Phryne Fisher didn't just walk onto our screens; she sashayed in with a gold-plated pearl-handled pistol and a bob so sharp it could cut glass. Honestly, when Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries first aired on the ABC in Australia back in 2012, nobody really expected a 1920s period procedural to become a global juggernaut. But it did. It’s been years since the third season wrapped, and yet, the fandom is basically as obsessed as ever.
Maybe it’s the clothes. Or the sexual tension. Or the way Phryne treats the Melbourne police force like her personal errand boys.
Based on the wildly popular Phryne Fisher Historical Murder Mystery series by Kerry Greenwood, the show isn't your standard "whodunnit." It’s a subversion of every trope in the book. Usually, the detective is a grizzled man with a drinking problem and a tragic backstory involving a dead wife. Phryne Fisher? She’s a wealthy, hedonistic aristocrat who enjoys fine wine, fast cars, and faster men. She’s not trying to fix herself. She’s just living her best life while occasionally stumbling over a corpse in a jazz club.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries TV Show
There is this weird misconception that Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries is just "cozy" TV. You know the type—knitting, tea, and polite murders in a vicarage. That’s totally wrong.
While it looks gorgeous, the show actually tackles some pretty heavy-duty social issues from the 1920s. We’re talking about the aftermath of the Great War, illegal abortion, the rights of indigenous Australians, and the crushing poverty of the working class. It’s got teeth. Phryne herself is a survivor of trauma, having grown up in poverty before an unexpected inheritance changed her life. That edge is what keeps the show from feeling like a costume parade.
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The production value is also insane. Costume designer Marion Boyce is basically a wizard. She didn't just buy vintage clothes; she built a wardrobe that reflected Phryne’s liberation. Every silk trouser suit and feathered hat was a middle finger to the restrictive corsetry of the Edwardian era. It’s fashion as a political statement.
The Jack Robinson Factor
You can’t talk about this show without talking about Detective Inspector Jack Robinson, played by Nathan Page. The chemistry between him and Essie Davis is basically combustible. It’s a slow burn that lasts for three entire seasons.
Most TV shows ruin the "will-they-won't-they" dynamic by either dragging it out until it’s boring or resolving it too quickly. Miss Fisher walked that tightrope perfectly. Jack is the law; Phryne is the chaos. He’s repressed; she’s... well, she’s Phryne. Watching them navigate the boundaries of 1920s propriety while solving grisly murders in back alleys is half the fun. Honestly, the way Jack looks at her when she pulls a gun out of her garter is the definition of "yearning."
Why the 1920s Setting Actually Matters
Setting a show in 1928 Melbourne wasn't just an aesthetic choice. It was a pivotal moment in history. The world was changing. Women had more freedom than ever before, but they were still fighting for basic recognition.
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Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries captures that transition perfectly through its side characters. Take Dot Williams, Phryne’s companion. She starts as a terrified, deeply religious girl who’s afraid of the telephone. By the end of the series, she’s a crack investigative assistant who manages Phryne’s chaotic household with an iron fist. Her relationship with Constable Hugh Collins is the sweet, traditional counterpoint to Phryne and Jack’s unconventional dynamic.
Authentic Details that Bring Melbourne to Life
The show used real locations across Melbourne to ground the fantasy.
- Wardlow in Parkville: This served as the exterior for Phryne’s house. It’s a real Victorian Italianate mansion.
- The Rippon Lea Estate: Often used for those grand garden parties where someone inevitably ends up dead in the fountain.
- The Old Melbourne Gaol: A grim reminder of the justice system Jack has to uphold.
By using these spots, the creators made the city a character. You feel the dust of the docks and the smell of the expensive perfume in the salons. It’s immersive.
The Legacy of Phryne Fisher
When the show ended after three seasons, fans weren't ready to let go. This led to a record-breaking Kickstarter campaign for the feature film, Miss Fisher and the Crypt of Tears. It raised over $1 million AUD in record time. That doesn't happen unless a show has genuinely touched people.
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Then came the spin-off, Ms. Fisher's Modern Murder Mysteries, set in the 1960s. It’s fun, sure, but it lacks that specific magic of the original. There’s something about Essie Davis’s performance—the wink, the laugh, the absolute refusal to be told "no"—that is impossible to replicate.
Phryne Fisher is a feminist icon because she doesn't ask for permission. She doesn't wait for the police to let her into the crime scene. She just climbs through the window. In a landscape of TV detectives who are often brooding or miserable, Phryne’s joy is radical.
How to Dive Deeper Into the Miss Fisher World
If you've finished the series and the movie and you're feeling a Phryne-shaped hole in your life, there are actual ways to keep the experience going.
- Read the Kerry Greenwood Books: The TV show is a faithful adaptation in spirit, but the books are different. Book-Phryne is even more scandalous, and the mysteries are often darker. There are over 20 of them, so that’ll keep you busy for a while.
- Visit the Wardlow House: You can actually do walking tours in Melbourne that take you to the filming locations. It’s a pilgrimage for "Fisher-philes."
- Check out the Costume Exhibitions: Every now and then, the National Trust of Australia puts the show's costumes on display. If you get the chance to see them in person, do it. The beadwork is mind-blowing.
- Listen to the Soundtrack: Greg J. Walker’s score is a mix of period-accurate jazz and modern energy. It’s the perfect background music for when you’re feeling particularly glamorous.
The most important thing to remember about Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries is that it’s about more than just solving crimes. It’s about the audacity of a woman taking up space in a world that wants her to be quiet. It’s about friendship, found family, and the idea that you can be both a brilliant intellectual and a person who really, really likes pretty dresses.
Start by re-watching the pilot, "Cocaine Blues." Pay attention to the way the camera introduces Phryne. She isn't just a character; she's an event. Once you see it, you can't un-see why this show remains a titan of the genre. Look for the subtle nods to the real-life "Bright Young Things" of the era, and notice how the show handles the tension between the old guard and the new world. It’s all there, hidden behind a plume of cigarette smoke and a glass of gin.