Private detective series absorbs viewers while avoiding cliches

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Essie Davis’s costumes contribute to the recreation of 1920s Australia.

Lauren Textor, Editor-In-Chief

Netflix has blessed us as a people more than once by adding shows that might not otherwise come to the public’s attention. Whether this is in the form of an original series or simply some obscure TV program, I’m personally grateful for all that Netflix has to offer–none more so than when I’m watching “Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries,” an Australian crime drama that would definitely not have been on my list if it wasn’t recommended.

Set in Melbourne in the late 1920s and based on Kerry Greenwood’s book series, “Miss Fisher’s” absorbs viewers with its beautiful, detailed costumes, jargon and scoring. The title character, private detective Miss Phryne Fisher (Essie Davis), has a complicated past and a seemingly carefree attitude. However, the tortured cop trope ends here. Fisher is a glamorous, middle-aged party girl and private detective, and she’s not in the habit of pushing people away. If anything, she brings them closer–particularly Detective Jack Robinson (Nathan Page), who Fisher maintains an open flirtationship with throughout the series. Despite this, Fisher is in no way hung up on Robinson, and traipses through crime scenes and into the beds of supporting characters.

I’m not one for crime dramas. After awhile, they all begin to blend together with their indistinguishable plots and dragged-out romantic storylines that are predictable from episode one. However, my usual rule about watching six episodes before judging a series went out the window when I fell in love with the show’s stunning camera angles, set and characters.

Besides being unique and entertaining, “Miss Fisher’s” features issues that are prominent even today, such as alcohol and drug consumption, abortion, human rights, abuse, religious freedom, racism, persecution, expression of sexuality and double standards.

While there are more examples of media covering this material today than ever before, it’s important that the need for representation is not ignored because of “historical inaccuracy.” The truth is that these problems of discrimination, abuse and ignorance were prominent then and are prominent now, and I will support any show that makes an effort to highlight this as “Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries” has.