Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries: Madcap Mayhem in Melbourne

When my friend Maggie suggested I watch Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries, I thought it seemed like a stretch. Sure I love British television, and have even discovered Canadian gems, but I've never ventured into Australian drama, let alone an Australian mystery series set in 1920s Melbourne. Nonetheless, I decided to watch the first episode on Netflix, and before I knew it, I was hooked.

Phryne Fisher (played by the captivating Essie Davis) is a confident, sophisticated woman of independent means who likes to get her own way. After losing most of her family in the Great War, she returns to Australia and decides to put her considerable intelligence to use as a private detective. This means that she constantly runs up against the local Detective Inspector, John "Jack" Robinson (played by the equally captivating Nathan Page). Jack is initially annoyed by her interference, but he is quick to spot her talent for crime solving and decides that it's better to work with Phryne than against her. In addition, his constable, Hugh Collins (Hugo Johnstone-Burt) and Phryne's companion, Dorothy "Dot" Williams (Ashleigh Cummings) embark on a delightful romance, which makes for an amusing subplot on most episodes.

The show is based on a series of novels by Kerry Greenwood, who envisioned Phryne as an early feminist, a woman who knows her mind and does as she likes. When she isn't busy solving grisly murders, Phryne is decked out in glamorous dresses and jewels, sleeping with interesting (and dashing) men, and unabashedly living life to the fullest. What's wonderful about the series is that it embraces a variety of personalities, all of whom are very different, but none of whom judge each other. Dot is a devout Catholic, who initially couldn't even bring herself to answer a telephone because her priest said all modern inventions were the work of the devil. Nonetheless, she adores Phryne and is the most loyal sidekick a detective could hope for. Hugh is shy and naive, unlike the more wordly Jack, and he is the ideal romantic partner for Dot. Their conservative romance is in perfect contrast to the bubbling sexual tension between Jack and Phryne, who have many flirtatious encounters that have yet to amount to anything. They have crackling chemistry, further heightened by their bond of mutual respect and admiration, and one of the joys of the series is watching that tantalizing relationship develop.

Produced with a budget of $1 million per episode, Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries is simply stunning to look at, with impeccable production values and attention to detail. Shot in and around Melbourne, great effort has been made to re-create the feel of 1920s Australia, and costume designer Marion Boyce deserves kudos akin to those paid to Mad Men's Janie Bryant for the incredible work that goes into Phryne's wardrobe in every episode. The writers concoct wonderful self-contained mysteries (based on Kerry Greenwood's great stories of course) that also tie in to a series-long arc, which has a great payoff. And the cast is magnificent, capably dancing between comedy and drama, and making the show an intriguing, fizzy delight.

Series creators Deb Cox and Fiona Eagger were eager to develop a show that had a strong and interesting female lead and they have delivered a masterpiece. Shows like these continue to highlight how many great actresses are out there to play great female roles. The entire first season is available on DVD or Netflix streaming, and the second season (which aired this fall) will hopefully be released soon. Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries is a revelation and I dare you to stop at just one episode.