Miss S

Miss Fisher fans should check out this reboot, preferably after being prepared for what's the same, and what isn't. Here are some key points:

1 - The scripts closely follow the original in both the mysteries and the players, with some East-West and temporal adjustments. The 30 episodes of Miss S's first season are clones of 15 tales from Phryne's first two seasons, stretched into 50+-minute two-parters. The more you remember from before, the less you'll be surprised by the outcomes. This one's set in the 1930s - a decade later than the former, reducing the carryover from World War I in everyone's backstories. They do include the running thread of the heroine's childhood trauma from the creep who abducted her sister.

2 - Miss S is wealthier than Phryne. Her mansion makes Miss F's elegant abode look like tract housing. Her car is more exotic, as well. The Shanghai sets and costumes in general are a bit more lavish than in the Australian original.

3 - The supporting players are quite similar. The new will-they-won't-they police inspector, Weiguang Gao, is more handsome than his counterpart, but even more of a stiff. A few characters repeat in diminished roles, like her aunt, doctor friend and butler. A huge bonus comes from the casting of her new assistant/protege. Guanjin Bu takes Dot's charming innocence to new heights. She's petite and absolutely adorable, making her growth in the job even more delightful. Her constable love interest is more of a dufus than the original's Hugh, adding to the comic element.

4 - The biggest difference between our eponymous women may be due to cultural constraints. Miss S. Is as bright, confident and worldy as Phryne, but more reserved in her degree of coquettishness. Her flirting is relatively tame; her amorous byplay virtually non-existent. She shows more leg, particularly in long Chinese dresses with deep side slits, but no decolletage. Miss S. Is also more of a damsel in distress during physical encounters, lacking the toughness and survival skills Phryne periodically summoned for self-defense. For Western viewers, that's quite a loss. Instead of Emma Peel's putative grandmother, we get a younger, hotter Jessica Fletcher.

I hope these comparisons help maximize your enjoyment of this charming series.

This is a lavish Chinese production of the Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries. The sets and decor are quite well done but probably not meant for a global audience as it lacks appeal. Probably would do very well with a local Chinese audience.

Well of course it's based on the Ms Fisher series, but so what? It stands on its own as an entertaining, likeable and enjoyable series. The key characters are fun, interesting and act with great chemistry. If it's not true to its time for all things, then it's still very appealing. Miss S and the Inspector make it all worthwhile and their restraint while flirting made it only more enjoyable. The support cast have their moments and generally strengthen the show's appeal, though I agree old Uncle Xiang is a bit dopey and useless. Overall a good show and while was hoping to use it to improve my rusty mandarin, I found the subtitles absolutely necessary and sometimes quietly hilarious.

I thought the show was about crime and mystery but it really isn't. The show is a constant hedonistic glamour show. There's more focus on flexing and displaying wealth and power than anything else.

The main character is very unlikeable. She's always kidding or messing around and she always has a condescending attitude towards everyone around her.

I absolute LOVE the fashion, styles, colors, and art in this show but it shouldn't be the main focus of the show. The story feels like an afterthought and sort of thrown in.

A lot of the scenes make no sense and the main character is pretty much a Mary Sue. She an extremely rich person that can do and say anything she wants and things always just work out.

I really loved everything about this series! I thought it was so fun and very well done. The actors were all phenomenal, and the two leads have fantastic chemistry - I was completely engrossed by their developing relationship in the last 6 or so episodes! The outfits and settings were all beautiful, and I want to buy so many of her clothes!

Each case takes up two episodes, and I appreciated that they felt well-developed. There is also a theme running throughout about the disappearance of her sister when she was a child, which culminates in the final episode. I see from other reviews that some people didn't love the final episode, but I really enjoyed it.

I'm now reading the books because I have become so obsessed with this show, but I will say that I so far I definitely prefer the show. I hope they consider doing another season to incorporate the rest of the Ms. Fisher mysteries. I'm currently re-watching the show because I loved it so much! Don't let the subtitles scare you away, this show is so worth it! Highly, highly recommend!