‘Fisk’ Season 3 Netflix Review - Where's All The Fun?

I suppose the heartbreak was inevitable. When the first season of Fisk premiered on Netflix and reached audiences beyond Australia, it felt like a blessing for fans of sitcoms. Season 1 not only proved to be a good comedy; it was simply excellent. I still remember laughing at the penis painting joke, and the one involving a cat in a video became my favorite. The first season was filled with wit, and that clever humor had a way of sneaking up on you. It joyously exploded on screen and turned me into a diehard fan of Fisk. That's why I was a bit underwhelmed by the second season. While it had its moments of humor, the jokes didn't quite land as well. You weren't rolling in the aisles; instead, you found yourself quietly saying, "ha ha," as if trying to remain proper and dignified at the dinner table. But if you thought the second season was not up to the mark, just wait until you watch the third season. It doesn't just leave you underwhelmed; it, as I mentioned earlier, breaks your heart. Where's the joy, the wit, and the intelligence that made Fisk worthy of all the admiration and attention? Where's the love for the material, the setting, and the characters? Season 3 shockingly feels like it's going through the motions. It seems as if Kitty Flanagan, one of the masterminds behind the show who also stars as the titular character, has grown tired of this comedic venture. Though Flanagan and Tom Peterson directed all six episodes of the third season, they appear disinterested and exhausted. It almost feels as if they're saying, "We would rather be doing something else."

The actors and their respective characters are still very much appealing and admirable. It's always a pleasure to see Helen Tudor-Fisk looking comfortable in her loose pants, as she prefers coziness over dressing to impress others. But how unfortunate it is that she doesn't do anything memorable here. She gets a noisy coffee machine, gives an awkward speech, gets irked by a neighbor, and warns her clients that they have been cheated. Yet, Helen, this time, comes across as little more than a face in the background. She is reduced to a series of reaction shots — she doesn't quite register. Other than a pitch meeting that turns into a weird dance, Helen doesn't get to do any solid comedic bits this season. Even George, aka Webmaster (Aaron Chen), is wasted. He shines a little when placed alongside Lily (Gabrielle Chan), his grandmother, thanks to their competitive nature, but it's just not enough. It's Ray (Marty Sheargold) and Roz (Julia Zemiro), then, who carry Season 3 on their shoulders. They get the best scenes; the best moments. Ray's affair with a fashion psychologist (you read that right) named Melissa (Justine Clarke) brings with it comic drama in the form of Bubby (Sam Campbell), her vape-loving son, although I admit that after a while, he seems less funny and looks more like a nuisance. It would have been better if the show had displayed a little more curiosity regarding Melissa's profession. I wanted to see a fashion psychologist's quirks — how she interacts with her clients, and how she really does her business. 

Fisk Season 3, sadly, leaves all the good things off the table. How can you tease the funeral of a man who's not yet dead, but then not show the actual funeral, only offering a few snapshots of the event? You can't help but feel that a great opportunity has been squandered. And you know a show is in trouble when the jokes that you come up with turn out to be funnier than the ones you are made to watch. For instance, given how slowly a manager of a coworking space counts the votes to remove Roz (she quits in the middle of the counting process), it would have been hilarious to find him counting the papers during the credit scene towards the end of the show. Season 3 also has this annoying habit of cutting to black and moving on to the next scene (like when Helen and Roz go to a bar together), which gives the impression that the directors just didn't know what to do, so they resorted to abrupt transitions. The only worthwhile thing in Season 3 is undoubtedly Roz. Zemiro not only gives her lines a beautiful comic spin, but she also brings in a sexual, sensual spark. Clad in a knee-length skirt, with her legs voluptuously stretched out on the table, Zemiro seems to be channeling a femme fatale — albeit a comedic one. She asks a police officer to hold her hand so she can, ahem, calm her nerves. Zemiro's Roz fills Season 3 with humor and inspiration. When the series takes its eyes off her, it immediately becomes benignly dull (it should be noted that Ting Lim, as Debbie Lim, with her brief appearances, exudes an energy that's both wild and uncontrollable). 

And yet, despite all its flaws, a part of you still roots for Fisk because its success story is similar to that of an underdog. Flanagan has mentioned that she struggled to get Fisk made and now, she's happy with its popularity (it made it to the top 10 on Netflix in 10 countries, including South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States) and the all awards it has got her (Flanagan received the Logie for most popular actress in both 2022 and 2023, and AACTA awards for best comedy performer and best narrative comedy in 2021). Also, there's something pleasurable about spending your time in the company of Helen and her co-workers. Does this mean I want a fourth season? Of course. But I also want it to be as fabulous as the first season, if not more.

Final Score- [4.5/10]
Reviewed by - Vikas Yadav
Follow @vikasonorous on Twitter
Publisher at Midgard Times