As a genre-bending dark comedy, HBO’s The Flight Attendant is a treat for people who love both Kaley Cuoco and the mystery genre.
The Flight Attendant came out on HBO Max during the latter part of 2020. It ran for eight episodes before being renewed for a second season in 2022. This series is a mash-up of genres and is one of the best comedy series released recently. It has many unique elements that make it a fun watch. Many of these elements you will not find in a typical comedy series. Here is why Flight Attendant is worth a watch for those who haven’t seen it.
Outrageously Funny
First and foremost, Flight Attendant is outrageously funny. The series stars Kaley Cuoco of Big Bang Theory fame. Her sitcom comedy experience is extensively utilized in every scene she is in. The series follows Cuco during her misadventures as a flight attendant after her world gets turned upside down. She wakes up in a hotel room next to a dead man and has no memory of how she got there. Right from the get-go, the show draws upon dark comedy to get some significant laughs. Instead of calling the police, Cuoco’s character Cassie comedically has to clean up the body and avoid being questioned about it. Kaley Cuoco gives a very physical performance, and her recklessness and drunkenness are a constant source of laughs. She is almost like a cartoon character brought to life at times.
Murder Mystery Atmosphere
Another strength of the show is its choice to complement its dark comedy themes with a murder mystery atmosphere. The search for the killer can lead to some pretty suspenseful moments. Cassie’s adventures as a flight attendant are constantly unscored by visions that she has and the FBI, who immediately finds her suspicious. The atmosphere has a similar feel to the series The Patient.
It can sometimes feel like a race-against-the-clock thriller more than a comedy series. The quick pace works in its favor, for the most part. One advantage of a quicker-paced comedy is that if a joke isn’t working for you, it is already on to the next joke. The dark humor enhanced the thriller mystery atmosphere as well. You never know when the show will go in for a joke or take a story or character beat seriously. Most of its jokes hit, which allows you to get engrossed in the fun murder mystery twists when they pop up along the way. The element of time is ever present in the series. Cassie needs to clear her name from the FBI while, at the same time, she must escape the fate of being another victim of the killer.
Highly Praised By Critics
The Flight Attendant received positive responses when it was released. It has a high critic score on Rotten Tomatoes and a generally positive audience score. Critics praise the fun scenes, dialogue, and suspenseful atmosphere. A quiet character study is buried beneath the thriller conceit and pace of the series. The choice to focus on Cuoco’s character has worked well for the reception of the series. While the series does not do too much to highlight its secondary characters, it does plant some seeds for future seasons. It is similar
Critics also praised the intriguing storyline that is constantly being flipped over due to the twists and turns it takes. You will often find that your whole perspective of the characters and the story will change from the beginning of an episode and the end of the next episode. Critics have called it a career-high for Kaley Cuoco.
It Humanizes Its Characters
Cassie’s character is an alcoholic and a source of comedy on the show. However, the show uses humor to humanize the trope of the drunk and ditzy comedic relief. The show will sometimes put the comedy on full pause to examine Cassie’s character through visions, flashbacks, and profound moments. Cassie is constantly inebriated during the show and is not apologetic about it in the slightest. Even after the shocking beginning of the series, she often shows little concern for the consequences of her actions.
While the other characters in the show don’t have as much development as Cassie, they are given more to do than their classical comedy show roles. The drama between characters is often funny, but it can also be poignant sometimes. Characters will be put in situations that are equal parts stressful and fun. Comedy characters being put into thriller situations becomes a joke in itself.
Slick Visuals and Editing
The Flight Attendant is often a visual treat to watch. It features a quick editing style and a self-indulgent visual style that makes it worth the watch alone. A large portion of the series takes place in Cassie’s mind, which gives the show a convenient excuse to showcase trippy imagery and dive a bit into the surreal. She is constantly talking to a psychologically conjured version of the dead man that she finds herself next to at the beginning of the series. The show also has many flashbacks that make for a fun excuse to add visual variety.
