The first series of “Flowers” was an incredible piece of
television. Detailing the struggles of Maurice Flowers, a children’s author
struggling with depression, and his eccentric family, wife Deborah, children
Amy and Donald, and his Japanese live-in illustrator Shun, the show managed to
walk a fine line between laugh-out-loud comedy and genuine emotional drama. So
it was with some trepidation that I learned that series 2 was on the way. The
first seemed to be somewhat self-contained and while the ending was open for
more, it would have felt perfectly natural to end it there.
Series 2 begins with Maurice and Deborah having apparently saved
their relationship. Deborah is working on a book about living with Maurice’s
depression while the two enjoy a camping holiday together. Meanwhile, Amy is
now in a relationship with an older woman who is a priest; Donald has a new
career as a plumber, Pipeman, utilising his inventions; and Shun seems somewhat
lost, being no longer employed as illustrator for the “Grubs” books. As the
series goes on each of the characters tackles their own psychological or
emotional issues, whether that is depression, mania, alcoholism, or rejection.
The central plot concerns a family curse that Amy is trying to fathom, but as
with the first series the plot is less important than the relationships between
the characters. The original cast all return, Julian Barratt, Olivia Coleman,
Sophia Di Martino and Daniel Rigby as the Flowers clan,Will Sharpe as Shun and
Helen Cripps as Matilda. They are joined this series by Harriet Walker as
Hylda, Amy’s lover. All of them do a fantastic job in their roles and the
development of each seems natural.
Will Sharpe’s writing shows a one-of-a-kind talent, packed
with ideas, with a keen ear for genuine conversational dialogue, yet also
excelling at the poetry of certain moments without being overly sentimental. It
seems to take the magpie approach of including everything of interest and
bringing it together in a creative collage of elements. The Japanese influence,
surrealism and dream-sequences, the focus on nature, particularly the English
countryside, all have particular resonance with me, but I feel as though such
an approach makes the show identifiable for many through this technique.
Commentators have spoken of the show “speaking to them” and with such an array
of characters and ideas there is sure to be a particular character or theme to
which you can relate. The direction shows a respect for film and a love of the
art-form, from the choice of shots, the magnificent close-ups showing the
beautiful minutiae of life, everything is done with care and attention. The music
by Arthur Sharpe is also perfect for the shows unusual tone. By turns manic,
melancholic, nightmarish visions breaking through quaint family drama.
Series two definitely lived up to the high expectations set
by the first and I would recommend anyone to watch this. One of the most
original shows on television. A sublime experience.
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