The new Netflix series “Sisters” uses dramatic irony to intertwine the seen and unseen aspects of people’s lives to build an electrifying drama.
Reputable fertility doctor Julius Bechly (Barry Otto) used his own sperm to impregnate a massive group of women who went to his clinic for help, then told no one until he knew death was close at hand. He reveals it via a letter to the editor that he had his own daughter send without giving her any warning about its contents. Naturally, the father of the year’s virility causes a lot of problems for a lot of people.
Enter Julia Bechly (Maria Angelico), the woman who believed she was the good doctor’s only child. Her life is turned upside down by the revelation, but she is determined to make the best of it. However, the kicker is she has only two sisters — one a childhood frenemy, the other a falling starlet. These three personalities clash in all of the wildest ways.
Having a dramatically enlarged family immediately starts to affect the sisters’ already tumultuous lives. New siblings beget new completely unforeseen consequences for actions, no matter how careless or careful they may be.
For most of the series, the sisters could be anyone. They’ve been thrust into sudden infamy, but it’s not represented too much on screen. They have average Jane problems, like romantic relationships and non-fertility doctor family. Though at first it seems Julia has the shortest end of the stick, her sisters Roxy (Lucy Durack) and Edie (Antonia Prebble) go through some pretty intense things behind closed doors.
The starlet sister is Roxy, and her unyielding optimism and acceptance of their circumstances is bittersweet — everything she does is, really. She has a secret. It’s a big one, and because she thinks little of it, it’s easy to be fooled into disliking her mother, who desperately attempts to get her to deal with it. Roxy spends the series seeking something she already has.
The childhood frenemy, Edie, is a lawyer with marital issues. She’s incredibly inept when it comes to dealing with feelings, be they her own or other people’s. Over the course of the first season of “Sisters” she goes through a very frustrating journey related to her feelings.
Finally we return to Julia, the Australian Zooey Deschanel. With all of her prints and sweaters, you can’t help but label her as quirky. The revelation about her father throws a wrench into her life, but she resolves to be kind and take it in stride. As you can probably guess, this doesn’t work out incredibly well for her.
“Sisters” is a dramedy, but it definitely leans more toward drama. Main characters with big personalities and a few scattered laughs don’t necessarily make for comedy. For every funny moment there were ten that made me really feel something for this odd bunch.
Things actually get way more intense than it seems like they will in the beginning. The show builds to an unexpected fever pitch, with the premise evolving from just a problem to a bond uplifting the characters. The urgency of the issue waxes and wanes like it would in real life.
There’s nothing to be lost from giving “Sisters” a chance. Once you get past the meaty first episode, you’re on to deliciously choppy seas. Sit back, enjoy the ride and make sure you have someone to freak out to when it’s all over.
