| Muse | |
|---|---|
| Genre | |
| Created by | Kayden Kross |
| Written by | Kayden Kross |
| Directed by | Kayden Kross |
| Starring |
|
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 11 |
| Production | |
| Editor | Duboko |
| Production company | Deeper |
| Original release | |
| Release | September 18, 2020 (2020-09-18) – October 21, 2021 (2021-10-21) |
Muse is a pornographic drama series written and directed by Kayden Kross, and produced by Deeper, and distributed by Pulse Distribution. It stars an ensemble cast that includes Maitland Ward, Adriana Chechik, Gianna Dior, Lena Paul, Scarlit Scandal and Manuel Ferrara. The series has received overall positive feedback from the industry, winning dozens of major industry accolades.
The first season was released on September 18, 2020, and the second on September 16, 2021. The first season received eleven nominations at the 38th AVN Awards, winning seven, including Grand Reel, Best Screenplay and Best Directing – Drama for Kross, Best Actress for Ward, and Best Editing for Duboko. For her performance, Ward won two XBIZ, XRCO and XCritic Awards for Best Actress.
Episodes
| Season | Episodes | Originally aired | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First aired | Last aired | |||
| 1 | 5 | September 18, 2020 (2020-09-18) | October 15, 2020 (2020-10-15) | |
| Special | November 12, 2020 (2020-11-12) | |||
| 2 | 5 | September 16, 2021 (2021-09-16) | October 21, 2021 (2021-10-21) | |
Season 1 (2020)
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Starring | Original release date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "Episode 1" | Kayden Kross | Maitland Ward, Dante Colle | September 18, 2020 (2020-09-18) | |
| Acclaimed author, documentary filmmaker, professor, and—Infamously—an activist formerly employed in the sex industry, Maitland Ward’s notoriety precedes her. An educator at heart, she is quick to direct the discussion forward, and to exact discipline wherever necessary. | ||||||
| 2 | 2 | "Episode 2" | Kayden Kross | Gianna Dior, Scarlit Scandal, Rob Piper | September 24, 2020 (2020-09-24) | |
| Scarlit is torn between her obligations as a daughter and desire to follow her own path. When she decides to lean into the conflict she finds at the center, an idea strikes. Gianna and Rob help execute it. Lena grapples with the demands of her son. Adriana is inspired by a cord of rope found in Seth’s bedroom. Maitland examines the emotional payoff of libertinism. | ||||||
| 3 | 3 | "Episode 3" | Kayden Kross | Adriana Chechik, Maitland Ward, Isiah Maxwell, Sly Diggler | October 1, 2020 (2020-10-01) | |
| Adriana’s relationship hits a breaking point, sending her running to the only doorstep she can think of in the city. Maitland answers. The two men just behind her wait patiently. Gabbie finishes her work in a rush of inspiration. | ||||||
| 4 | 4 | "Episode 4" | Kayden Kross | Lena Paul, Troy Francisco | October 8, 2020 (2020-10-08) | |
| As the due date looms, each student takes another look at their approach to the project. Adriana must make a choice. Lena finds a way to make space for herself again. Maitland drives the lesson forward. | ||||||
| 5 | 5 | "Episode 5" | Kayden Kross | Adriana Chechik, Seth Gamble | October 15, 2020 (2020-10-15) | |
| Resigned to return to her hometown, Adriana relies on Seth’s help to get back. Seth begs her to finish their work before she goes. For everyone, the assignment comes due. Maitland clicks through, and in the process finally pairs a face with the struggle she’s felt. | ||||||
Special (2020)
| No. overall | Title | Directed by | Starring | Original release date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | "Continuum" | Kayden Kross | Maitland Ward, Manuel Ferrara | November 12, 2020 (2020-11-12) | |
| Maitland brings the lesson around on her way to surrendering to the man she'd been holding out against. | |||||
Season 2 (2021)
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Starring | Original release date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 1 | "What We Are Missing" | Kayden Kross | Aubrey Kate, Destiny Cruz, Maitland Ward, Pierce Paris | September 16, 2021 (2021-09-16) | |
| Maitland Ward's notoriety is both her blessing and her curse, drawing people to her with a sometimes-obsessive intensity and at the same time keeping her walled off from the relationships she values most. As she sends students home with a new assignment, we begin to understand that the prompt is more pressing than the usual exercises in classroom discussion. | ||||||
| 8 | 2 | "Every Behavior Meets a Need" | Kayden Kross | Ivy Wolfe, Manuel Ferrara | September 23, 2021 (2021-09-23) | |
| Aubrey finally finds a challenge worthy of her attention when Mona brings Ernest’s case to her desk. Lulu’s work/family balance worsens. We learn why Ivy hasn’t come home and why, but all focus is whiplashed toward Maitland when scandal breaks out. | ||||||
| 9 | 3 | "What We Have Lost" | Kayden Kross | Lulu Chu, Anton Harden | October 7, 2021 (2021-10-07) | |
| As Jessie leads the charge on the celebration of Lulu’s presentation, a damper mood settles over the group with the discussion of Maitland’s scandal, Lena’s quiet crisis, and Avery’s further unraveling relationship with Ivy. Behind closed doors, Manuel tries to calm Maitland down as she finally names her frustration with the pedestal she’s been placed on but the unspoken problem between them forces its way through again. By the end of the night, Lena finds connection in an unlikely place and Lulu is out for blood. | ||||||
| 10 | 4 | "Another’s Good" | Kayden Kross | Avery Cristy, Vanna Bardot, Quinton James | October 14, 2021 (2021-10-14) | |
| Aubrey and Mona double down on their strategy to drag Maitland’s case through the jury of the press as Maitland spirals toward hopelessness and keeps Manuel at a distance. Avery and Ivy’s relationship troubles finally come to a head. Jessie plots revenge as Lena stumbles across a line she’d never thought she would cross | ||||||
| 11 | 5 | "Break the Cycle" | Kayden Kross | Maitland Ward, Alex Jones, Danny Mountain, Rob Piper, Will Pounder | October 21, 2021 (2021-10-21) | |
| Ernest’s obsession with Maitland has not waned, and Mona tries to intercept those attentions. Ivy’s departure leaves a void that Avery turns to Lulu to fill as Jessie exacts her revenge. Maitland finds herself across from a student who needs her but can’t bridge the gap in this new landscape. Maitland snaps as Avery channels pent-up emotion toward the stage. The final showdown begins. | ||||||
Reception
Critical response
The series has received generally positive reviews from critics. An All Adult Network critic called the series an "exquisite piece of film making" and continued saying "...the shadings, looks, backgrounds, locales and pacing that Ms. Kross gives this piece really put this project over the top. Then add in some very crisp, sharp cinematography that provides masterful visuals and you have something very special. It has a number of well deserved nominations in the upcoming AVN awards and others and they are very well deserved." Another adult film critic website Die-Screaming.com compliments director Kayden Kross writing "Kayden has firmly established herself as one of the most talented creative forces currently working in smut and the joints she’s churning out with her Deeper studio are consistently some of the most expertly crafted films of any hardcore studio anywhere in the world." On the adult review aggregator AdultDVDTalk the film received extremely positive reviews, seeing a 4.6 out of 5 stars on sixteen reviews. In the sites featured review on the film the reviewer stated, "Needless to say, this flick is absolutely a must-see. Even those who aren''t typically inclined toward features will likely marvel at just how good it is. Indeed, there is little doubt that what Kross and Ward are doing as a team right now is several cuts above the competition and, quite frankly, may well be changing and reforming the broader adult landscape...both in terms of quality and public perception."
Awards and nominations
| Year | Ceremony | Award | Recipient(s) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | XCritic Awards | Best Actress | Maitland Ward | Won |
| Best Director | Kayden Kross | Won | ||
| 2021 | AVN Awards | Best Three-Way Sex Scene | Gianna Dior, Rob Piper, Scarlit Scandal | Won |
| Best Directing - Drama | Kayden Kross | Won | ||
| Best Art Direction | — | Won | ||
| Best Editing | — | Won | ||
| Best Group Sex Scene | Adriana Chechik, Isiah Maxwell, Maitland Ward, Sly Diggler | Nominated | ||
| Best Actress | Maitland Ward | Won | ||
| Best Non-Sex Performance | A.J. | Nominated | ||
| Best Screenplay - Drama | — | Won | ||
| Best Soundtrack | — | Nominated | ||
| Grand Reel | — | Won | ||
| Best Supporting Actress | Adriana Checkik | Nominated | ||
| XBIZ Awards | Best Cinematography | — | Won | |
| Best Acting - Lead | Maitland Ward | Won | ||
| Feature Movie of the Year | — | Won | ||
| Best Acting - Supporting | Adriana Checkik | Nominated | ||
| Best Sex Scene - Feature Movie | Gianna Dior, Rob Piper, Scarlit Scandal | Nominated | ||
| Best Screenplay | — | Nominated | ||
| Best Editing | — | Nominated | ||
| Best Sex Scene - Feature Movie | Adriana Checkik, Isiah Maxwell, Maitland Ward, Sly Diggler | Won | ||
| Best Music | — | Nominated |
References
- XBIZ. "Maitland Ward Makes Anal Debut in Deeper's 'Muse'". XBIZ. Archived from the original on June 5, 2021. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
- Ward, Maitland (September 19, 2020). "Maitland Ward: How We Made the First Big Porn Movie of the COVID Era". The Daily Beast. Archived from the original on May 31, 2021. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
- Warren, Peter (September 17, 2021). "Vixen Debuts High-Profile Deeper Sequel 'Muse Season 2'". AVN. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
- "The Women Behind That History-Making Porn Billboard in Hollywood". The Daily Beast. November 13, 2021. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
- King, Austin (February 23, 2021). "A Formidable 'Muse': Maitland Ward on Best Actress Triumph". Archived from the original on October 20, 2022. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
- Bartlett, Samantha. "Ex-Disney star Maitland Ward wins best actress at porn awards for second year running". Daily Star. Archived from the original on September 2, 2024. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
- "All Adult Network | Review – Muse Season 1 – Deeper.com". Archived from the original on June 5, 2021. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
- "Muse: Season 1 - Watch the XXX Trailer". Die-Screaming. October 1, 2020. Archived from the original on April 11, 2021. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
- XBIZ. "XBIZ - Adult Industry News | Adult Webmaster Resources". XBIZ. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
- Network, AVN Media. "AVN Awards". AVN Awards. Retrieved June 5, 2021.