Fisk
Writers: Kitty Flanagan, Penny Flanagan
Directors: Tom Peterson, Kitty Flanagan
Cast: Kitty Flanagan, Julia Zemiro, Marty Sheargold, Aaron Chen
A preview for the Australian comedy series Fisk sat at the top of my Netflix homepage for some time. It did seem like something that would be my cup of tea, I just wasn't ready for the commitment of a new series (despite it being a tight six half-hour episodes, with two seasons currently available here in the US and the third season on the way after airing in Australia this fall). However, the score of this one is a definitive Netflix Algorithm: 1, Lea: 0, as I never should have waited this long to watch it.
I believe that art (movies, TV shows, songs, paintings, books) find us at the time we are meant to experience them, and Fisk is no exception to that rule. This is exactly the show I needed right now — mainly because I just need to laugh.
I mean this as the greatest compliment, and that is that Fisk has incredibly low emotional stakes, which is precisely what I'm in the market for. I don't really have the capacity to feel right now, you know?
Fisk stars Kitty Flanagan (who also co-created and co-wrote the show) as Helen Tudor-Fisk, a woman who moves back to her hometown of Melbourne, Australia, leaving her former life (and ex-husband) in Sydney. She finds a job at a small law firm specializing in wills and estates, and despite a death being a storyline of at least one client each episode, the show is so, so funny.
If you're a fan of comedy shows such as The Office or Abbott Elementary, give Fisk a try. It's an office comedy and a family comedy and a general life comedy, and is remarkably good at capturing the small, subtle moments that add up to the biggest laughs. Helen is surrounded by mostly lovable kooks seemingly everywhere she goes, but none of them are total megabitches — and the ones approaching that territory are sure to contribute to the laughs.
There's something about Helen that's so relatable, or normal, or just correct in the way she reacts to the wacky world around her. Perhaps it's her understated demeanor that makes the comedy that much richer. She's not a Liz Lemon or a Larry David who can be just as ridiculous as those in their orbit. Helen is so sure of herself — she's comfortable in the oversized suit that she wears every day. She's dedicated to her adorable dog. She uses reason and smarts to help her clients, even (especially) when they appear to have neither of those qualities present.
But perhaps the reason I immediately loved Fisk is that it's just so damn pleasant. It's not overwhelmingly frustrating and even the bonehead moves of some characters are simply mildly irritating. It's not overly loud or busy or crazy. There's something calming about it that likely relaxes viewers into even more laughs. It lets funny moments have a breath instead of cramming in the next silly moment right away. It also makes me want to hop on the next flight to Melbourne.
If you're looking for a show that's easy to watch, that will make you laugh and feel good, I highly recommend Fisk. It feels like the TV version of a great hug: nice and supportive and comforting. But please don't hug Helen (iykyk).
