We finally get some quality Mac time in this episode! It’s off to the factory we go to investigate the gruesome death of Mac’s lover, Daisy. Phryne misses some very obvious clues that her best friend is distraught. Hugh loses his lunch. Dot goes undercover. Aunt P gets served a nice big piece of Humble Pie. And Murdoch Foyle rears his ugly head (but beautiful penmanship) once again.

Chandler O’Leary

Lots to talk about in this episode, including the seeming pointlessness of proper etiquette for these young women, historic bathing huts, the duplicity of men, the situation with Jane’s mother. And the Judo scene. How we love the Judo scene! (“Maneuver 1! Groin! Maneuver 2! Throat!”) If there was a Phryne Fisher School of Deportment and Self Defense, we would be the first two in line.

A couple things we mentioned in the show that you may want to check out:

“The Wander-Light,” by D. H. Lawson

http://www.poetrylibrary.edu.au/poets/lawson-henry/the-wander-light-0108021

The MFMM classroom guides Chandler found

http://www.abc.net.au/tv/phrynefisher/classroom/MissFisher_English_Themes.pdf

Chandler O’Leary

Poor, poor Miss Lavender. According to Phryne, she was “cold as a halibut on ice”—and that’s when she was still alive! We talk about cyanotypes, the hidden agenda in women’s magazines in the ’20s, Phryne as employer, and the awesomeness of Camellia, Lin’s Communist revolutionary fighter bride.

A couple things we mentioned in the show that you may want to check out:

Info on Anna Atkins (cyanotypes of British algae):

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anna_Atkins

Book recommendation:

“Murder Must Advertise” by Dorothy Sayers

Chandler O’Leary

So, I think we ALL know the big deal about this episode. We try so incredibly hard to discuss everything we can think of—bad accents, Post War Phryne, art—while all we really want to talk about is That Scene. We manage to control ourselves quite nicely…until we just can’t do it anymore.

Chandler O’Leary

Quick, call Phryne! There’s a ghost in the theatre! Oh, yeah—and murder and stuff. Dot’s crush gets crushed. Hugh does some very important personal research. Jack shows a sudden new interest in theatre. And Phryne “makes thirsty when most she satisfies.”

Chandler O’Leary

Hurray! We’re happy to be back to (slightly) happier times with “Raisins and Almonds.” Join us as we talk about kitchen items useful for writing secret messages, the importance of pockets in our clothing, the enigmatic Miss Lee, and Jack’s revelation about his private life. And learn what the heck a Turnaround Alice is!

A couple things we mentioned in the show that you may want to check out:

On Benedict Arnold’s use of invisible ink:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benedict_Arnold

http://clements.umich.edu/exhibits/online/spies/stories-arnold-1.html

On pettipockets:

http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/a/history-of-pockets/

Chandler O’Leary

We’re not going to lie—this one was tough. War flashbacks, Latvian anarchists, the dockworkers’ strike, a missing young woman, dubious methods for getting Phryne’s attention—just UGH. Thank goodness for names that begin with the letter “A.”

Chandler O’Leary

Jazz, blackmail, mugshots, and gratin. We talk about our love/hate relationship with flappers, that amazing dress, themes of “otherness,” the adorableness of Dot and Hugh, and the growing partnership between Phryne and Jack.

Chandler O’Leary

The plot thickens! More wonderful characters are added (Mr. Butler! Jane! the Hispano-Suiza!), we meet a couple bros in silly suits, we experience traveling by rail in the ’20s—and did we detect a bit of a spark between Miss Fisher and the Inspector? Hmmm. Interesting….

Chandler O’Leary

Welcome to the first episode of The Miss Fisher Philes! We are going to work our way through every episode of Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries together, and we hope you will come along for the ride!

We start at the top. Season 1, episode 1. “Cocaine Blues.” Enjoy.

Chandler O’Leary