Flow of Madness

This is my analysis about the motivations and actions of Queen Liv in Series 5. 

Liv got some major heat and hate during the fifth series. My hope with this analysis is not only to objectively look at her, but hope that it may make the haters pause a little. 

Even before we meet her for the first time in Series 5 we know thanks to the novel there are tensions among the three girls: Liv, Grace, and Mini. To clarify even more there are tensions between Liv and Grace with Mini. She has been controlling and extremely unpleasant as of late making both Liv and Grace exhausted. With this in mind the actions of Liv and the events that unfolded in Series 5 makes complete sense. 

In the beginning of Series 5 we see that Grace has taken a liking to Franky and with the influence of Rich she begins to stand up for herself. Liv on the other hand in Episode 1 through the beginning half of Episode 3 defends Mini and fights in Mini’s corner. Even against Grace…like when Grace confronts them about Mini saying that she is having a mental breakdown…Liv sides with Mini. She is trying her best to make things work with Mini, because ultimately Liv is a loyal friend who values their friendship despite how out of control Mini is becoming. In Mini’s episode we also see Liv defend Mini and try to convince Nick to continue with the fashion show. 

From there things get out of control. Liv’s family have taught Liv to keep her true feelings inside especially if it means that a relationship that means so much to her will be destroyed because of it. Though she did try to be real and break it down for Mini at the club in Mini’s episode. Explaining that Mini needs to change, because everyone is getting fed up with her behavior. Mini dismisses Liv and walks away. From there Liv and Nick begin to sleep with one another. It was not the right choice, but she did it out of frustration and anger towards Mini who she feels does not appreciate her friendship. 

In Liv’s episode we see the isolation she feels at home along with the strained relationship she has with Mini. Both of them keeping secrets and not communicating with one another. Liv after visiting her sister decides to spend some time on her own and that is when she meets a mysterious stranger by the name of Matty. This mysterious stranger gave her an escape from her family and from Mini. I feel like Liv is constantly searching for something that is her own and something that she can depend on. Matty temporarily becomes that person for Liv. 

At the end of Liv’s episode she has ended things with Nick and has started a relationship with his brother Matty. She has also tried one last time to work things out with Mini by telling her the truth. That they haven’t been the friends they once were. They have both been keeping secrets and keeping in feelings. Liv though made it clear that she wants to right her wrongs and work on things honestly. Mini tells Liv that she has to make the same gesture she did with Matty by downing a thing of pure vodka. She does and Mini leaves her with nothing Liv wanted. 

Liv is a party a girl; however, she wants a home. She is constantly searching for that place where she feels accepted. Grace was one part of her home, because she did accept Liv for all that she was and then some. 

This is where I want to clarify something that Franky says in Series 6. Franky says that Liv is just jealous that both Matty and Nick want her not Liv. However Liv never wanted Nick. Nick was just a way to get back at Mini for making her feel like shit. That was it. When Nick showed up at her house in the early morning…Liv sent him away explaining that she did not want him and that he did not need her. She also earlier in that same episode told Nick that it was extremely fuck up that Mini was still dating Nick despite knowing what Nick did to her. Even in a middle of fight Liv is still looking out for Mini’s interests. 

In Grace’s episode everything starts to unravel for Liv. Matty her new boyfriend has eyes for Franky the new girl. Her best friend Mini is still not fully talking to her and things are still weird between them. Liv feels like the group judges her for what she did and in truth it is really Liv who judges what she did to Mini. At the same time she is holding onto Matty not wanting to give him up quite yet, because of that one magical day they had. Grace reassures Liv that no one judges her and convinces Liv to come back and do the play. Grace accepts people for who they are even when they make horrible mistakes like Liv did. 

The finale shows a few things about Liv. That in her search for home she has a hard time with changing relationships. Which you can also see in Series 6 which I will talk about later. Things with Matty are not working and she is trying everything in her power to make it work. In this episode she finally reaches an understanding that she never had Matty in the first place. They had a moment that she was trying to chase at all costs. It also shows how protective she is even toward Franky who is a girl she does not know well yet who her boyfriend has a crush on. She tries to help Franky and she also sees how lost Franky is inside. Being the only one to call her a “lost girl.” 

It is true that Liv made some mistakes, but those mistakes did not come from a heartless place. Liv feels alone and isolated most of the time from her family and also from her friends sometimes. She covers it with a party facade. However underneath it all Liv is a protective pack animal looking for her pack.