Season 1 (2020, HBOmax)
'The Flight Attendant' is a streaming show that debuted on HBOmax in November of 2020 and stars Kaley Cuoco. Season 1 has an 8 episode run and the show blends numerous genres including dark comedy, drama, mystery and thriller all in about equal measure. The show has a very hip and cool aesthetic channeling a modern day Hitchcock vibe. Add to that the off kilter behavior of an unabashed alcoholic, promiscuous flight attendant as the show's primary protagonist and you get a recipe for an interesting, orginal show.
The action follows Cuoco's titular flight attendant Cassie Bowden. She is an unreliable, alcoholic good time girl who parties like the sun will never come up and she has zero cares in the world. One night in Bangkok she takes some random guy to bed only to wake up the next day to find his throat is sliced open. He is very dead and she is covered in his blood. Instead of immediately reporting it she covers up, to the best of her addled ability, the fact that she was there which winds up looking very shady in the eyes of the FBI. The FBI is tracking Cassie as a suspect while Cassie is attempting to put the pieces together herself as the night only comes in flashes. Those recollections also have her flashing back to a very traumatic childhood that she has kept repressed for some time and has obviously led her down the path to the alcoholic she has become. There are more than a few side stories with her lawyer friend, another romantic interest, as well as an assassin or two on her trail along with family stuff, and an actual criminal coworker. Add to that as part of her recollection the dead guy she slept with appears to her and they actually converse which is obviously just her way of working through her issues and the mystery at hand. All this leads to the central question of who killed the mystery man, Alex Sokolov, and why.
This was a bit of a fascinating show. I thought initially there would be more comedy. I do like the dark comedy that is there and well as the mystery elements, but I was surprised at how much drama was present mainly swirling around Cassie's alcoholism and the family history that lead her to this destructive lifestyle. It is hard to watch and urge on a protagonist who continually makes the bad choice and continues down a path of self immolation. Cuoco does a great job as conflicted heroine, and despite some horrendous and odd behavior you do want to see her clear her name and get her life on track. Some of the investigation and most of the FBI's involvement felt clunky, but they had to do something to give Cassie room to maneuver with her own highly unofficial investigation. This crosses more into almost a pulpy evening soap opera style of story rather than a hard nose detective story. For the most part it was a very well executed story with good writing and acting. It was dark and morbid and heavy at times but still fun in odd way which is a testament to how Cuoco, even dealing with some weighty stuff, can bring a lightness and vigor to show. This doesn't land in the amazing, must see arena but if you like pulpy mystery thrillers then this might be a show you would enjoy. It did spawn a second season and while I am not clamoring to see it I feel this first season did enough to merit watching a follow on season.
Eric's Grade: B.
