Murder mysteries, scandalous affairs, and a dashing lady detective with a wardrobe to rival James Bond. That's a quick summary of Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries. The show lasted three seasons, running from 2012 to 2015, and was popular enough to move beyond the borders of Australia to an international audience. The show is still popular among fans of both sleuthing and history and even inspired a spin-off, Ms. Fisher's Modern Murder Mysteries, which takes place in the 1960s.
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There are plenty of fans that have rated the episodes they liked the most. The results are collected and determined by IMDb, which has handy lists of the episodes and their ratings. Be advised, there are some spoilers ahead, so be warned if you're not finished all three seasons yet.
The Blood of Juana the Mad - 8.1
It's easy to understand why this episode is so popular. It's not just the subject matter and plot that draws the viewer, but also the developing romantic drama between Phyrne and Jack.
The two characters are estranged in part of season two and the murder in this episode brings them back together. The recurring character and fan-favorite Dr. Mac is also involved in the adventure.
Death on the Vine - 8.1
Wine, and the luxurious lifestyle attached to it, is the background to this episode. That means that Phryne and Dot are out in the hostile countryside as opposed to the relative peace of the big city. The usual friends and allies can't help them in a small town that makes it clear they aren't going to cooperate with a murder investigation.
There's also the compelling human element to the show, with a nervous Hugh in the background working on his own pet project, proposing to his Catholic sweetheart in defiance of his mother.
Death Defying Feats - 8.1
A guillotine, an estranged father, and a tumultuous flirtation make this a popular episode. Before season two, the audience hers very little about Phryne's immediate family, other than her deceased sister. All we hear about her father is ing references to him being a deadbeat and a drunk, loopy enough to get the date on his oldest daughter's birth certificate wrong.
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Not only does Phryne have to deal with a gruesome murder when a magic act goes wrong, which is bad enough, but things worsen when her father appears on the scene. He seems he traveled all the way from England just to mess with her personal life and is generally up to no good.
Death and Hysteria - 8.1
Back at the posh estate of Aunt Prudence, a psychiatrist and natural healer, has been invited to set up a clinic for "hysterical" women. That had a different meaning in the 1920s, and when one poor woman is electrocuted by one of the treatments, it's up to Phryne to solve the case.
No doubt a popular episode because of the sordid and sexual content, but also interesting when it comes to the concept of women's health in the early 1920s.
Murder Under the Mistletoe - 8.2
Everyone loves a holiday-themed episode, so it's no surprise to see the Christmas episode stand out as a fan favorite. It's not actually Christmas, but a special event that Phryne hosts in July, the dead of winter in the southern hemisphere.
This episode includes the suspense of both mystery and horror, as the snowbound victims are getting picked off according to a favorite holiday carol between skiing and hot toddies.
King Memses' Curse - 8.3
A highly-rated episode for a number of reasons, but mainly because of the terrifying child-murderer Murdoch Foyle lurking in the background. The decades-old mystery of Jane Fisher's disappearance is finally solved and it's more chilling and tragic than anyone could have imagined.
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It's not just Phryne who's in danger. Foyle manages to threaten young Jane, Phryne's ward, along with incapacitating her whole staff. It was all to fulfill an ancient Egyptian prophecy that Foyle and a few of his companions stumbled on to in Egypt. While today religious fanaticism of all stripes is behind human trafficking and murder, this is a reference to the popularity of archaeology, in particular Egyptology, at the time.
Dead Air - 8.3
During this time period, radio was all the rage in Melbourne, with a local station finally breaking through in 1920. The title is a chilling reference to radio silence, which is fitting since the storyline of this episode revolves around Phryne installing a new "wireless" at home. She promptly hears about a murder over the airways and the game is afoot.
To thicken the plot, Jack is working undercover at the station that announces the untimely death, leaving Phryne and her crew to solve the case on their own.
Murder in the Dark - 8.4
Where else does murder happen? Seriously, though, this murder happens at night and is also a run-up to Phryne's confrontation with Murdoch Foyle, hence the title. hat's enough to make this an audience favorite.
The popularity of this episode might have more to do with the racy party that takes place at Aunt Prudence's estate right after the murder, which involves a plate of hash brownies and a hostess with a Lady Godiva "costume."
Unnatural Habits - 8.6
One of the more visceral episodes, this one is about difficult subjects. Matters get personal, with Jack's job on the line and Phryne questioning the real cost of her lifestyle as they investigate a convent that doubles as an orphanage and laundry. Things get ugly when the subject of smuggling gets thrown in the pile with slavery and murder.
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The best stories have a timeless message. Phryne is shocked when she finds out that her clothes are washed by children. Today, big names like Apple and Nike also got caught getting their work done in sweatshops, too. The more things change, the more they stay the same, it seems.
Death Do Us Part - 8.6
Is it the compelling mystery or the cheerful wedding plans that make this a popular episode? It's great fun to watch Jack and Phryne work together to solve a murder and catch an escaped man, but it's also touching to watch Dot and Hugh's two-year romance blossom into a marriage.
This episode also involves Phryne's father, and details about the Fisher family are always interesting because there are relatively few of them.