Show) and Peri Westmore (Mariana Klaveno); and Carmen (Roselyn Sanchez), who took a job cleaning the mansion of a music producer (Matt Cedeño) in the hopes of getting noticed… and maybe a record deal. The lives of these women, and their employers, are as messy as the homes they clean are spotless. Amidst all the domestic drama––from affairs and abortions to cancer, closet cases, and just plain old crappy parenting––Marisol must find a killer without becoming a victim herself. Credit where it’s due: while silly, and simple and singularly-minded towards soapy salaciousness, the series gives considerable time to the actresses and their characters development, allowing them to carve out distinct personalities, and most interestingly, touch on more serious topics, like how lines between families blur for domestics and those in their care. But at the end of the day, "Maids” is basically a “Desperate Housewives” redux, only this time the story of who-killed-me is told from the perspective of the help instead of the rich b*tches who pay them. If “Desperate” was a daytime soap opera in broadcast primetime, then “Devious” is an telenovela time shifted to basic cable, replete with ridiculously overwrought histrionics that border on (unintentional?) comedy. It’s moderately entertaining on a trashy and wholly superficial level. To that end, I totally understand why it’s been a hit for Lifetime and their core demographic. I’ll even give it points for featuring a fine cast of capable Latina actresses in reasonably well rounded roles. And for following through with it's serialized mystery plot, which is resolved by season’s end. But even as a fan of high camp, passingly compelling mystery, and socio-economic ramifications of institutional stratification (uh... maybe not so much the last one), there’s little here I personally enjoyed. I don't know why, really. Actually, I do. This is the sort of show your mother or grandmother would enjoy… which is why its on Lifetime, where it’s doing great. “Devious Maids: The Complete First Season” includes 13 episodes spread across 3 discs. 4 episodes each on discs 1 and 3; 5 episodes on disc 2. Episodes run approximately 42 minutes with credits. Episodes are: - “Pilot”––The society event of the season is marred when the hosts Evelyn and Adrian Powell's maid, Flora, is murdered. Her friends lean on each other for support. Newlyweds Taylor and Michael Stappord hire Marisol as their new maid. But Marisol has a secret motive, someone she loves is caught up in Flora's murder, and going undercover as a maid is the only way to find the truth. - “Setting the Table”––Valentina continues her pursuit of Remi Delatour (Drew Van Acker) despite Zoila's objections; Marisol looks for anyway to continue her spying at the Powell home; Rosie is stuck in the middle of Peri and Spence's fights. - “Wiping Away the Past”––Oliva Rice (Valerie Mahaffey) exposes a juicy detail about Taylor's past. Adrian attempts to boost a friend's spirits. Valentina and Genevieve do their best to get Remi to notice Valentina. Rosie gets help from Spence. A music producer sets a meeting with Carmen. - “Making Your Bed”––Genevieve's brother makes things difficult for Zoila. Rosie makes a decision to help Spence. Carmen attends Alejandro's party as a guest. Marisol proffers to help out at the Powell's fundraiser. - “Taking Out the Trash”––Someone from Carmen's past makes an appearance at Alejandro's. Valentina does her best to rein in her feelings. Details about Flora are revealed. Peri is sure Spence is having an affair. Important birthdays are observed for Evelyn and Adrian. - “Walking the Dog”––Genevieve's financial woes puts Zoila's job at risk. With Zoila's urging, Genevieve goes to her ex-husband Philippe (Stephen Collins) for help. Marisol makes a breakthrough at the Powell's. - “Taking a Message”––Marisol's cover might be blown when a former student recognizes her at the grocery store. Valentina figures out what's up with Remi and asks Zoila for help. - “Minding the Baby”––Genevieve keeps her real age a secret from her new boyfriend. Rosie is hired to work at the Powells. Taylor takes Marisol with her to a fertility clinic. - “Scrambling the Eggs”––Marisol is wary of Michael after she discovers some new information about Flora. Alejandro's reaction to manager Odessa Burakov's (Melinda Page Hamilton) cancer doesn't sit well with Carmen. - “Hanging the Drapes”––Valentina is anxious about Remi's return and whether he will hate her. Marisol learns that Eddie was into some very disreputable behavior. Alejandro asks a favor of Carmen. Taylor and Michael disclose some thrilling news. - “Cleaning Out the Closet”––Alejandro and Carmen are at odds over his new relationship with Scott (Peter Porter). Marisol is closer to the truth about Flora's death, but Taylor and Michael catch her eavesdropping and become suspicious. - “Getting Out the Blood”––Marisol's in danger as she proceeds to dig deeper into Flora's murder. Peri decides to bring Rosie's son up from Mexico in order to make amends. Zoila disapproves of Philippe's renewed relationship with Genevieve. A decision made by Remi puts Valentina in a difficult position. - “Totally Clean”––In the season finale, the mystery surrounding Flora's death comes to light.
Video
"Devious Maids" looks pretty good, even for a standard definition presentation. The 1.78:1 anamorphic enhanced widescreen transfer offers a vivid view, awash in the bold colors of lush green lawns and palms, azure skies and pools, and blood red cocktail dresses... and, well, blood. The picture is surprisingly natural; skin tones are only as orange as a character's possible fake tan; there’s ample depth from solid contrast, including a consistently rich black level, and very little overzealous color correction/tinting at work. Within the confines of DVD, which means there some artifacts on closer inspection and never quite the resolution for fine detail, the resulting image is quite impressive. Shot digitally, each episode has an appreciably sharp and generally clean appearance, and upconverts rather well, perhaps never besting actual HD but coming convincingly close quite often. I wonder if this might be a rare case where the lower resolution actually hides some of the gaudy diffusion presumably in play with a primarily female cast? If there is softening at work, there might not be much of a difference in facial detail between formats.
Audio
“Devious Maids: The Complete First Season” features an English Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack, with optional subtitles in English, French, and Spanish. The basics are good; clear dialogue, and there are no major anomalies to report. The mixers have done an admirable job in trying to spread the wealth, or sonic real estate, by pulling the flamenco and salsa guitar heavy score by composer Ed Shearmur into the rears, which adds energy to a tidy but otherwise bland front-loaded track.
Extras
8 skippable deleted/extended scenes, a short and entirely superficial featurette, a blooper reel, and a few bonus trailers and previews are spread across the set’s three discs. DISC ONE: 4 deleted scenes (1.78:1, enhanced widescreen) from various episodes are included on disc one: – “Mi Vida: Extended Scene” (4 minutes). – “A Vicious Attack” (24 seconds). – “Pain in the…” (35 seconds). – “The Pantry and Pablo” (35 seconds). Pre-menu bonus trailers and promos are for: – “Castle: The Complete Fifth Season” on DVD (1.78:1, enhanced widescreen; 59 seconds). – “Once Upon A Time: The Complete Second Season” on Blu-ray and DVD (1.78:1, enhanced widescreen; 1 minute 1 second). – “Revenge: The Compete Second Season” on DVD (1.78:1, enhanced widescreen; 59 seconds). – ABC TV on DVD promo (1.78:1, enhanced widescreen; 1 minute 1 seconds). DISC TWO: 3 deleted scenes (1.78:1, enhanced widescreen) from various episodes are included on disc two: – “We’re Invisible” (1 minute 21 seconds). – “Poor Mrs. Delatour” (1 minute 14 seconds). – “There’s a Secret Room” (26 seconds). DISC THREE: The final disc includes one extended scene, “Rosie’s Decision” (1.78:1, enhanced widescreen; 1 minute 17 seconds). “Devious Maids 30310” (1.78:1, enhanced widescreen; 4 minutes 24 seconds) is a short, superficial featurette with the cast and crew talking up Atlanta, Georgia––where the series is filmed. An overlong blooper reel (1.78:1, enhanced widescreen; 3 minutes 23 seconds) has also been included.
Packaging
ABC Studios and Disney/Buena Vista Home Entertainment bring “Devious Maids: The Complete First Season” to DVD in a 3-disc set. Pretty standard stuff; the usual cardboard slip-cover, and each DVD-9 is mounted on a hub. Region 1 locked.
Overall
The faintest of praise I can conjure is this: "Devious Maids” is the sort of television series your grandmother loves. I know for certain that mine does, because I made the mistake of mentioning the show in passing recently, and she nearly talked my ear off––essentially recapping the entire first season I’d just watched, and then promptly asked me to help set her DVR for season two. Even as someone who enjoys high camp and intentional histrionics on occasion, I wasn’t as easily won over as my gran was. The series is super soapy and, as comes with that territory, salacious and scandalous while at the same time almost comically overwrought. It’s cast well, and is s generally polished production, but a bit too much like a better budgeted American version of a cheap telenovela… which it, in point of fact, is. The DVD release of the first season offers vivid video, acceptable audio, but comes up short on bonus content.
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