Common Sense Media Review
By Melissa Camacho
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Cutting PR drama has mature themes, language, drugs, sex.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 17+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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Flack
What's the Story?
FLACK is a dramatic series about an American publicist, Robyn (Anna Paquin), who manages and protects the reputations of her London firm's high-profile clients, burying the scandals surrounding the U.K.'s biggest celebrities. Under the direction of inscrutable boss Caroline (Sophie Okonedo), Robyn works tirelessly alongside colleague/friend Eve (Lydia Wilson) to swiftly and quietly handle each crisis that comes their way. Also assisting her is brand-new (and rather inexperienced) intern Melody (Rebecca Benson). Robyn works nonstop to get her clients' lives under control before they become public relations disasters, but she can't seem to get a grip on her private life. As a result, she does what she can to hide her own dysfunction from the people closest to her, including her sensitive sister Belle (Meghan Treadway) and her partner, Sam (Arinzé Kene).
Is It Any Good?
This sharp but intense series features what's now a common tale: A strong woman who's great at her job manages to sabotage her own life every step of the way. In Flack, Robyn, who was unable to control the events in her troubled family's past, commits herself to trying to control everyone else's life and isn't afraid to lie, bribe, or engage in other unethical behavior to do it. The show is billed as a dramatic comedy in the United Kingdom, and it's full of sarcastic one-liners, but not all viewers will appreciate the sometimes subtle, often abrasive humor. Meanwhile, it often feels as if it's trying too hard to insert Robyn's personal struggles within the conflicts created by her clients. Nonetheless, viewers who stick with it will likely find the layered female leads refreshing—if sometimes frustrating and not always likable—and their attempts to "fix" each public relations disaster filled with entertaining dramatic tension.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the lengths that Robyn and the other women at the PR firm are willing to go to in order to cover up for their clients in Flack. How morally responsible are they for their clients' behaviors? Do any stand out as particularly shocking to you? Where might you draw the line in a similar situation?
Flack shows people engaging in lots of risky behavior, including having sex with strangers and using drugs. What does showing these behaviors add to the story and the portrayal of the industry (if anything)? Could the stories here be told without showing those behaviors, and would they miss anything if so?
Robyn, Eve, and Caroline all display a softer side at some point during the series (though it's usually fleeting). Can you think of any instances where they act kindly, and did this change your perception of them at all?
TV Details
- Premiere date : February 20, 2019
- Cast : Anna Paquin , Lydia Wilson , Rebecca Benson
- Network : Pop TV
- Genre : Drama
- TV rating :
- Last updated : January 17, 2024
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