She writes obituaries, but now she’s creating the subjects herself. ITVX has just added a new black comedy to its roster, and it’s unlike any crime story you’ve seen before. The Irish drama, simply titled Obituary, first aired in 2023 and returned with a second season in 2025. Siobhán Cullen leads the cast as an obituarist for a small-town newspaper who discovers a terrifyingly effective way to avoid a pay cut: she starts killing her fellow townsfolk to keep the cash flowing. This obituary tv series has quickly become a word-of-mouth sensation, earning a reputation as one of the most original shows on streaming.
What sets it apart isn’t just the gruesome side hustle. It’s the way the series wraps murder, small-town gossip, and financial desperation into a package that feels sharp, witty, and unsettling all at once. Before you assume this is another dour crime drama, let’s unpack exactly why Obituary has critics and viewers raving, and why its perfect Rotten Tomatoes score is so well deserved.
What happens when an obituarist runs out of deaths to report?
Elvira Clancy has a job she genuinely enjoys. She crafts elegant, strangely moving tributes for the recently departed in a sleepy Irish town. Then her penny-pinching editor drops a bombshell: from now on, she’ll be paid per obituary. When the natural death rate plummets and her workload dries up, Elvira faces a classic gig-economy dilemma — generate demand or starve. Her solution, however, is anything but ordinary.
She begins to nudge the demographic in a direction that suits her bank balance. The first death might be an accident, but the second and third feel dangerously like a calling. Once Elvira crosses that line, she discovers an untapped bloodlust she never suspected. The killings are not just transactions; they become a twisted form of self-expression. The obituary page, once a record of loss, now reads like a secret diary of her darkest desires.
How did critics describe the show?
Critics were quick to recognize the offbeat charm beneath the grisly premise. The Irish Times described the series as a “genuinely engaging murder mystery,” praising its ability to balance suspense with a wink. Rather than leaning into gore, the show builds tension through Elvira’s increasingly precarious lies and the small-town social fabric that threatens to unravel them.
Many reviews noted that the writing refuses to take itself too seriously. There’s a playfulness in the way death announcements become a narrative device, almost as if the obituaries themselves are characters. The tone never tips into parody, yet the grim subject matter is handled with a lightness that feels distinctly Irish — morbid, funny, and deeply human all at once.
What do viewers think of the series?
Audience response has been nothing short of enthusiastic. The obituary tv series holds a perfect Rotten Tomatoes score, a feat that’s rare for any genre but especially for a dark comedy that could easily have polarized viewers. Fans have filled social media with words like “excellent” and “almost perfect show,” while one viewer called it a “brilliant dark gem” that manages to be twisted without being gratuitous.
The character of Elvira seems to be the center of that adoration. Her quiet desperation and sudden, shocking agency strike a chord. Another viewer noted that Siobhán Cullen’s performance was “sublime,” combining vulnerability with a chilling, deadpan humor. It’s the kind of show people stumble upon, binge in a weekend, and immediately tell their friends about.
Who plays the lead role?
The face behind the obituary tv series
Elvira Clancy is brought to life by Siobhán Cullen, an Irish actress whose previous work in Bodkin and The Dry has already made her a familiar face to fans of Irish television. Cullen carries the series with a performance that is equal parts sympathetic and unnerving. You find yourself rooting for her, even when you know you shouldn’t.
Her Elvira isn’t a cartoon villain. She’s an underpaid, overlooked professional who stumbles into a solution so extreme it becomes liberating. Cullen embodies that arc with a subtle physicality — a glance held a second too long, a smile that flickers into something colder. It’s a star-making turn that anchors the show’s wildest moments in emotional truth.
What is the main conflict in the story?
Just as Elvira settles into her murderous routine, a new wrench is thrown into the works. The local paper hires Emerson Stafford, a crime correspondent with a sharp instinct for trouble and a smile that makes Elvira’s pulse quicken for reasons beyond fear. Stafford isn’t just a potential love interest; he’s a threat wrapped in charm.
Elvira must now balance a double life on a razor’s edge. Every conversation with Emerson is a high-wire act — she’s simultaneously trying to hide a growing body count and navigate a genuine attraction that could unravel everything. The tension between intimacy and exposure gives the series its relentless forward momentum. Can she trust him? And even if she could, should she?
Where can you watch ‘Obituary’?
Both season one and season two of Obituary are available to stream right now on ITVX. The platform has been building a strong slate of exclusive dramas, and this series is a standout addition that requires no long-term commitment — just a willingness to sink into a darkly funny world for a few nights.
Since the show is a co-production with Hulu in some regions, viewers outside the UK and Ireland might find it on other services. Always check your local streaming library, but for UK audiences, ITVX is the home of this obituary tv series. The two-season run means you can experience the full arc — from Elvira’s first desperate act to the increasingly complicated consequences that follow.
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How does the show balance dark humor with thriller elements?
The art of the uncomfortable laugh
Described by many as a darkly comic thriller akin to Bad Sisters or Sweetpea, Obituary walks a tightrope between genuine suspense and piercing wit. One minute you’re gripping the edge of your seat as Elvira tries to dispose of evidence; the next, you’re chuckling at the absurdity of a funeral director commenting on the uptick in business. The show never lets you settle into a single emotion.
The humor emerges from the small-town setting itself. Neighbors gossip about the “unfortunate” run of deaths while Elvira stands among them, holding a casserole dish and a secret. The thriller elements, meanwhile, are rooted in the very real fear of being caught. There’s no supernatural villain, no elaborate conspiracy — just one woman’s increasingly daring improvisations. That grounded reality makes every creak of a floorboard feel like a police siren.
Is the premise a commentary on the gig economy and desperate measures?
Here is where it gets interesting. The catalyst for all the mayhem isn’t psychosis or revenge; it’s a freelance pay structure. Elvira’s editor informs her that she will be paid per obituary, transforming her from a salaried employee into a pieceworker. In an era of zero-hour contracts and side hustles, that detail lands with uncomfortable precision.
The obituary tv series uses its murderous plot as a metaphor for the gig economy’s strip-mined logic. When your income depends on output, and output depends on death, you might start to see the living as inventory. Elvira’s spiral is extreme, but the underlying anxiety — what desperate lengths would you go to simply to make rent? — feels painfully familiar. The show never lectures, but the commentary is there, wrapped in a macabre punchline.
How does the series compare to other black comedies about morally ambiguous protagonists?
Time Magazine captured the show’s spirit with a pithy comparison: “Imagine Dexter meets Bad Sisters, with a chilling yet somehow quite likable lead performance from Cullen, and you won’t be far off.” That Venn diagram of serial killer tension and Irish small-town comedy is exactly the sweet spot Obituary occupies.
For readers who love dark comedies like Barry or Dexter but crave something with a smaller, more intimate setting, this series fits perfectly. It lacks the glossy sheen of an American production, trading it for rain-streaked lanes and cluttered kitchens. The moral ambiguity is baked into every interaction. Elvira isn’t a vigilante with a code; she’s a struggling professional who realized she was good at something terrible. That specificity makes her journey feel fresh, even in a crowded landscape of antiheroes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the obituary tv series appropriate for viewers who dislike graphic violence?
Yes, surprisingly so. While the premise revolves around murder, the show relies far more on psychological tension and dark humor than on explicit gore. Most of the deaths happen off-screen or are handled in a stylized, almost whimsical manner. The real unease comes from Elvira’s internal transformation and the close calls she experiences, not from splatter effects.
How many seasons of ‘Obituary’ are there, and has it been renewed?
As of now, two seasons exist. The first season premiered in 2023, and a second followed in 2025. Both are available to stream in their entirety on ITVX. While a third season hasn’t been officially announced, the show’s critical acclaim and perfect Rotten Tomatoes score make a strong case for continuation. Keep an eye on ITVX announcements for updates.
What makes this different from other crime dramas with female leads?
Unlike many crime dramas that position their female protagonists as detectives or victims, Obituary centers on a perpetrator who is also the storyteller. Elvira controls the narrative of her town’s deaths through the obituaries she writes, adding a meta layer to the traditional murder mystery. The small-town Irish setting further distinguishes it, offering claustrophobic intimacy and a rich supporting cast of neighbors who are both suspects and unwitting accomplices.
