Film Reviews & Movie Analysis

Created and Written by Oliver Lansley

Broadcast: Channel W
Concludes: 29/03/19 – however all episodes are currently available on Sky on Demand
Synopsis: Based on the inner workings of a London PR company and the lifestyle of publicity agents (aka Flacks) who are just as messed up as their clients.
Cast: Anna Paquin, Sarah Okonedo, Rebecca Benson, Genevieve Angelson, Lydia Wilson, Marc Warren.
Episodes: Six

Robyn (Anna Paquin) is a Publicity agent with a number of clients that depend on her to clean up their messes. She is a little too good at her job as the daily client handling she performs at work is the same way she deals with her outside life.

When intern, Melody (Rebecca Benson) gets a first-hand look at what really goes on behind the scenes; the lies they tell the cheating and bribing, she ends up stood on the precipice of deciding between right and wrong.

Flack is both entirely cliche and yet oddly original. The British PR industry is not something we have ever got a look into and the rawness that comes out in the final product is inspiring.

I was unsure about Paquin playing the lead but he doll-eyes expression and the way she stands at the edge of the knife borders on scary in the best possible way.

Sarah Okonedo’s role was out of character from what we’re used to seeing her in, however, she was perfection as the no bullshit, offensive boss. And on this note, it was great to see a slew of British actors and actresses take part in this series. It allowed them to push the boundaries of the roles they tend to be boxed in too.

Finally a quick shout out to Bradley Whitford who features as one of the main characters in episode five. Damn the man can act.

Okay so a little bonus information for you. I went to an advance screening of the pilot episode which also featured a Q&A from the writer/creator and the executive producer, and this is what I learnt.

American lead: The show took seven years to be commissioned and in this time after it was originally rejected by the UK the team took the show to America and pitched it there. Flack went from a half an hour comedy to a 45minute drama. When it finally got commissioned in the UK they also got funding from an American company.

Scandal Comparisons: It’s been said that Flack has an oddly similar resemblance to the Shonda Rhimes, penned ABC series Scandal. The writers claim not to have even heard of the show when he came up with the idea and wrote the treatment and pilot episode. Think of this what you will, but I for one saw a number of similar aspects, but agree overall the two shows are very different and Flack is worth a watch.

Trailer Below….