There are many things I love about Phryne Fisher. Â One of the biggies is how much she likes and is protective of women.
And one of my favourites:
An autistic, academically gifted university student in an otherwise all-male student body is framed, stalked, bullied and slandered.
Phryne doesn’t lay the blame on her, fixate on her differences or say her treatment is justifiable. She imitates her behaviour to understand it, opens up her home as a safe haven, and tries to see the world from the girl’s perspective rather than deciding to coach her to pass.
This is Phryne Fisher. She’s a daring forty-something woman living in Australia during the 1920s with enough money to live it up and a wardrobe that’ll make you cry.Â
She decides she’s going to become a private detective, so she does. She has a pearl handled pistol in her handbag and a dagger in her garter.
Her adventures sometimes require undercover work. Such as circus performer.Â
And if she’s not in an adorable hat, she has a sparkly headband. Of course.
And every now and then her lesbian bestie visits in the greatest tweeds and brogues.Â
Did I mention the clothes?
She prefers younger men
Plural.Â
But you’ll totally ship these two.
She knows how to fly planes,Â
and teaches young girls self defense on top of table manners.
But these two are the cutest most innocent couple you’ll ever see. Seriously cute.
 There’s so much more, but you’ll just have to watch it. The first season is on Netflix streaming in the U.S. so I hope you enjoy this kick-ass lady. She’s seriously cool.Â
Seriously, this is one of the best things to come out of my country in years. It’s great quality, it’s visually and aurally rich and delicious, and it’s a fun romp from start to finish. But also? It’s female gaze. It’s about women living to the hilt. It’s about unashamed sexuality and decadence. It also tackles serious subject matter of the times that often specifically relates to women – education, medicine, media, birth control and abortion, the temperance movement, sex work, class issues, race issues, gay and lesbian issues, religion, war and family. The second season even has an episode with an female autistic academic that it manages to depict better than most contemporary shows. It’s a joy, and you need it in your life. And it’s been signed for a third season to begin filming next year. So what are you waiting for?