Must-watch for: Fans of Catastrophe , The Letdown , SMILF , or anyone who wants to laugh and cry within the same 22-minute episode.
The cast of "Workin' Moms" delivers standout performances, bringing depth and complexity to their characters. Catherine Reitman's portrayal of Jenny, a struggling working mother, is particularly noteworthy. Reitman's performance is both humorous and heartbreaking, capturing the character's vulnerability and resilience.
Here’s an informative post about Workin’ Moms Season 1, written in a blog/review style suitable for social media or a parenting forum.
What makes Season 1 stand out is its commitment to "the ugly truth." It addresses topics that were previously considered taboo for sitcoms. You see the physical toll of pumping in office supply closets. You feel the sting of being passed over for a promotion because of "mom brain" assumptions. The show succeeds because it treats its characters as multifaceted humans who happen to be mothers, rather than just mothers who happen to have jobs. Workin- Moms - Season 1
Created by Catherine Reitman and based largely on her personal experiences, Workin' Moms (Season 1)
Workin’ Moms is not The Letdown (which is gentler). It is not Bad Moms (which is a fantasy). It is a gritty, Toronto-centric, brutally honest autopsy of the first year of parenthood.
Frankie is an eccentric, lovable real estate agent suffering from severe postpartum depression (PPD). While the other women deal with existential dread, Frankie is fighting a chemical and emotional battle. Her character provides the show's darkest comedic moments while highlighting the very real, often hidden dangers of PPD. Key Themes Explored in Season 1 1. The Myth of "Having It All" Must-watch for: Fans of Catastrophe , The Letdown
The first season introduces us to four very different women navigating a judgmental "Mommy and Me" group in Toronto. Kate Foster, a high-flying PR executive, struggles to balance her competitive nature at work with the guilt of leaving her son. Her best friend Anne, a psychiatrist, deals with the unexpected news of a second pregnancy while trying to manage her defiant daughter. Meanwhile, Jenny faces a disconnect with her husband and her new role as a mother, and Frankie battles severe postpartum depression while trying to keep her real estate career afloat.
First broadcast on Canada's CBC Television before finding a massive international audience via Netflix, Season 1 explores the structural flaws of the "having it all" myth. The season captures the profound identity crisis that occurs when maternity leave ends and the workplace calls. The Central Premise: The Mommy-and-Me Group
Since its debut in 2017, Workin’ Moms , created by and starring Catherine Reitman, has been lauded for its raw, often uncomfortable honesty about early motherhood. Season 1 (comprising 13 episodes of approximately 22 minutes each) follows four Toronto-based mothers navigating the return to work after maternity leave. Unlike idealized portrayals in shows like Full House or the guilt-ridden melodrama of Bad Moms (2016), Workin’ Moms leverages cringe comedy and situational absurdity to expose the gap between societal expectations of motherhood and lived reality. You see the physical toll of pumping in
Frankie is a high-powered real estate agent who is unraveling. Season 1 deals heavily with Frankie’s postpartum depression and anxiety. Unlike Kate’s career stress, Frankie’s struggle is existential. She feels disconnected from her baby and her wife, Giselle. Her arc is the emotional heart of the season, showcasing that success doesn’t shield you from the baby blues.
Season 1 received praise for its authentic representation of PPD and its diverse (though predominantly upper-middle-class) cast. However, critics have noted class and racial blind spots: all four leads are financially comfortable, able to afford therapy and nannies. The show largely ignores single mothers, immigrant mothers, and those in precarious work. Additionally, the narrative resolution for Kate (reconciling with her husband after an affair) feels rushed, potentially undermining the season’s anti-romantic stance.
Workin’ Moms (CBC, 2017–present) emerged as a groundbreaking sitcom that challenges traditional, sanitized portrayals of motherhood. This paper analyzes Season 1, focusing on its unflinching depiction of postpartum depression (PPD), maternal ambivalence, the renegotiation of professional identity, and the de-romanticization of the “good mother” trope. Through the four central characters—Kate, Anne, Frankie, and Jenny—the series employs dark humor and cringe comedy to expose the systemic lack of support for working mothers. The paper argues that Season 1 functions as a feminist counternarrative to neoliberal “mommy culture,” revealing how postfeminist discourses of choice and empowerment fail to address structural inequities in childcare, mental healthcare, and the labor market.
Before Workin' Moms became a global hit on Netflix, its creator, Catherine Reitman, was a new mother navigating her own identity crisis. Returning to work just six weeks after giving birth, Reitman experienced what she describes as "brutal" postpartum depression and a profound loss of self. "I remember feeling like I didn’t know who I was anymore," she recalled.
“Four moms, zero filters. Postpartum hormones, career spirals, friendship betrayals, and one very aggressive mommy-group exit. It’s not aspirational — it’s real . And that’s why it’s brilliant. Season 1 sets the tone: motherhood is chaos, and you’re allowed to laugh through it.”