It’s a universal truth that family can be, well, complicated and, if there's a TV series in which that point rings very true, it's Flowers. The Channel 4 drama, which fans have called the most relatable series, stars Olivia Colman as the matriarch of a dysfunctional clan and if you fancy seeing the eccentric Flowers family in all their glory, we highly recommend watching the 10/10 series at your earliest convenience.
The family is, to put it lightly, struggling to hold everything together. We meet music teacher Deborah (played by Olivia), her husband Maurice (Julian Barratt), who suffers with depression, their 25-year-old twin children and even Maurice's senile mother Hattie (Leila Hoffman). It’s both hilarious and heartbreaking as the family grapple with dynamics many of us will be familiar with, but it also delves into deeper themes such as mental health in a way that feels considered and compassionate.
With Flowers now available to watch on repeat on Prime Video, here’s everything you need to know about the series before you watch it, including the plot, cast and how to watch it.
What is Flowers about?
Written by Will Sharpe (Amadeus), the series introduces us to the Flowers family who have their fair share of problems. In series one, which first aired on Channel 4 in 2016, we enter their ramshackle home, but we quickly learn that their house isn't the only thing falling apart. Maurice (Julian Barratt), the author of illustrated children books The Grubbs, and his wife, music teacher, Deborah (Olivia Colman) are barely keeping their marriage together.
Deborah is convinced Maurice, who's also in the depths of depression, is having a secret affair with his Japanese illustrator Shun (Will Sharpe). Meanwhile Maurice’s mother, Hattie (Leila Hoffman) is ageing and ailing. Added to the mix are their maladjusted 25-year-old twins, Amy (Sophia Di Martino) and Donald (Rigby) - who are both trying to win the affection of their neighbour, Abigail (Georgina Campbell).
Over the course of six episodes, we follow their relationships and escapades and quickly learn that despite living on top of each other, this family will do almost anything to not communicate, which pushes them and their struggles with love and life to extreme and ridiculous places. But don't worry, there's plenty of humour thrown in, too.
In series two, we meet the family again as Deborah is publishing a self-help book inspired by her experience of living with a depressed husband. Things are on the up, but things takes a turn for Amy, who finds herself in the midst of a mental breakdown. The series shifts to focus on manic depression and explores how a dynasty of mental illness can bleed down through generations of a family.
Speaking about how the show addresses mental illness, Olivia Colman told Channel 4: "I’m proud to be part of something that tackles something head on, warts-and-all, but does it sensitively. If the script wasn’t the script that Will had written, I’m not sure I’d be able to cope with it, but he’s done it so beautifully that he’s doing it responsibly, and doing it really well."
Who’s in the cast of Flowers?
The cast of Flowers includes:
- Olivia Colman (The Night Manager) as Deborah
- Julian Barratt (The Mighty Boosh) as Maurice
- Sophia Di Martino (Friday Night Dinner) as Amy
- Daniel Rigby (Eric and Ernie) as Donald
- Will Sharpe (Too Much) as Shun
- Leila Hoffman (Bad Education) as Hattie
- Anna Chancellor (Four Weddings and a Funeral) as Aunty Viv
- Harriet Walter (Silo) as Hylda
Is there a trailer for Flowers?
Yes, you can watch the trailer for Flowers below.
How can I watch Flowers?
You can watch Flowers series one and two now on Prime Video. The series is also available to watch on U.
Is Flowers any good?
Yes - if you enjoy a dark comedy, they don't get much better than Flowers. While it explores the challenging theme of mental illness and shine a light on depression, writer Will Sharpe has somehow managed to create a series that's equal parts relatable, funny and heartbreaking. Our only advice would be to have some tissues at the ready before you press play!
What other Olivia Colman dramas can I watch now?
If you want an equally poignant watch (albeit, without the comedic relief), we'd recommend Olivia Colman’s The Father, in which Anne (Olivia) is dealing with her father’s dementia diagnosis and his reluctance to accept help. The Father is available to watch now on Netflix. Another exceptionally good tearjerker is The Thirteenth Tale. The heartbreaking drama features an outstanding performance from Olivia as bereaved biographer Margaret who interviews dying author Vida Winter (played by Vanessa). You can watch The Thirteenth on Prime Video.
