Assuming you paid attention in history class, you’ll be aware of the shared (albeit rather ugly) past of England and Australia. There are lingering similarities between the two cultures, certain words for example or a whiff of a biting humour. There are differences too, of course, the main one being the weather. Yep, the Aussies definitely got the better deal there. They’ve been coming out with some really great TV shows, too. Here are three of my favourites.
~Miss Fisher Murder Mysteries This may be set in 1920’s Melbourne but Miss Phryne Fisher cares not a jot for the social mores and constraints of her time. As a glamorous, kick-ass lady detective in Miss Fisher she is apt to use all manner of unorthodox tactics to fight not only crime but social injustice. Phryne is smart and independent. Not only does she speak multiple languages but she could tango, flamenco and fan dance her way straight to the Mirror Ball trophy. She is naughty and outrageous, unabashedly enjoys the company of men (in one episode cheekily using her diaphragm to catch a spider!) and will scale buildings or battle villains in dark back alleys as necessary with a pistol tucked in her bag and a knife strapped to her thigh. Her partner in crime is Inspector Jack Robinson who with his chiseled jaw and strong good looks is a perfect counterpart to Phryne. Yep, there’s plenty of flirtation going on here, although to be fair Phryne flirts with everyone. Also helping out is Dot, a rather demure and timid maid from a deeply religious background. Not for long though. When Phryne takes her on as a companion of sorts, Dot, dealing with all of Phryne’s eccentricities, blushes her way to a confidence that soon has her helping out with investigations. Then there’s the wonderfully obnoxious aunt, two smart aleck jack-of-all-trades/chauffeurs Bert and Cec, a butler hilariously named Mr. Butler and lesbian doctor friend Mac…always handy for helping out with dead bodies. All together they form her rather unconventional family. However, the real star of the show is Phryne’s wardrobe. And what a divine wardrobe it is. This is the 20’s after all where sumptuous, glittery evening gowns, rich kimonos and stylish cloches reign supreme. Every single thing that Phryne wears is exquisite. If fashion is your thing this is costume porn at its finest. All told, Miss Fisher is a delightfully sharp and witty show, full of joie de vivre while still managing to delve into social issues of the time–illegal abortion, immigration and a wide variety of women’s issues. But the drama remains fun and flirty and is truly not to be missed.
~Jack Irish In the opening scenes of Jack Irish, we meet Jack…fresh faced, clean cut, expensively dressed. He’s a lawyer and all clues point to him being a successful one. Minutes later tragedy strikes and he vanishes.
The next time we meet him he is unshaven and disheveled and apparently has tossed aside the law in favour of debt collecting and heavy drinking. In one fell swoop, Jack has morphed into that classic haunted private eye of yore. The rumply, whiskey soaked ones that have made up many a fine, noirish detective show. And Guy Pearce, as Jack, does a mighty fine job of playing the part. He’s something of a teddy bear with his scruffy cardigans and boyish charm and the ability to constantly get himself in over his head. As a rule, he often does not know the real nature of the mystery he is trying to solve until he has been lied to, beaten up and pissed on — literally and figuratively. His jobs start off as seemingly simple affairs which quickly unravel into complex conspiracies involving the upper strata of police, governments and corporations. A constant who-can-be-trusted cat and mouse game of corruption and violence. Joining him for the fun are Harry Strang, a once successful horse trainer who hires Jack for a few dodgy deals of his own and Harry’s musclemen, all of whom have tenuous moral compasses. It’s all played for laughs though and provides enough camaraderie to keep Jack grounded. Along the way Jack develops a relationship with Linda Hillier, a smart pulled-together journalist who is good at her job and generally helps Jack with his and lends something of a classy air to the goings on. A wonderfully gritty show with taut writing, stylish and thorny dialogue and lots of sharp, deadpan humour.
~A Place To Call Home This is a soap opera, pure and simple and by virtue of this fact can be extremely one dimensional. Having said that I may have gobbled the latest season of A Place to Call Home down like a plate of leftovers when it came out this past Thanksgiving. Yes, like all soap operas it can become addictive before you’ve even noticed. What saves it from jumping into the black abyss of ridiculousness is a handful of things.
First, it’s set in the 1950’s. I don’t know what it is about period pieces but they tend to hide a multitude of sins. What might be utter rubbish in a modern day setting can squeak by in a historical one. It also means everyone is exquisitely dressed…all the time. Second, it’s set in Australia. Stunning scenery and gorgeous weather…all the time! Throw in the fact that the storyline revolves around a wealthy family and you’ve got yourself a stately home with all the trimmings. Third, it stars Marta Dusseldorp who is a splendid Australian actress (she also plays Linda Hillier in Jack Irish mentioned above). She really does carry the weight of A Place to Call Home on her shoulders, and does it brilliantly. Marta plays Sarah, a nurse, who returns to Australia after 20 years abroad. She takes a job in the local hospital and immediately becomes entangled with the wealthy Bligh family, headed by matriarch Elizabeth, whose hobbies generally include a great deal of control and manipulation. There are the usual family shenanigans and tensions set against a backdrop of 1950’s social change, including a rather terrifying storyline involving a homosexual son, which serves as a reminder of how far things have come and why we can never look back. Add in most of the seven deadly sins and you’ve got yourself, well, a soap opera.
