DEVIOUS MAIDS: The Summer Sudser to Watch

Lifetime launches Devious Maids tonight, and it just might become my favorite summer series. It promises viewers plenty of glamour, drama, intrigue, romance, and even a dash of schadenfreude.

The series begins at a ritzy party in Beverly Hills where Flora, the maid, winds up dead in the pool. Police quickly arrest a young man who was also in the house and seems to have been connected to Flora, but could murder be so simple? The short answer is no, and there we have the overall story arc for the season: who killed Flora, and why?

From executive producers Marc Cherry and Eva Longoria, Devious Maids bears the hallmarks of both Desperate Housewives and the telenovela that inspired it, Ellas son…la Alegría del Hogar. Early in the pilot, the melodrama borders on cringe-worthy, but by the midpoint the tone evens out and we can concentrate on enjoying a juicy mystery involving the beautiful, the rich, the sinister, and the nutso. A delicious reveal at the end, and a further reveal at the beginning of the second episode left me eager to speculate about the outcome of the mystery.

The titular maids are all Latina, which at first glance seems like perpetuating stereotypes, but these are no two-dimensional caricatures. Each of the women has a backstory that lead to the job, some have major ambitions, some have ulterior motives, and all are interesting, smart, and vibrant. I am particularly curious how the storytellers plan to integrate one of the maids in the future, once her secret is revealed. Talk about blasting stereotypes!

With a terrific cast, an intriguing mystery, and a glimpse inside the world of the rich and famous, Devious Maids is about to air some dirty laundry, and we get to watch. The series premieres tonight at 10/9c on Lifetime.

Cast: Paula Garces, Dania Ramirez, Roselyn Sánchez, Judy Reyes, Edy Ganem, Ana Ortiz, Mariana Klaveno, Grant Show, Susan Lucci, Drew Van Acker, Brianna Brown, Brett Cullen, Rebecca Wysocki, and Tom Irwin