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This one may seem a bit out there for my normal viewing tastes but I really enjoyed this period detective series. I got watching it as my girlfriend loves all her detective dramas and did her normal trick of putting this on at bedtime and promptly falling asleep, leaving me to watch it on my own. I eventually watched all 3 seasons of it, (not all in that 1 night obviously!!)
The programme is based on the series of books, by prolific author Kerry Greenwood
, which began in 1989 with "Cocaine Blues" and runs to 20 in number so far with the latest "Murder and Mendelssohn" released in 2013. Greenwood has also written science fiction, children's books and plays.
Phryne Fisher (Essie Davis) is a spirited thoroughly modern 1920's woman who has recently arrived back in Melbourne, Australia. She engages herself as a sleuth solving all manner of crimes and mysteries. Independently wealthy, although she hasn't always been so, she seems to do it more for the love of solving mysteries and to help people out than for any financial need. In the show she has a great cast of interesting characters around her. She is a bit of a thorn in the side of police detective 'Jack' Robinson (Nathan Page) and his constable Hugh Collins (Hugo Johnstone-Burt) as she keeps wheedling her way into his investigations but her skills prove to be very useful and their relationship burgeons over the course of their investigations. Constable Collins falls for Phryne's secretary, the sweet and innocent, good Catholic girl, Dot (Ashleigh Cummings). Recently employed by Phryne, Dot grows from a timid girl to a much more modern and adventurous lady as the show progresses and we see how her relationship with Hugh grows and the ups and downs it goes through challenged by the fact that he is a Protestant and also his ideas of a woman's role differing from her new Phryne influenced ones. Also in Phryne's employ are Mr Butler the butler and Bert and Cec a pair of cabbies who she employs to do all manner of investigative footwork for her. Other recurring characters include Miriam Margolyes as her Aunt Prudence, her friend Dr Mac (Tammy Macintosh) and her ward Jane (Ruby Rees).
As well as solving a wealth of crimes as the series progresses we get to learn more of Phryne's colourful and sometimes tragic history. Some events of her past catch up with her as the series progresses, we learn of her time in the ambulance service during WWI and her time as an artist's model, muse & lover in Paris after the war. Also there's a long story arch much taken up with the escaped criminal Murdoch Foyle (Nicholas Bell) who abducted and killed Phryne's younger sister Janey when she was just a child. He brings some real tension to the story during his time in it, being a thoroughly horrid and capable villain. In later episodes Phryne's father turns up, he's a bit of a cad and they have a strained relationship, he brings his dangerous drama into the mix having unresolved issues from his past that could prove fatal.
I really enjoyed this show, the interplay and progression of relationships between the cast is great, it's a very good ensemble of characters and actors who you end up caring for and wanting to do well. The look at history is interesting too with a lot of social elements picked up and examined during the course of the show.
There is no new series planned it seems but thankfully a full-length movie is in the works having been successfully financed and apparently is planned to begin filming in October. It's called Miss Fisher and the Crypt of Tears and is slated to be directed by Tony Tilse who is a veteran Australian director who did Murder in the Outback and several episodes of Farscape
, Wolf Creek & Ash Vs Evil Dead. Also there is talk of a prequel series based on Miss Fisher which will not be based on any of the books but will be imaginings of the character from a part of her life not previously dealt with.
Check out Phryne's website for more information on her adventures.
*************************************
Also starring Essie Davis
The programme is based on the series of books, by prolific author Kerry Greenwood
, which began in 1989 with "Cocaine Blues" and runs to 20 in number so far with the latest "Murder and Mendelssohn" released in 2013. Greenwood has also written science fiction, children's books and plays.Phryne Fisher (Essie Davis) is a spirited thoroughly modern 1920's woman who has recently arrived back in Melbourne, Australia. She engages herself as a sleuth solving all manner of crimes and mysteries. Independently wealthy, although she hasn't always been so, she seems to do it more for the love of solving mysteries and to help people out than for any financial need. In the show she has a great cast of interesting characters around her. She is a bit of a thorn in the side of police detective 'Jack' Robinson (Nathan Page) and his constable Hugh Collins (Hugo Johnstone-Burt) as she keeps wheedling her way into his investigations but her skills prove to be very useful and their relationship burgeons over the course of their investigations. Constable Collins falls for Phryne's secretary, the sweet and innocent, good Catholic girl, Dot (Ashleigh Cummings). Recently employed by Phryne, Dot grows from a timid girl to a much more modern and adventurous lady as the show progresses and we see how her relationship with Hugh grows and the ups and downs it goes through challenged by the fact that he is a Protestant and also his ideas of a woman's role differing from her new Phryne influenced ones. Also in Phryne's employ are Mr Butler the butler and Bert and Cec a pair of cabbies who she employs to do all manner of investigative footwork for her. Other recurring characters include Miriam Margolyes as her Aunt Prudence, her friend Dr Mac (Tammy Macintosh) and her ward Jane (Ruby Rees).
As well as solving a wealth of crimes as the series progresses we get to learn more of Phryne's colourful and sometimes tragic history. Some events of her past catch up with her as the series progresses, we learn of her time in the ambulance service during WWI and her time as an artist's model, muse & lover in Paris after the war. Also there's a long story arch much taken up with the escaped criminal Murdoch Foyle (Nicholas Bell) who abducted and killed Phryne's younger sister Janey when she was just a child. He brings some real tension to the story during his time in it, being a thoroughly horrid and capable villain. In later episodes Phryne's father turns up, he's a bit of a cad and they have a strained relationship, he brings his dangerous drama into the mix having unresolved issues from his past that could prove fatal.
I really enjoyed this show, the interplay and progression of relationships between the cast is great, it's a very good ensemble of characters and actors who you end up caring for and wanting to do well. The look at history is interesting too with a lot of social elements picked up and examined during the course of the show.
There is no new series planned it seems but thankfully a full-length movie is in the works having been successfully financed and apparently is planned to begin filming in October. It's called Miss Fisher and the Crypt of Tears and is slated to be directed by Tony Tilse who is a veteran Australian director who did Murder in the Outback and several episodes of Farscape
, Wolf Creek & Ash Vs Evil Dead. Also there is talk of a prequel series based on Miss Fisher which will not be based on any of the books but will be imaginings of the character from a part of her life not previously dealt with.Check out Phryne's website for more information on her adventures.
*************************************
Also starring Essie Davis
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