The Cleaning Lady

OK, there are few programs much less TV about cleaners, much less cleaners who are cleaners. This one works. Good acting and an interesting plot. Can they keep it up? Who knows? But a good start.

I truly feel for the original cast members who are still tied to this season. For those fortunate enough to have been part of seasons 1-3, you should count your blessings for stepping away while the show maintained its integrity. Unfortunately, the show's quality has taken a stark nosedive.

What initially drew audiences in was its heartfelt focus on family, loyalty, and love-universal themes that resonated deeply. Now, it has strayed far from its roots, morphing into an exaggerated and shallow mix centered on drugs and cartel drama. This shift not only undermines its original charm but also feels like a disservice to the Southeast Asian community, as it presents a portrayal that is neither flattering nor representative. It's disheartening to see a show that started with so much potential reduced to such a caricature.

This season fails to deliver, leaving viewers questioning where it all went astray. Despite the opportunity to start anew with a complete overhaul, the show misses its chance for redemption. The shift in showrunners, writers, and casting is especially disappointing-while the first three seasons showcased talented actors who brought authenticity and depth to their performances, this season relies on social media influencers who simply lack the same credibility and presence.

In the first three seasons, Chris wasn't depicted as a dancer, so it feels out of place for him to suddenly adopt this role. Likewise, Thony's proficiency in French was never previously established, yet she is now engaging in fluent conversations with a doctor presented as French, despite his rather unconvincing accent. To make matters more perplexing, the actor playing the doctor is South African and seemingly cast solely because his last name is "Bonjour." Wouldn't it have made more sense to hire an actual French actor-or perhaps avoid the French angle entirely?

The overuse of dancing sequences only adds to the frustration. Sure, a short dance scene here and there could have been a fun touch, but in every episode feels repetitive and unnecessary. It's like a bad soap opera. To make matters worse, the editing leaves much to be desired, making the season feel disjointed and chaotic.

However, what truly stings is the DISRESPECT shown towards Southeast Asian communities and immigrant doctors. Suggesting that trading a machine is equivalent to earning a medical license is both absurd and insulting. Many immigrant doctors come to this country with little more than hope, facing enormous challenges to support their families. They master a new language, rigorously study, and pass demanding exams to requalify-showing incredible resilience and determination. To trivialize their struggles in this way is an insult not only to them but to the entire medical profession.

In summary, this season is a disappointment that fails to honor its audience, its legacy, and the communities it portrays. A show that once held promise has sadly lost its way.

Totally get that. It felt like such a step backward, right? As a longtime fan of The Cleaning Lady, I wanted to believe Season 4 could weather the storm of behind-the-scenes losses and still deliver. But from the very first episode, it was clear: this wasn't the show I once rooted for.

The recasting of Luca-arguably the emotional heartbeat of Thony's world-was a jarring misstep. Gone was the child we'd seen struggle, grow, and anchor his mother's every decision. Instead, we were introduced to a noticeably younger version, played with a far more infantile tone. It felt like hitting the rewind button on one of the most hard-earned relationships in the show.

Add to that the irreplaceable absence of Adan Canto, whose chemistry with Élodie Yung was electric. His character's departure left a void that no amount of plot-twisting could cover. Without Arman and with a less compelling dynamic between mother and son, the narrative lost both tension and tenderness.

Season 4 tried to carry on, but the soul of the series had already slipped away. And that's what stings the most-it wasn't just that things changed. It's that the very heart of the story stopped beating.

Its been 2 and 1/2 seasons. It started off above average and is not sinking to the telenovela meets the worst soap opera possible of impossible scenarios. While the actors and production overall are certainly top notch, the continued same story line regurgitated with no end in sight is making it unbearable to the point where if it was not for the rest of the family wanting to see where it goes, I would have stopped in the middle of the previous season. I don't see why a more realistic script is not provided however it simply could come down to pandering to the very low expectations of the mass audience or the writers simply are not that good.