TGE PREVIEWS: Workin’ Moms Season 5
It’s been a year since the last season of Workin’ Moms aired to save us from lockdown despair and our internal binge-clocks are ticking. For any readers who may be die-hard fans of the Netflix hit, here is what we know about Workin’ Moms Season 5:
It’s already out!
In Canada, that is. While Netflix snapped up the international rights to the show in 2019, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation has had first dibs on Workin’ Moms since it premiered in 2017. This means those lucky enough to have access to streaming service CBC Gem have had access to Season 5 since mid-February and… Well, excuse us while we get our emigration papers in order.
Not to worry though, the latest season should be streaming to international shores in the next couple of months or – hopefully – sooner.
Where did we leave off?
(Full disclosure: the rest of this article contains some spoilers of previous seasons.)
Season 4 was packed with the usual life-affirming and relatable moments that we’ve come to expect from the show. Jenny employs her feminine wiles to advocate for equal pay in the workplace; Frankie oversteps when questioning the reliability of Bianca’s sperm donor; Anne lands a book deal on parenting but loses control of her pre-teen; and Kate attempts the ever-constant farcical juggle of trying to balance work and motherhood.
Some favourite moments include Kate bungling a Forbes interview because of a headlice infestation and, later in the season, losing Charlie in a weed factory. The crux, however, has to be when Anne drops the bomb that she, Lionel and the kids are moving to Calgary to follow a job opportunity. This not only hints at another season, but also shakes the foundation of Kate and Anne’s friendship, which has always been a cosy cushion for the show to land on. Anne uprooting her family is, however, a convenient story line trajectory for future episodes, and one that fans are excited to follow.
What do we know about the new season?
With episodes titled “Pleasure Yourself”, “Mother Knows Breast” and “Finger in the Butt”, it’s obvious that Workin’ Moms Season 5 is going to live up to the comedic hype of previous seasons.
What we know for sure is that a new working mom, high-end publishing executive Sloane Mitchell, enters the fray. Played by Enuka Okuma, Sloane reportedly twists Kate’s rubber arm into a scary new friendship. There are hints that while Sloane positions herself as an ally to Kate, the friendship lands the show lead in some hot water. It sounds like an interesting new work dynamic that promises to bring all the drama.
New to the show?
Mucho apologies if you’ve gotten this far and you’re a Workin’ Moms virgin. But there’s still tons to enjoy! So let’s ease you into what all the hype’s about…
Created by lead actress Catherine Reitman and her husband Philip Sternberg (who together own production company Wolf + Rabbit Entertainment), Workin’ Moms tells the story of modern motherhood.
It follows four working mothers who meet at a mom-and-baby community group and leverage each unique story paths to showcase the grittier side of motherhood in the context of situational comedy. To date, nothing has been offbounds for the Workin’ Mom writers, who seamlessly weave key issues – such as work/life balance, sex, relationships, postpartum depression, mother-baby disconnect, abortion and marital problems – into the storyline.
The cast includes lead character Kate (Reitman), a prominent PR executive who struggles to come to terms with how her new identity as a mom fits into the bad-ass world of business. Kate’s best friend Anne (Dani Kind) is a psychiatrist mom-of-two navigating the choppy waters of being mom to a headstrong teen. Estate agent Frankie, who battles PND and a failing relationship in Season 1, is a hilarious dark horse whose character is as quirky and unpredictable as she is grounded and fluff-free. And former party girl Jenny is the character we’d all love to hate but somehow find endearing in a relatable way.
Together, the motley crew represent new motherhood with hilarious accuracy, taking the pressure of perfection off our shoulders and reminding us all that we’re all in the trenches together.
Admittedly, Working’ Moms has come under fire in the past for its lack of representation and privileged self-indulgence. Critics have dismissed it as trite and, at times, unrealistic. But there’s plenty room for continued growth and, in our opinion, the show already touches on so much while maintaining a healthy balance between entertainment and social commentary. It shines a spotlight on societal issues in fun, comedic fashion and never purported to be a political mouthpiece to begin with.
In short, the show is still worth a watch and we can’t wait for the international release of Season 5.
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