Fun
Frisky
Nostalgic
Intense
Adventurous
Choked Up
Curious
Romantic
Weird
A wonderful flash of lightning has struck and the brilliant British dark comedy series Flowers is now available to stream on Netflix. Season 1 originally appeared Stateside on Seeso, and while Season 2 premiered in the UK earlier this year, American audiences can now take in the gorgeous, devastating, and wonderfully ridiculous show.
Created, directed, written by and starring Will Sharpe as Japanese illustrator, Shun, the series focuses on the Flowers family that he moves in with, including father and writer Maurice (Julian Barratt), mother Deborah (Olivia Colman), daughter Amy (Sophia Di Martino) and son Donald (Daniel Rigby). As each character deals with relationships, their life goals, and mental illness in their own way, you’ll find yourself laughing and crying, often simultaneously, throughout a show that sticks with you long after you’re done watching it.
Perhaps that is because the show completely nails the emotional aspects of these characters, but it’s also because each season is only comprised of six half-hour episodes, the kind of episodes you’ll have no problem going back to rewatch over and over again. Flowers is a unique mix of touching and silly and relatable while also remaining totally absurd, and yet, at the end of your viewing, you’ll feel this beautiful melancholy, like a stickiness on your heart. So few shows are as effective and outstanding as this one, and yet instead of trying to explains its eccentricities, it’s better that you just dive in and watch it. You’ll be moved and quickly recommending this show to others.
Flowers is a lovely depiction of depression and family and love and creativity all wrapped into one unforgettable binge-watch, and that you can now do it on Netflix only makes it that much sweeter.
