Productions that focus on murder and death have always captured the audience's interest. True crime stories, murder mysteries like the Knives Out series, and shows featuring a serial killer as the main character are among the most-watched content on streaming platforms. One of the most famous examples of this genre, Dexter, follows the character played by Michael C. Hall, while also mentioning other productions that delight viewers with dark tales. One of the least appreciated series of 2023, Obituary, brilliantly tackles similar dark themes with a comedic yet sinister tone. Even better, Obituary has not only stopped there but has returned with a six-episode second season in 2025, offering viewers more than just Elvira's twisted story.

The Irish series is set in a small town and follows a woman named Elvira (Siobhán Cullen), who is the obituary writer for the local newspaper and uses murder to create more writing opportunities for herself. Elvira is a complex character who is both supportive and disturbingly intricate. As the series progresses, the rules she establishes become increasingly blurred. However, Obituary does not revolve solely around murder; it elegantly addresses other topics by using extreme examples to showcase the challenges faced by workers in an industry experiencing industrial decline.

While Hall has great charm in Dexter, Elvira undoubtedly takes center stage in Obituary, and every second is worth it. Her introduction before the camera evokes feelings of sympathy and fear. The fact that Elvira lost her mother during childbirth and describes hunting deer as her happiest memory is a perfect combination that reflects the character's perspective on death. Elvira's rules regarding murder make this even clearer: she won't allow anyone she loves to be harmed, will only kill those who "deserve" it, and will not kill children.

However, as the series shows, taking a life and its consequences are far more complex than the three rules on paper. Every person Elvira kills or targets has at least one sympathetic trait, and there are people who will miss them after their deaths. Her failure to find those who are connected to her victims and are pleased with their deaths represents her internal conflict between guilt and satisfaction. The foundation of this conflict actually lies in her desire to have control over her life amidst the declining salary and stagnation in her small town.

Although Obituary centers on death and murder, its focus on addiction and how tragic it can be runs as a poignant undercurrent through many characters. While Elvira's struggle with her desire to kill people is part of this, the theme of addiction is explored much more effectively through her father, Ward (Michael Smiley). After helping to cover up a crime, Ward begins drinking, and this addiction is hard to monitor as it affects those around him. The revelation during Elvira's plea for him not to drink that he was previously drunk and is trying to sober up shows how powerfully addiction can control a person.

The series does not limit itself to a heartbreaking portrayal of addiction but also addresses the decline of the local journalism industry.