The quiet heartbreak of being the friend who’s left behind ft. Max Baker from ‘Ginny & Georgia’

I know I’m late to the party, but I binge-watched the new season of Ginny & Georgia over the weekend, and I had some thoughts. It turns out that the internet did, too. Season 3 might just be the show’s best yet—it was intense, dramatic in the best way possible, and showcased some of the best acting we’ve seen in this show. And most importantly, the cringe dialogues have finally taken a backseat, and I know that’s what the fans are most grateful for. 

But while most of the audience focused on dissecting the long-awaited Georgia and Joe moment or debating whether Ginny finally deserved our sympathy (until that final episode, at least, because poor Austin), there is one character who quietly took the hardest hits this season: Maxine ‘Max’ Baker. 

Max has always been that ride-or-die friend—the one who shows up, who speaks up, and who stays loyal even when it’s inconvenient. But in Season 3, we see her slowly being edged out by the very people she’s always fought for.

If you haven’t watched the new season, here’s some context. Spoilers ahead.

Season 3 kicks off with Georgia’s arrest on her wedding day, throwing Ginny into emotional chaos once again. Between her mother’s trial, the messy family dynamic, her situationship with Marcus, and school drama, Ginny is understandably overwhelmed. Max, being Max, tries to do what she’s always done—be there. She checks in, offers support, and keeps showing up for Ginny, even when it’s clear the energy isn’t being reciprocated. What’s worse is that there’s no big falling-out, no clear-cut reason why Max is being pushed away—just a slow fade. And it’s not just Ginny; Abby and Norah go quiet too, ignoring Max’s messages, making plans without her, and having full conversations she’s clearly not a part of. It’s like the whole group slowly pressed mute on Max because they suddenly realised that her feelings were too much! 

In her recent interviews, star Sara Waisglass, the actor playing Max, confirmed that this was intentional: the writers wanted to spotlight that slow, slicing pain that comes when your closest friends drift away, subtly mislabeling you as “dramatic” or “too much” just for asking to stay. 

Now, we know Max wasn’t exactly a fan-favourite in Season 2, especially after she iced Ginny out for dating her brother. And yes, she took it a little too far. But her reaction came from a place of hurt, and at least we knew why she was upset. This season flips the script because Max is the one being sidelined, and she doesn’t even get the courtesy of a confrontation. As Ginny casually puts it, “I don't know, maybe we just grew apart a little bit. Maybe that’s okay.” But what if it’s not? What if one person grows apart and the other is left wondering what the hell happened?

The heartbreak of being quietly left behind

Here’s the thing: it doesn’t always take a dramatic betrayal or screaming match to end a friendship. Sometimes, it’s just silence. Plans you’re not invited to, messages left on read, a shift in tone so subtle, you wonder if you imagined it. That’s what makes it so painful—because there’s no clear closure, just the slow realisation that you’re not part of someone’s life in the way you once were.

Max’s story in Ginny & Georgia mirrors a reality many of us know too well. She didn’t do anything wrong—she just expressed how she felt. She got emotional. She asked for clarity. She voiced her needs. And somehow, all of that was “too much,” which is just a shorthand for “you’re making me uncomfortable by being honest.” It’s used to silence women who feel deeply, who ask for reciprocity, who won’t just smile and take emotional breadcrumbs. In friendship groups, especially, this label becomes a weapon. And once you’ve been hit with it, you’re expected to shrink. To be chill. To not “ruin the vibe.”

But here’s the truth: feeling your feelings doesn’t make you weak. Asking for clarity doesn’t make you dramatic. Caring deeply doesn’t make you less worthy of care in return. Max is loud, sure. She’s over-the-top at times. But she shows up—and she deserved better than being iced out without explanation.

The emotional toll of always being the giver

We don’t talk enough about how exhausting it is to always be the one who tries. The one who checks in first. The one who apologises first. The one who holds space for everyone else’s breakdowns even as they're managing their own. That’s what Max does all season—tries to connect, even as the door keeps getting slammed in her face.

This kind of emotional labour is invisible, but it adds up. And when it’s not acknowledged or returned, it chips away at your self-worth. You start to question whether you’re actually too much—or whether you were just never enough for them in the first place.

Reclaiming your voice—even when it shakes

The most powerful part of Max’s arc is that she doesn’t completely fold. Yes, she’s hurt. Yes, she spirals a little (as any of us would). But she also finds her way back to herself. She invests in the people who do show up for her, like Bracia. She stops begging for crumbs and starts focusing on what she deserves—and that, right there, is resilience.
Reclaiming your voice doesn’t always mean confronting the people who hurt you. Sometimes, it just means refusing to shrink to fit their comfort. It means grieving what you lost, then choosing to heal loudly. 

Because being left behind doesn’t make you unworthy

If you’ve ever been the Max in your group—the one who loved too hard, gave too much, and got shut out anyway—know this: you’re not the problem. You’re not broken for wanting more from your friendships. The ones who matter won’t make you question your place. And the ones who fade away? Let them go. Because your voice deserves space. Your feelings deserve softness. And you deserve friends who never make you feel like you have to beg for belonging.

All images: Netflix 

Also read: Stop losing your best years to dead-end friendships and break up gracefully

Also read: Here's how you can end a toxic friendship without any guilt or drama