SPOILER ALERT: This post contains information from Season 1, Episodes 1-11 of Mistresses (US), as well as some information from Mistresses (UK).
Let's begin our social justice and mental health-informed exploration of pop culture with the US television series Mistresses. Based upon a UK series of the same name, US Mistresses was created by K.J. Steinberg, and stars Alyssa Milano, Jes Macallan, Rochelle Aytes, and Yunjin Kim as four friends who wittingly or unwittingly become "mistresses" in some sense of the term.
Before we go any further, let's unpack some of the impact and connotations of the series' unfortunate name. The word "mistress" can have one of several meanings, ranging from:
- a woman who commands, controls, or owns
- a female employer
- a woman school teacher, especially one regarded as strict or
- a woman who has an ongoing extramarital sexual relationship
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| Mistress Absolute, from a 2009 Guardian article. |
Existing etymological research is unclear on how and why a term as innocuous as "one who commands or controls," so quickly became synonymous with (a usually negative) term for a woman who has an extramarital affair. (Personally, I blame patriarchy, and its insidious and extensive reign across human cultures.) What is clear, however, is that as early as the 14th century CE, the two meanings had already been assigned to the same word.
US creator, K.J. Steinberg and UK creators, Rachel Anthony, S.J. Clarkson, and Lowri Glain definitely could have picked a less derogatory and controversial title for this series...aaaand, without the stigma (and therefore viewer interest) associated with women who have extramarital affairs, a television series featuring four women and their friendship may not have been picked up for air on major television networks. So, while I fervently wish the series' creators had selected a less disempowering title...I also understand (though do not excuse) the motivations that likely fueled the title's selection.
Next, let's shift to meeting the cast, beginning with the main characters in the order in which they are introduced to the audience.
For those familiar with UK Mistresses, Savi = Siobhan
Josselyn Carver (Joss), played by Jes Macallan, is a white, native US citizen in her late 20s/early 30s. Joss is portrayed as a ciswoman who is questioning her sexuality, with a mid-to variable socioeconomic status (SES), who has no known disabilities, and works as a real estate agent. Joss is Savi's younger sister, and Janet's daughter. The series presents Joss as independent, sexy, free-spirited, and adventurous, though sometimes short-sighted and lonely. In DBT terms, Joss often depicts emotion mind, or one half of the wise mind equation.
US to UK Mistresses conversion: Joss = Jess
April Malloy, played by Rochelle Aytes, is a black native US citizen in her mid-to-late 30s. April is portrayed as a widowed straight ciswoman, with no known disabilities, from a mid to upper mid socioeconomic status (SES), and who owns and runs her own home goods boutique. April is the mother of Lucy, and was married to Paul. The series presents April as loving, hard-working, responsible, and strong. In DBT terms, April often depicts "wise mind," or the integration of reasonable and emotion minds, with a slight emphasis on emotion mind.
US to UK Mistresses conversion: April = Trudi.
Karen Kim, played by Yunjin Kim, is a native Korean citizen and US immigrant in her mid-to-late 30s. Karen is portrayed as a straight ciswoman, with no known disabilities, who is from an upper socioeconomic status (SES), and works as a psychiatrist. Karen opened a psychiatry private practice with fellow psychiatrist Jacob, where Lila works as their support staff (see US only characters, below). She also treated Thomas Grey, senior partner of the law firm where Savi works. The series presents Karen as respected, level-headed, and bright, as well as a leader in the field of mental health outreach to Korean-American communities. In DBT terms, Karen often depicts reasonable mind, or one half of the wise mind equation.
US to UK Mistresses conversion: Karen = Katie.
Supporting characters:
Harry Davis, played by Brett Tucker, is a white native Australian citizen and US immigrant in his mid-late 30s. He is portrayed as a straight cisman with infertility issues, who is upper SES, and works as a chef and restaurant owner. Harry is also Savi's husband. The series depicts Harry as traditionally masculine, idealistic, loyal, and dominant.
US to UK Mistresses conversion: Harry = Hari
Dominic Taylor, played by Jason George, is a black native US citizen in his mid to late 30s. He is portrayed as a straight cisman with no known disabilities, who is upper SES, and works as a lawyer at the same firm as Savi. The series depicts Dominic as ambitious, successful, flirtatious, and more gender-fluid than some of the men in the series.
US to UK Mistresses conversion: Dominic Taylor = Dominic Montgomery
Thomas Grey, played by John Schneider, is a white native US citizen in his 50s. He is portrayed as a straight cisman, from an upper socioeconomic status, who worked a lawyer and was one of the senior partners at the law firm where both Savi and Dominic work. Thomas is the father of Sam Grey, husband of Elizabeth Grey, and was a patient of Dr. Karen Kim. He dies of cancer early in the series. The series depicts Thomas as successful, as well as somewhat duplicitous and "invigorated" by his cancer diagnosis, in that it prompts him to confess his love for Dr. Karen Kim, his treating psychiatrist, and to begin an affair with her.
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| John Schneider as Thomas Grey (US) |
US to UK Mistresses conversion: Thomas Grey
= John Grey (no pic of John Grey located)
= John Grey (no pic of John Grey located)
Sam Grey, played by Eric Stocklin, is a white native US citizen in his early 20s. He is portrayed as a straight male college student and aspiring photographer, who is from an upper socioeconomic background. It is unclear if he has any known disabilities, and his behavior seems more erratic than normal due to the recent loss of his father. Sam is the son of Thomas and Elizabeth Grey, and is depicted as somewhat troubled and obsessive, and seesawing between adolescence and adulthood.
US to UK Mistresses conversion: Sam = Sam
Elizabeth Grey, played by Penelope Ann Miller, is a white US citizen in her 50s. She is portrayed as a widowed straight ciswoman, who has no known disabilities, and is from an upper socioeconomic status. It is unclear if she works outside the home. Elizabeth is the mother of Sam, and was married to Thomas Grey. Elizabeth is portrayed as deeply hurt and reeling from the loss of her husband and discovery of his affair, and lashes out at those around her.
US to UK Mistresses conversion: Elizabeth Grey = Jemma Grey
Lucy, played by Corinne Massiah, is a 10-year-old black girl from an upper-middle socioeconomic status. She has no known disabilities, and is the daughter of April and Paul Malloy. Lucy is depicted as bright, resilient, loving, and independent.
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| Corinne Massiah as Lucy Malloy (US) |
US to UK Mistresses conversion: Lucy Malloy = Gina and Kathy Malloy
Paul Malloy, played by Dondre Whitfield, is a black native US citizen in his mid-to-late 30s. He is portrayed as a straight cisman, with no known disabilities, who is from a middle to lower-middle socioeconomic status and is employed in the software industry. Paul is Lucy's father, and was married to April prior to faking his own death. He is also in a long-term romantic relationship with Miranda, with whom he has one young son, named Scotty. Paul is depicted as struggling with the burdens of traditional masculinity, and wishes to provide more for his (first) family than he currently is. When he loses his job and has started a second family in another state he visits on "business," he opts to fake his own death in order to leave his first family a large life insurance settlement rather than to come clean regarding the struggles he has been experiencing and how he has betrayed April and Lucy.
US to UK Mistresses conversion: Paul = Paul
Miranda Nickleby, played by Kate Beahan, is a white native US citizen in her mid to late 30s. She is portrayed as a straight ciswoman with no known disabilities, who is from a middle to lower-middle socioeconomic background, and has worked various retail and administrative support jobs. Miranda is in a long-term relationship with Paul, with whom she has a young son, Scotty. Though she is well aware of the fact that Paul faked his own death, Miranda pretends that she also thinks Paul is dead, and tries to exploit April for a share of Paul's life insurance money. Miranda is portrayed somewhat two-dimensionally, and as concerned about her own family's survival, and willing to lie to and exploit others in order to guarantee her family's wellbeing.
US to UK Mistresses conversion: Miranda Nickleby = Sally Moore
Richard, played by Cameron Bender, is a white native US citizen in his mid to late 30s. He is portrayed as a straight cisman, has no known disabilities, works as a sports writer, and is from a middle to upper-middle socioeconomic status. Richard has a young daughter named Madison, and is also in a romantic relationship with April. The series depicts Richard as successful and warm, yet sending somewhat mixed emotional messages, which the audience later discovers may be related to his ex-wife's abandonment of him and their daughter.
US to UK Mistresses conversion: Richard = Richard
Madison, played by Madison Moellers, is a 10-year-old white girl from a middle to upper-middle socioeconomic status. She has no known disabilities, and is Richard's daughter, and Lucy's friend. The audience hasn't yet learned much about Madison, besides the fact that she's Richard's daughter and close to Lucy, and appreciative of the chance to have someone like April as a mom-like figure.
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| Madison Moellers as Madison (US) |
US to UK Mistresses conversion: Madison = Amy
Alex, played by Shannyn Sossamon, is a multiracial native US citizen in her late 20s/early 30s. She is portrayed as a lesbian or bisexual ciswoman with no known disabilities, who works as a yoga teacher, and is from a middle to variable socioeconomic status. At the beginning of the series, she is in a long-term relationship with Sally, and together, the two are shopping for a home, which is how they meet Joss. Alex is portrayed as kind, traditionally feminine, engaging, and funny.
US to UK Mistresses conversion: Alex = Alex
Sally, played by Tory Mussett, is a white native US citizen in her 30s. She is portrayed as a lesbian or bisexual ciswoman who has no known disabilities, is from an upper socioeconomic status, and works as a businesswoman. When we meet her at the beginning of the series, she is in a long-term relationship with Alex. Sally is depicted as bossy, more traditionally masculine than feminine, and somewhat emotionally cold.
US to UK Mistresses conversion: Sally = Lisa
Olivier, played by Mike Dopud, is a white native French citizen and US immigrant in his 40s. He is portrayed as a straight cisman with no known disabilities who works as a real estate executive and is from an upper socioeconomic status. Olivier purchases and manages the real estate agency where Joss works, and replaces the former manager with whom she had had a primarily sexual relationship. Olivier is depicted as intelligent, cosmopolitan, sophisticated, and unamused by Joss's strategy of using her sexuality to get what she wants in patriarchal environments.
US to UK Mistresses conversion: Olivier = Mark
US Only Characters
Jacob, played by Matthew Del Negro, is a white native US citizen in his late 30s/early 40s. He is portrayed as a straight cisman with no known disabilities, who works as a psychiatrist, and is from an upper socioeconomic status. He and Karen attended medical school together, and also opened a private practice together. The series depicts Jacob as funny, successful, somewhat interpersonally awkward and self-deprecating, and crushing on Karen.
Lila, played by Stacy Barnhisel, is a white native US citizen in her 30s. She is portrayed as a ciswoman with no known disabilities, who works as an administrative assistant at Karen and Jacob's practice, and is from a middle socioeconomic status. Though insufficient data is provided to determine her sexual orientation, it seems like she, too, might have a crush on Karen.
Anthony Newsome, played by Gary Dourdan, is a multiracial native US citizen in his late 30s/early 40s. He is portrayed as a straight cisman with no known disabilities, from a middle to upper-middle SES. Anthony is a retired police officer, and currently works as an insurance company investigator, which is the role in which we meet him. The series depicts him as no-nonsense yet personable, traditionally masculine, and surprise surprise--crushing on Karen.
Janet, played by JoBeth Williams, is a white native US citizen in her 50s. She is portrayed as a straight ciswoman with no known disabilities, and is from a middle to variable socioeconomic background. Janet is also Joss and Savi's mother. The series depicts Janet as independent, fun-loving, free-spirited, and rather irresponsible when it comes to her children.
Natalie Wade, played by Tehmina Sunny, is a Southeast Asian native British citizen and US immigrant in her early 30s. She is portrayed as a ciswoman with no known disabilities, who is from an upper socioeconomic status, and works as a lawyer. At Sam Grey's behest, Natalie represents Karen in court. The series depicts Natalie as a no-nonsense, truth-be-damned, fierce lawyer to be reckoned with.
Thus far, there is NO trans visibility and no positive disability representation in this series. There is also little SES variability, as most characters are presented as rather monied, and the few who aren't are primarily presented in a negative light (e.g., Paul and Miranda). There are 3 (maybe 4) female LBQ (lesbian, bisexual, or questioning) characters, which isn't bad for a primetime, mainstream television show, but no male GBQ (gay, bisexual, or questioning) characters. Where Mistresses excels, however, is in having a predominantly female cast, as well as a racially and internationally diverse cast. Out of 22 main and supporting characters, 4 are immigrants (18%), and 8 are people of color (36%). Minority visibility is the first step in the social justice direction, and Mistresses is definitely rocking this to a moderate degree.
Next up: let's examine how depthfully Mistresses portrays minority characters, as well as how ethically and accurately it depicts Dr. Karen Kim, its mental health professional character. Stay tuned! :)
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