The Flight Attendant Season 1 (2021) Review

This show was a big hit for the US run HBO Max when it came out late last year, but here in The UK we have only just gained access to the show and I have watched The Flight Attendant and here is my review for it. The premise of the show sees a Flight Attendant get caught in a murder investigation where she has to protect herself while trying to find the one responsible. 

Main Character

Kaley Cuoco best known for The Big Bang Theory and Harley Quinn plays the lead character here and she is really good, she is funny and interesting for one of the better lead characters you will see. At times her character can be frustrating but it is all a part of the character development and Cuoco does such a good job that it makes you care about her and become interested in where her character develops. 

Supporting Characters

Michiel Huisman plays the man who is murdered, and despite that he plays a major part in this show and I think he is good in the role. He shares the majority of his scenes with Cuoco and they have really good chemistry together, they are fun together and it takes two to tango so Huisman plays his part well. Zosia Mamet plays Cuoco's best friend and I really liked her too, their friendship feels really genuine and Mamet does a really good job of playing a character who is kind of struggling to keep her friendship going with this clearly toxic personality. Michelle Gomez like normal plays an antagonist and she is decent, she has a Scottish accent which at first confused me, but I later liked it and thought it gave her a bit of charm and humour. But there are some elements of the cast I wasn't a huge fan of, the whole FBI angle of the show doesn't work and the actors aren't given enough to work with to give them the development they need. Also Rosie Perez plays a fellow Flight Attendant and she does very little for me, her character has her own story arc and it just really doesn't work, I just am not a huge fan of her as an actress and I just feel like her character was a weaker aspect of the show. 

Story 

The story is a good old fashioned murder mystery and it works for the most part and keeps you on your toes throughout. It also does a really good job of showing how a lifetime of trauma can affect a person and give them pretty serious issues and for a show that is quite comedic that is something the show should be proud of. But there are a few different story arcs that just don't work, such as the FBI and Rosie Perez character story arc, they just feel weak and lack depth and intrigue to them. Also the film has a couple of twists in the final episode that just didn't work for me and felt like they didn't quite fit what the story was trying to tell. 

Script

The script is very good, the show has a really fantastic blend between comedy and drama and does a great job of never over-emphasising either of them. Characters are naturally quite funny but they also have some real dark moments that just make them feel more realistic and people that could exist in the real world. 

Style  

The style of the show does look good, with the main character being a Flight Attendant the show does go to a few different places and that allows the show to keep their locations fresh and I wish there could have been even more. Though at times there are some issues with the pacing, certain story arcs are given too much time and it feels clunked and despite a good run time, I wish that at times the show had been more focused. 

Overall

Overall, The Flight Attendant is a good show. This is an easy watch and one that if you are an avid TV watcher should give a go as I think people will enjoy it and with a second season confirmed the show is on the up. 

Rating - 7/10