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Small Fandom Primer: Diplomatic Immunity
I keep meaning to do these for shows I love, but I finally got around to finishing this one, so whatever. Basically: Diplomatic Immunity is awesome and sweet and adorable and hilarious, and you should watch it, HERE'S WHY.
THE SHOW
According to the official website, Diplomatic Immunity is:
A bold, quirky and politically incorrect comedy that follows the misadventures at the consulate of The Most Royal Kingdom of Fe'ausi and the fallen New Zealand Foreign Affairs high-flier who's been sent in to straighten out the consulate staff.
... Which pretty much sums it up. It's all about the (fictional) Fe'ausian consulate in New Zealand; the cold war between the corrupt, charming, laid-back consulate staff and their new "advisor" from Wellington; and the wacky hijinks that ensue. Add in various personal, romantic, economic, legal, military, and political complications, and you have Diplomatic Immunity in a nutshell.
THE NATION
The Most Royal Kingdom of Fe’ausi is a collection of tiny atolls in a far-flung forgotten part of the Pacific Ocean, straddling the International Dateline to be precise. Sure, most of these atolls are either sinking or Global Warming is making the seas rise to claim them, but the fact remains it is still an undiscovered paradise – and a paradise to all who have discovered it and been welcomed into the loving arms of King Gideon. And, my, what big and generous arms these arms are - especially if you are a rich person in search of a tax haven; or a mineral company looking to mine phosphate-rich guano; or a foreign government looking for a secluded atoll to test weapons of mass destruction.
The Most Royal Kingdom of Fe’ausi is a happy place. The people are happy because the King looks after them, royally. They have the best standard of living in the Pacific and they laugh and play and enjoy their idyllic life and the only reason anyone ever leaves to go to New Zealand (of which they are officially a protectorate – although who needs protecting from whom is a moot point) is because they are bored with paradise.
The people of The Most Royal Kingdom of Fe’ausi live in comfort and harmony because the Most Royal Kingdom of Fe’ausi is possibly the most corrupt place on earth. But in a nice way.
THE CHARACTERS
The Diplomat
Leighton Mills (Craig Parker): Formerly the youngest ever ambassador to Great Britain, caught up in scandal when he was photographed in flagrante with Princess Grace in the back of the Queen's limo. Now fallen from ... um, grace, his newest posting (aka. punishment) is at the Fe'ausian consulate in New Zealand, where he's been charged with cleaning up corruption. Which is easier said than done - especially when he's crushing on the Fe'ausian ambassador's daughter.
The Ambassador
Jonah Fa’auigaese (Dave Fane): He's charming, manipulative, and totally corrupt, and it's impossible not to like him. First in line for the Fe'ausian throne, his biggest problems are his brother, a king with serious health issues and an ego the size of his waistline; his daughter Leilani, a staunch anti-royalist attempting to overthrow the Fe'ausian government; and Leighton, who has been a constant thorn in Jonah's side ever since he was posted at the consulate. Jonah also gets some of the best lines of the entire show.
The Activist
Leilani Fa’Auigaese (Lesley-Ann Brandt): Passionate, idealistic, and fierce in her beliefs, Leilani - despite being second in line for the throne* - is dedicated to ending the monarchy and bringing democracy to Fe'ausi. Even if she's the only one who feels that way. Neither a lack of interest in democracy from the Fe'ausian people, nor the fact that she was recently shipped off to New Zealand against her will, can dampen her dedication - and she may have even found a kindred spirit in Leighton.
* Or, well, she would be, if Fe'ausi allowed women to be king.
The Tourist Affairs Liaison
Suga Fa’Auigaese (Kayte Ferguson): Does her job by having affairs with tourists. Suga is assertive bordering on aggressive, and not afraid to pursue what she wants - which, for the most part, is men. Like most of the consulate staff, she's a member of the royal family.
The Cultural Affairs Liaison
Malepe Fa’Auigaese (Mario Gaoa): Does not, in fact, do his job by having affairs with women of many cultures, though it isn't for lack of trying. Alias DJ Ladykilla, a member of the royal family, and known by those who love him as a complete idiot.
The Economic Affairs Liaison
Mick Fa’Auigaese (John Leigh): Officially, an adopted albino member of the royal family. Unofficially, he can often be found making shady deals with even shadier men, and his activities range from money laundering to selling off part of the New Zealand fleet for a tidy profit.
The Receptionist
Kirsty (Hannah Marshall): A non-Fe'ausian privy to the inner workings of the consulate. Blonde. Perky. Adorable. Loves her job - except when she's forced to keep everything together in the midst of chaos. Quite likes stirring up trouble herself, however.
THE EPISODES
Season one of Diplomatic Immunity has thirteen half-hour episodes. You can buy the first season on DVD online from Mighty Ape, or wherever it's available in retail stores (possibly exclusively in New Zealand), and I'm working on uploading episodes; in the meantime, if you're looking for links, try![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
no_immunity.
THE COMMUNITY
There is a Diplomatic Immunity community on livejournal:no_immunity. It isn't super active, but it features episode recaps, polls, icon contests, and general discussion.
Fanworks for the show are (sadly) rare. I haven't been able to find any fic (HINT: YOU SHOULD ALL WATCH THE SHOW AND THEN WRITE AWESOME FIC ABOUT IT), but I do have a couple of multimedia recs:
[vid] Iko Iko by![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
mresundance. Whether or not you have watched, or are considering watching, the show, you should definitely check out this vid, because it's awesome and hilarious and basically everything I love about the show.
[art] Diplomatic Immunity bytalumin. Malepe! I mean, the whole picture is adorable, but Malepe is my favourite bit. He likes the ladies.
You can also find out more about the show via the official website.
... And that's pretty much it. Seriously, you should watch the show - there are only thirteen episodes, just over twenty minutes each, and it's one of my favourite sitcoms ever, so. Give it a shot - you know you want to.
According to the official website, Diplomatic Immunity is:
A bold, quirky and politically incorrect comedy that follows the misadventures at the consulate of The Most Royal Kingdom of Fe'ausi and the fallen New Zealand Foreign Affairs high-flier who's been sent in to straighten out the consulate staff.
... Which pretty much sums it up. It's all about the (fictional) Fe'ausian consulate in New Zealand; the cold war between the corrupt, charming, laid-back consulate staff and their new "advisor" from Wellington; and the wacky hijinks that ensue. Add in various personal, romantic, economic, legal, military, and political complications, and you have Diplomatic Immunity in a nutshell.
The Most Royal Kingdom of Fe’ausi is a collection of tiny atolls in a far-flung forgotten part of the Pacific Ocean, straddling the International Dateline to be precise. Sure, most of these atolls are either sinking or Global Warming is making the seas rise to claim them, but the fact remains it is still an undiscovered paradise – and a paradise to all who have discovered it and been welcomed into the loving arms of King Gideon. And, my, what big and generous arms these arms are - especially if you are a rich person in search of a tax haven; or a mineral company looking to mine phosphate-rich guano; or a foreign government looking for a secluded atoll to test weapons of mass destruction.
The Most Royal Kingdom of Fe’ausi is a happy place. The people are happy because the King looks after them, royally. They have the best standard of living in the Pacific and they laugh and play and enjoy their idyllic life and the only reason anyone ever leaves to go to New Zealand (of which they are officially a protectorate – although who needs protecting from whom is a moot point) is because they are bored with paradise.
The people of The Most Royal Kingdom of Fe’ausi live in comfort and harmony because the Most Royal Kingdom of Fe’ausi is possibly the most corrupt place on earth. But in a nice way.
The Diplomat
Leighton Mills (Craig Parker): Formerly the youngest ever ambassador to Great Britain, caught up in scandal when he was photographed in flagrante with Princess Grace in the back of the Queen's limo. Now fallen from ... um, grace, his newest posting (aka. punishment) is at the Fe'ausian consulate in New Zealand, where he's been charged with cleaning up corruption. Which is easier said than done - especially when he's crushing on the Fe'ausian ambassador's daughter.
The Ambassador
Jonah Fa’auigaese (Dave Fane): He's charming, manipulative, and totally corrupt, and it's impossible not to like him. First in line for the Fe'ausian throne, his biggest problems are his brother, a king with serious health issues and an ego the size of his waistline; his daughter Leilani, a staunch anti-royalist attempting to overthrow the Fe'ausian government; and Leighton, who has been a constant thorn in Jonah's side ever since he was posted at the consulate. Jonah also gets some of the best lines of the entire show.
The Activist
Leilani Fa’Auigaese (Lesley-Ann Brandt): Passionate, idealistic, and fierce in her beliefs, Leilani - despite being second in line for the throne* - is dedicated to ending the monarchy and bringing democracy to Fe'ausi. Even if she's the only one who feels that way. Neither a lack of interest in democracy from the Fe'ausian people, nor the fact that she was recently shipped off to New Zealand against her will, can dampen her dedication - and she may have even found a kindred spirit in Leighton.
* Or, well, she would be, if Fe'ausi allowed women to be king.
The Tourist Affairs Liaison
Suga Fa’Auigaese (Kayte Ferguson): Does her job by having affairs with tourists. Suga is assertive bordering on aggressive, and not afraid to pursue what she wants - which, for the most part, is men. Like most of the consulate staff, she's a member of the royal family.
The Cultural Affairs Liaison
Malepe Fa’Auigaese (Mario Gaoa): Does not, in fact, do his job by having affairs with women of many cultures, though it isn't for lack of trying. Alias DJ Ladykilla, a member of the royal family, and known by those who love him as a complete idiot.
The Economic Affairs Liaison
Mick Fa’Auigaese (John Leigh): Officially, an adopted albino member of the royal family. Unofficially, he can often be found making shady deals with even shadier men, and his activities range from money laundering to selling off part of the New Zealand fleet for a tidy profit.
The Receptionist
Kirsty (Hannah Marshall): A non-Fe'ausian privy to the inner workings of the consulate. Blonde. Perky. Adorable. Loves her job - except when she's forced to keep everything together in the midst of chaos. Quite likes stirring up trouble herself, however.
Season one of Diplomatic Immunity has thirteen half-hour episodes. You can buy the first season on DVD online from Mighty Ape, or wherever it's available in retail stores (possibly exclusively in New Zealand), and I'm working on uploading episodes; in the meantime, if you're looking for links, try
no_immunity.There is a Diplomatic Immunity community on livejournal:
no_immunity. It isn't super active, but it features episode recaps, polls, icon contests, and general discussion.Fanworks for the show are (sadly) rare. I haven't been able to find any fic (HINT: YOU SHOULD ALL WATCH THE SHOW AND THEN WRITE AWESOME FIC ABOUT IT), but I do have a couple of multimedia recs:
[vid] Iko Iko by
mresundance. Whether or not you have watched, or are considering watching, the show, you should definitely check out this vid, because it's awesome and hilarious and basically everything I love about the show.[art] Diplomatic Immunity by
talumin. Malepe! I mean, the whole picture is adorable, but Malepe is my favourite bit. He likes the ladies.You can also find out more about the show via the official website.
... And that's pretty much it. Seriously, you should watch the show - there are only thirteen episodes, just over twenty minutes each, and it's one of my favourite sitcoms ever, so. Give it a shot - you know you want to.