“Fleabag” is the show that makes you laugh at someone else’s chaos and then realize it is your own. It is a comedy-drama that ran 2016 -2019, having two incredible seasons. “Fleabag” is a rare cultural product that refuses to bore its audience with easy morality. Yet beneath its sharp humor and brutal honesty, the series’s message reveals that no matter how corrupt or emotionally wrecked we are, we are still humans who deserve to be seen, understood, and loved.
Directed by Harry Bradbeer, the dark comedy tells the story of a witty and troubled woman known as Fleabag (Phoebe Waller-Bridge) navigating through grief, failed relationships and the everyday messiness of life. She has a little guinea-themed cafe and loves trying new things. Alongside her character are her dry sister Claire (Sian Clifford), their awkward but kind father (Bill Paterson), and their father’s new, passive-aggressive partner (Olivia Colman). Season two raises the stakes with the introduction of a Priest (Andrew Scott), with whom Fleabag experiences true love.
The construction of the lead character, Fleabag, is sensational. In a highly politically correct industry where the lead characters are assumed to have certain likability, Fleabag stands out. “I have a horrible feeling that I’m a greedy, perverted, selfish, apathetic, cynical, depraved, morally bankrupt woman who can’t even call herself a feminist,” says Fleabag. What a character! Yet while watching, the only thought the audience is going to have about the character is, “That is so me!” Waller-Bridge constructed a character who is highly relatable with all her flaws. This helps to understand that you can have many flaws and still be the lead character of your life.
The series starts with Fleabag’s best friend’s death. The plot then delves deeper into grief and all the messy ways she navigates through it. It also raises questions about gender, what feminism is, and humor as a shield and so forth. Still, sometimes certain scenes leave you with unanswered questions, especially the ending of the show. But let’s be honest, who does not love cliffhangers? At its core, it is about the path toward redemption. It connects to the times when you feel unworthy but want to accept your flaws and get better.
Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s show is unfiltered, raw and human. Jokes are not linear but circular as they have punchlines, yet curve back into shame. This shows how Fleabag uses humor to hide her inner turmoil, but without success. Dialogues are filled with wit and humor, yet they never lose a single drop of authenticity and honesty. The script never moralizes but humanizes what already has a human nature. It shows corruption and impulsiveness not as flaws but as evidence of being human. Fleabag’s failed attempts at love, her mistakes, even when morally questionable or messy, give viewers a feeling of empathy toward her and not criticism.
Harry Bradbeer’s direction in “Fleabag” is both intimate and daring, creating a world that allows the protagonist’s flaws to breathe without judgment. Awkward silences linger just long enough to make the audience uncomfortable, while chaotic, fast-moving scenes capture Fleabag’s impulsive energy. His choice to have Fleabag break the fourth wall and literally speak to the camera throughout the show builds a connection between the audience and Fleabag. In one scene, when a therapist asks Fleabag if she has friends, she says yes and winks at the camera. This is a genius way to include the audience in the show as friends of the lead character, building more empathy for her.
Phoebe Waller-Bridge plays her role in a way as if she were the character. Throughout the show, her silent facial expressions tell more than words ever could. Sian Clifford does a great job playing Claire, yet fails to create a relatable, human character. Andrew Scott’s “hot” Priest is performed very well. His charm makes the audience feel like the room they are watching the show in is a bit too hot! Most of the actors in the show add to their characters, making it feel like they are not even acting but living through them. This is a key factor for the show’s success.
So, should you watch it? By all means. But be ready that you are going to meet a character who cannot be defined, is funny, outrageous and sometimes a lot. But do not worry, you will want more! It will make you laugh, question your beliefs on what is right and wrong, but also show that you are perfect with all your flaws. It will leave you curled up in a ball, in your tears and confusion. And let’s be honest, that is what life is about!
