Fleabag: An Unusual Masterpiece

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Fleabag
Phoebe Waller-Bridge
Amazon Prime

[@MS-ik7ht]

I wouldn’t say that 11:40 is modern feminism though, that’s more accurately capitalism inserting itself in it (like it does for everything that exists under it): the pressure of doing it all exists for everyone, but mixed with societal expectations for the modern women, then we get the “girlboss”. But I wouldn’t call it (“the girlboss”) a portrayal of modern feminism, since there’s the other end of the spectrum that’s very strong as well that focuses on intersectionality; recognizing nuance and awareness of both your privileges and obstacles as a member of society and making an effort to reach out across the board. And it’s actually quite critical of this “do it all” attitude that exists way more in marketing than the socio-political movement itself. That’s something worth a research and maybe a note on video or description, I suggest. But anyways, I agree it’s great that it ended when it was planned, felt perfect.

[@friendlyspaceninja]

Agreed! To be clear, I was referring to what is commonly known as "Girlboss Feminism". It made sense in my head when I was making the video, but I realize how unclear it actually is. I'll take the L on this one, I should've been more careful with my words. Won't make that mistake again!

[@melissagl8442]

​@@friendlyspaceninja We stan a safe comment section around these touchy subjects! I think it was obvious you were not being hostile, but we appreciate the clarification ❤️

[@lalala157]

@@friendlyspaceninja i think most people got what you were trying to say honestly

[@le55thanaverage10]

Girlboss Feminism or White Feminism

[@rebeccamuset-broin2288]

@@friendlyspaceninja No hard feelings space ninja we know you're a good one

[@ichbin296]

Friendly Space Ninja when he criticises something: 5 hours 48 minutes Friendly Space Ninja when he appreciates something: 8 minutes

[@bejo2551]

I noticed that when he makes a video about a good show he keeps a lot of major plot points hidden because he doesn't want to spoil it for people who haven't seen it so they can experience them for themselves. However when he talks about a trashy show, he took a bullet for everyone else and watched that show and talks about every point of it so that we don't have to watch them. Thank you, FSN for looking out for us

[@kynos6219]

Only so many ways you can say a show is good while some shows find inventive ways to be bad

[@andrewduong2740]

Imagine him doing a video on an Illumination movie

[@jacktease27]

I think discribing why you don't like something needs to be backed up with a lot of examples. While praising something people don't expect that much.

[@normadgarmez7026]

FSN good review: Short and to the point without major spoilers. FSN critiques: Finds every plot hole to expose, make fun of, and humiliate the team behind the show.

[@andredejarjayes]

Phoebe Waller-Bridge on Fleabag: "Yeah, i think she’s using a certain type of honesty as a weapon of distraction. She talks very openly and honestly about sex so you feel like she’s being open with you when, actually, she’s completely hiding by doing that. She’s distracting you from a completely different side of her, which is the side that’s traumatized and in pain. I think in being honest to a ‘t’ about one aspect of your life, you can give the illusion that you are confiding in somebody. she’s using it to be dishonest in a different way, by hiding."

[@FelisImpurrator]

This idea is actually the central one behind the romance aspect of Jack's story in Mass Effect 2, interestingly.

[@frauleinbird]

Shoot, I think that's exactly how I've been living my life.

[@hypatiakovalevskayasklodow9195]

This quote reminds me of the question my former friend told me replaced 5 yrs of therapy for her. I asked her once "are you really on open person or are you just masking by TMI behaviour" and I remember her jaw just dropping It's what a lot of us "strong independent" people do

[@random23287]

I do that sometimes too (in fact, if I let myself loose I could basically become Fleabag), so I think I'll really enjoy this show.

[@Lunadish]

This...

[@albertoaisu]

Claire did believe fleabag about the kiss, she was just rejecting the whole thing because it would've given her a reason to leave Martin and that scared her..I think the scene was more about Claire's internal conflict than Fleabag's behaviour with Boo..

[@kayliegrace7827]

she was projecting her feelings about leaving martin so badly

[@funnyjoke0093]

Still hurt tho

[@as.dexter]

but it was so hurtful to say that to her tho

[@user-pj3lg5un2b]

i agree

[@amattes1960]

Such a complex situation! The family was so toxic in such a familiar British "don't talk about it" way. Nothing getting properly resolved. They all know the right way to behave but deeply resent doing it because it means not being true to themselves and how they truly feel.

[@thevanimaduray2235]

"The only person I'd run through an airport for, is you." I love love love this show. Claire and Fleabag are an incredible relationship.

[@lauxantilles]

It's also realistic bc although there are times when I don't like my sibling or we fight a lot, I would absolutely run through an airport for them lol.

[@domhuckle]

"if you mention the size of my office, I'll scream"

[@EmmanuelleBeaudoinRoy]

I cried at that part tbh

[@soobinsolos]

@@EmmanuelleBeaudoinRoy sameeee it shattered my soul

[@bladiesteponme]

Everytime I think of fleabag, I remember that scene when fleabag was talking about being an atheist and then Jesus' photo falls off the wall. And the priest says, "I love it when he does that."

[@greeneyesgirl467]

Jesus. 😅

[@neofromthewarnerbrothersic145]

Oh shit she's an atheist too? Now I definitely need to watch it. Atheism has always gotten the shaft in terms of representation.

[@221BBakerStreet]

@@neofromthewarnerbrothersic145 You haven't watched Fleabag?? What's wrong with you buddy? Most perfect damn tv series ever made. A masterpiece!

[@neofromthewarnerbrothersic145]

@@221BBakerStreet Well as a cis white male I just felt like it would be misogynistic for me to take ownership of something that's obviously made BY WOMEN FOR WOMEN... /s

[@221BBakerStreet]

@@neofromthewarnerbrothersic145 NO, NO, NO, NO, NO!! I respect the gesture but Fleabag is for everyone! The whole world needs to see it. Fleabag is really, in a way, anti-feminist. PWB portrays women as they really are. How they think, their insecurities, their flaws, everything is on display. Initially it comes across as a comedy/drama about a woman who hasn't quite got her life together the way society expects her to but she's dealing with things in her own upbeat way. But as the show progresses the layers of her personality are peeled away to reveal a very damaged soul. The interactions between Fleabag and all those around her are funny, nuanced, surprising and at times heartbreaking. Her sister Claire is the exact opposite to Fleabag. She's wealthy, has a fabulous job, a beautiful home but in a lot of ways she's even more damaged than Fleabag. The way PWB develops the relationship between the two sisters over the course of the two seasons is amazing. I am obsessed with this series as you can probably tell from my icon. It's a scene in the second season where Fleabag takes the (hot) priest back to her cafe for a cuppa. You HAVE to watch this show. It's incredible. And one more thing... The first episode of the second season (where she first meets the priest) is an absolute masterpiece. It's probably the best episode in the whole series. The whole episode consists of her and her family attending a celebratory dinner and takes place at a single table in a resturant. How PWB managed to make this episode one of the most gripping, funny, engaging and facinating episodes is a testament to her genius. Please just watch the show. You won't be sorry.

[@JulietteReacts]

I legit can't compute that the 4th wall thing in S2 doesn't land for you! God, I loved it. I feel like it's integral to why people love the Priest so much. We know she isn't actually speaking to the audience, just like we know he isn't seeing her talk to the audience. It, imo, demonstrates their deeper connection. He sees her slip away into her inner world and cares about why she's escaping there. Each to their own, ofc.

[@aliciugh]

yeah that's one of my favourite moments! it actually made me jump lmao, i felt like he looked into my soul. got so attached to this show :')

[@samanthat575]

Yes! It's not them breaking the fourth wall in a literal sense but rather the Priest seeing Fleabag disconnect in conversations. Those scenes where he clocked on made me so uncomfortable but in the best way. Such a great way to portray it, I loved it too.

[@Asummersdaydreamer14]

This! And ****SPOILER**** Her being able to see his fox felt so satisfying after knowing he could “see” her 4th wall breaks. They were really seeing each other for who they were and could see each other’s defense mechanisms/trauma baggage. Others who don’t really want to know would brush off a person who has an inner dialogue/performance for themselves or a person who has a unusual fear of foxes as only an eccentricity.

[@LI0NS0N]

I was going to leave a comment like this too but I knew it had already been said. For me, this is exactly why Fleabag's 4th wall breaks are so powerful. They ran with the concept of the audience being her coping mechanism and really stuck with it and of course it pulls you out of it, it has to, it wants to, it's why the trick is so smart.

[@JulietteReacts]

@@Asummersdaydreamer14 wow! I honestly didn't even see it like that. That ~the thing you referred to~ is his equivalent of her 'audience'. Very interesting!

[@cataryad661]

I recently watched Fleabag and really enjoyed the Priest recognising her 4th Wall breaks. It felt like he was the only one who actually paid attension to her - made us truly believe that they were falling in love and are meant for each other. Also, it was more that she was briefly escaping into her head rather than knowing that she's a character in a show

[@googoogaga7986]

I think the priest could see what was happening because he knew fleabag so well, and he breaks the laws of the show, specifically the ‘only fleabag sees/notices the camera difference’ thing because he had such a huge permanent impact on her, she IS the show, her mind specifically is from where we see the show, seeing her thoughts she won’t say aloud, and it has been altered by his impact on her life is very symbolic to me of how love changes people even when relationships pass.

[@kiranbernard7214]

Fleabag was just starting to have someone to confide her stories in besides the audience. He left her in the end so I wouldn't say it's a potray of love. Her leaving the camera was that she was strong enough to continue without the audience, or the priest by her side.

[@JG-kk1mr]

i already adored fleabag's first season, but the second series just hit me like a tonne of bricks. i've never seen a piece of television so accurately capture how painful and beautiful and scary love can be. the fact PWB made me so invested in that relationship over only six twenty-odd minute episodes of a COMEDY?? i'm just in awe. she is so talented. i still think about belinda's "women are born with pain" monologue

[@EmmanuelleBeaudoinRoy]

Yes! The priest speech at the wedding was *chefs kiss*

[@as-ms7ug]

claire is one of the most relatable characters i’ve seen in any show ever. i love her.

[@kktt725]

Yeah when she tells Fleabag to not be funny and that she has her own jokes, as a pretty boring person, I felt that.

[@xx___x]

I simultaneously love and hate Claire, she's hilarious to watch but in real life someone like that would give me huge anxiety

[@ariyatabassumabdullah1143]

"I look like a PENCIL"

[@awkwardcupcake3395]

Being an older sister myself, this relationship captures nuances of the dynamic that I've never seen portrayed before in film. Genius

[@alyvsraptor]

Without giving too many spoilers, I think the breaking the fourth wall does have a point beyond the gimmick. Especially in the final scenes of the series, when Fleabag for once doesn't let the audience know what she's thinking and in a sense "leaves us behind her."

[@Leonore995]

I agree. Until she meets the priest and rebuilds her relationship with her sister in season 2, we as the audience are the only ones who get to see her most vulnerable moments, the only people she’s honest with. But as she and Claire get closer and she realizes that she can be real with the people around her, she leaves us behind at the bus stop because she doesn’t need us anymore. It was the perfect ending and really emphasized her growth since the first season.

[@Karaetify]

Agree we’re like her cooping mechanism, the way she escapes the real life when it gets to hard and she can’t handle it. At the end she kinda learns she can’t espace life even if sometimes life hurts you really bad.

[@mhawang8204]

Agreed. Breaking the fourth wall in this show is different than its use in Deadpool. The audience are participants in her world. The therapist scene made it pretty clear. Because she has nobody to talk to, the viewers become her friends, but she’s still trying to be a smartass, pretending not to care when she talks to us. This changes when she meets the priest and eventually evolves to the ending of S2. It’s more than a gimmick for sure. It’s part of her character development.

[@squirlywirl]

@@Leonore995 but she's never really honest with the audience. or at least not all the time. We're a coping mechanism, just another layer to hide from herself and the world. That's why she was so devastated in the end of season 1 when we finally get to knww what happened. She didn't want that info available to us because she's created this image of herself for us that she can control.

[@michelledang6834]

@@Leonore995 whats funny is that while we can see her, in the first season we dont "see" everything until claire reveals fleabag's painful betrayal of her friend. Fleabag purposely only lets us in to some of her life, entertaining us with jokes and quips, but when her secret shame is revealed and the camera goes towards her, she flinches and tries to run away from the camera. Bc this is the first time we know her. And you can tell she was planning to do 1 season bc after that she doesnt talk to the camera at all. And in the therapy scene in season 2, she's beginning to resent us going "they're always there" with a bit of contempt I love that the priest can tell she goes somewhere. It calls back to the therapist who can see fleabag but not us. Now she's found someone who can see all of her even when she's not there. Someone notices when she's not there and it makes a difference to them

[@0hate9]

oh, I didn't at all read the fourth wall thing as "her actually talking to the audience". what I got out of it was that that was her disassociating, and the priest was just the first person to pay enough attention to her to notice it.

[@GemmaJohnshat]

the audience is her substitute for Boo - this is another reason why she gives the whole religion thing a try

[@TheLolita05]

I feel like Fleabag and Bojack Horseman nailed the whole : what being human is, and how sometimes people are not bad or good but they can make choices, and choices have consequences. I like that it's very relatable, as devastating that it is freeing somehow.

[@TheLolita05]

As a person who is really introverted and have a lot of conversation with myself, I actually found the breaking of the fourth wall very interesting and relatable. And having a character noticing those little dissociative episodes made me feel very weird and vulnerable, but also kinda seen for the first time. I think that's why it worked so well for some people.

[@WishMish15]

Very ironic then that I’m currently watching both shows for the first time 😂 And loving both of them. I finished Fleabag and its one of the best shows I’ve ever seen. I was hesitant to like Bojack at first because it felt a little pretentious in its presentation, seeming to think its ideas of what its like to grow up a celebrity are so profound and new. I think that’s just because I’m watching it now in 2023, when it aired im sure those ideas were a lot less talked about.

[@svnna4796]

Yes i agree also i think they are different as where fleabag actually learn the mistakes and consequences that she needed to grow as a person and as for bojack having the most realistic ending for many people who struggle w drug abuse etc..

[@adanthamer3022]

Attack on titan also discuss the same thing

[@rosamy2017]

I actually loved the 4th wall breaks. To me they represented a mental illness, some sort of coping mechanism. Like we’re not really real, but Fleabag is pretending we are, so we are. The priest noticing her 4th wall breaks tells me that he’s the only person connecting with her enough to notice. Edit: or maybe we’re Boo, and she’s talking to Boo in her head the whole time. Then in the end, she moves on and leaves us behind

[@alisaurus4224]

I’ve only watched it once so far, but i thought we were Boo in Season 1 and then it seemed more like we were Fleabag’s mother in Season 2.

[@CFHWolfe]

I saw it as exactly this

[@mretie]

I love the idea that we are Boo! Others in the comments have said the audience represent her only friends. Speaking snarkily to us like she would have with Boo is spot on 👌

[@tastyneck]

I totally agree. When she leaves us/the audience/her psychologically constructed coping mechanism behind at the end of Season 2 because she doesn't need 'us' anymore is a huge part of her character arc, obviously. It lets us and her know she was able to finally accept and deal with things, at least to some degree. And that she is finally somewhat 'okay.' It's weird to criticize the 4th wall breaks as anything but vital to the character. They're not for the audience, nor a narrative cheat, nor lazy writing, nor anything but a specific choice as a way to visualize Fleabag reaching out for validation, deflection, and/or absolution through admission. Which becomes a literal theme in Season 2. I love this show so much.

[@farynnknutson5274]

The fourth wall breaks are like an inside joke with the audience, almost like how women do “the face” to their friends from across the room in order to “talk”. So even if we are boo, it still makes so much sense for her coping mechanisms and oh my god I could talk about this for forever.

[@VeeLondon1449]

I love, love that Phoebe casted her best friend incredibly talented actress Sian Clifford to play her sister Claire. Their connection, dynamic is absolute fire. Fleabag is a phenomenal, brilliant and unique show.

[@30seagullsinatrenchcoat11]

"This is a love story" applies to her relationship with Claire just as much as (trying to avoid spoilers here) the other main relationship in series 2.

[@SaraStar7373]

i have such a deep soft spot for claire. deeply unhappy, knows she’s burnt out and over stressed but doesn’t know how to fix it so she just decides it’s best to stubbornly live as if those worries don’t exist, stuck in that space

[@Inviolable13th]

The music was actually written by her real life sister and develops from little childrens voices softly singing to more and more fuller adult voices and the lyrics are old greek texts, describing dirty sexual acts and stuff like that. So it's actually quite brilliant and only seems repetetive if you missed to really listen for its evolution

[@weddywanderer8322]

If you're talking about the "choir music" it's not old greek texts describing dirty sexual acts, they're singing about God, I can clearly hear them sing "’Kyrie Eleison" which means "Lord, have mercy" in Greek.

[@hannahframpton9235]

@@weddywanderer8322the piece is called ‘Kyrie’ and Isobel Waller-Bridge (who composed it) has said herself during interview that there are cheeky/dirty messages and words hidden within the choral sound of the track

[@pulatelephonics]

@@weddywanderer8322what if it's mercy for dirty acts 🫠

[@sassythey194]

Phoebe is so talented like HOW she gave us both fleabag and killing eve like girl, you're incredible!

[@solitairelyrics]

She gave us Killing eve? I love her more now

[@bladiesteponme]

But only the first season of killing eve was written by her, which explains why the later seasons feel lackluster in comparison. I personally felt season 2 of killing eve lacked Phoebe's stylistic sense in filming, editing, clever reveals and music choices. It just wasn't as engaging as it used to be, back when she wrote the episodes.

[@Definitelynotabot4]

Phenomenal shows

[@tinyybiceps]

Crashing was also a good show of hers

[@marad786]

Crashing is also well worth a watch. I watched the whole season back to back like a long film 👌👍

[@geosustento8894]

There's an analysis by LadyKnighttheBrave where she explains that Fleabag's breaking the fourth wall is a coping mechanism that she developed after her friend's death. In the same way the priest's invisible fox friend is here, and the priest realizing she talks to the audience and her seeing the fox in the final scenes of the series is supposed to show how they see each other for who they really are.

[@alanaadornato5596]

I tend to correlate the priest's fox friend with The Little Prince's fox. The fox is the representation of wanting to be tamed by someone (in terms of falling in love with them; disclaimer: falling in love is not only in terms of romantic relationships, it can be for platonic and other types of relationships in general.) Falling in love is the aspect of appreciating who a person truly is, having them truly appreciating you for who you are. The taming aspect is not wanting to leave them and directing that love towards someone/something. So, him fearing foxes is the representation of him being tamed/falling in love. In the end, the fox slowly going to Fleabag showcases she did have his heart and directed it to her at one point but, is now slowly redirecting it to himself by following him. I think this aspect showed Fleabag that she needs to do the same. Hence, leaving us and holding her mother (which could also represent the feminist quality about herself that she's insecure about, slowly trying to better herself as an individual and as a woman).

[@jazsings]

Which is such a better review in general

[@user-th1pv6ks5o]

​​@@alanaadornato5596 I wouldn't say that actually, because at the end he chooses to be tamed by NOT continuing his relationship with fleabag. I would say that love is a lot more messy than the quiet life of a literal priest. His life was a bit of a mess, his parents are alcoholics, his brother is a pdf file and the fox would be the physical representation of that, which is why it follows him around, like we follow fleabag around until the very end. Fleabag gets rid of us, but the priest doesn't get rid of his fox just yet, he is still running away and the fox is right behind him, and fleabag can finally see that in the end.

[@mucho_mango6893]

the priest noticing her 4th wall breaks is perfect, it shows he cares enough to notice when she is drifting away into her own world, and it forces her to be present in the moments that she wants to escape from, its what makes the priest so special, he cares enough to ask where fleabag is going, and its so integral to fleabags arc in the second season which is all about her truly learning to move on and let go of her destructive coping mechanisms.

[@silverfoxchain]

100% agree.. he really loves her

[@HoUsEoFbRiX]

I think it makes sense that the characters are white and mostly female main characters, thats her experience and lens through life. It frustrates me when people try to diversify for the sake of it and make a caricature out of other cultures because the writers haven't a clue what its actually like to live in that culture. I don't know, i've binged the show so many times. It really is art. I love it.

[@RED-my9hl]

fr, I'm not English or white or come from the same culture but this show really speaks to me in terms of what its like being a woman irl

[@SirBlackReeds]

And let's be honest, Phoebe Waller-Bridge characters are exactly the kind of women who would only hang around other white, upper-class liberals.

[@kiranbernard7214]

Fleabag was only based on some of Phoebe's experiences. There was still one or two black characters, meaning it doesn't have anything to do with her knowledge of black/white culture. If you make every character in a series except one a female (same thing with black and white), people would still question it. Are people who question why all Disney princesses are heterosexual, are "trying to diversify for the sake of it"?

[@alexf225]

​@@kiranbernard7214Tbh it depends where the show takes place. If, in real life, it's mostly white or black or any other community, it just makes sense that most people are that race.

[@cgm530]

it's true the cast isn't particularly diverse, but i think that's kind of the point. it's portraying a very particular subset of posh suburban south-east english people, the vast majority of whom are going to be white (especially when half of them are in the same family lmao)

[@Julius_Smith]

Exactly! The criticism is completely ridiculous. Imagine this was based on a middle class family in india; would it be valid to complain about the lack of diversity lmao?

[@ParadiseAndGin]

@@Julius_Smith yeah like dont get me wrong, diversity is great, but 1) where it makes sense and 2) it's not a crime against humanity if not all shows have a non white main character

[@Amy-se8vq]

Definitely. Where I live in South East England is quite posh in places, and both the area and my family are overwhelmingly white. In high school my friend group was the only one in the year with any POC, which really shows the demographic of the area. There are parts of the UK that are very diverse, but also others that aren't at all.

[@Kayla-ly8rm]

Literally lmao, it's a white family and the show centers that family dynamic. I'm a black woman, and I wasn't expecting much diversity, and it didn't lose quality by it starring white people, in a culture that stars white people in real life lol. Not even a critique of the story to me.

[@rejectionisprotection4448]

@@Kayla-ly8rm Although when it DID have Black people in it, it was quite grim. I'd rather they weren't there altogether frankly.

[@aleandra3945]

i love claire, she always looks like she’s about to scream and i relate to that

[@besupaaa]

The thing with the fourth wall on season two, i never saw it as her being self aware that she was a character. Since most of her trauma is sexual, and she uses sex as a coping mechanism, i noticed that she tends to talk to us a lot during sexual encounters, so I always say that as fleabag dissociating - and when the priest catches it, I figured he was the only one who noticed that sometimes fleabag isn't completely present in the moment. She escapes sometimes, when things get hard or when she doesn't want to be in the moment. And when she leaves us behind is like, she finally has the will to do better and leave those harmful coping mechanism. I MEAN, that's how I saw it.

[@GemmaJohnshat]

I think the audience is her substitue for her friend Boo. She sort of clings to her still and shares every moment that she would with her best friend. She just doesn't get any feedback anymore, so this coping mechanism is really not helping her. But it's everything she has. Boo was the only one who knew her really and understood her. Once she meets the priest that changes.

[@iliyanlaskov4253]

I absolutely agree

[@danielaf1487]

"I look like a pencil"... and you can't disagree with her. But then the Finnish colleague Claire has a crush on comes along and genuinely loves it and says so! 😂 And he totally turns Claire's day around. These occasional moments of wholesomeness in such a show, which can be cynical, are also a part of what makes it so wonderful. In spite of its disillusioned vision, it still wants to believe in good things, with trust and child-like wonder. I think many shows struggle to find such a balance and that's why Fleabag is such a masterpiece (and indeed, I also have a hard time using this over-used term!).

[@ww.DuzaFizz]

The weird, gatekeepy dm is so bizzare. You're literally showing this show to your audience, allowing more people to enjoy it.

[@Nikitiitta]

Also is that not sExiSt to say that "you don't get to discuss this because of your gender"

[@FelisImpurrator]

The twitter person was probably a terf, just saying.

[@12morganna]

I think, this person though that it was going to be a bad review video and not a praise on the serie. (it's not an excuse at all, but maybe a reason to his anger).

[@muhammadabdulrehman643]

@@FelisImpurrator what the hell does the trans community to do with this

[@giomar89]

I had to pause the video for a moment to recover fully, that dm was so cringy (as well as sexist, as @Niko Näppi has pointed out)

[@maksimnikiforovski2034]

"That is why people put rubbers at the end of pencils. Because people make mistakes." That was so powerful. I love that scene. I love this show.

[@laurasantucciu1286]

And that's why Claire's haircut made her look like a pencil

[@funnyjoke0093]

Omg

[@katie5998]

A small theory of mine for the 4th wall breaking wasn't that she was talking to an audience, but that she was talking to Boo. When you get flashback scenes of them together, it's really the only time in the show, the only scenes that don't have that fourth wall break. It's only until after Boo dies that Fleabag begins to talk to the audience. I think her connection to the audience was to show just how lonely of a person Fleabag is. Throughout, she treats the camera more like a friend then she does an audience of people, she has intimate moments with it that go to show how seen she really wants to be. When the priest breaks her fourth wall, it's because he's genuinely *wanting* to see her, perhaps feels he understands her. I also think her walking away from the camera at the end is her finally being able to come to peace with the grief she feels, the troubles and conflicts she's endured, and that sense of loneliness. It's pretty amazing when you think of it in this light.

[@Azulagirlboss]

"Fleabag" is a comedy and the underlying theme is grief, loss and coping with that. The nuance & subtlety is like no other.

[@carola2281]

"Fleabag does something that I've come to appreciate more and more over the years. It ends." THIS. YES.

[@eridonstewart9973]

“sold by feminists”? Uh, no. The whole point of feminism is women being allowed to be whoever they are and not be in boxes. It doesn’t mean a woman has to be a bad bitch or a girl boss or whatever it means she’s allowed to be a human being with flaws and make her own decisions. Expecting women to be either a housewife or a girl boss and judging them for being one or neither directly goes against feminism.

[@MsNatashsa]

Yep, i love how the show subverts the stereotypes associated with feminists only to highlight some aspects more. It might be one of the best feminist shows ever written.

[@tristanmayer5373]

Yeah the writer of this video seems to fundamentally misunderstand feminism.

[@depgabby]

@@tristanmayer5373 no, he just means the commercial feminism sold by capitalism that has been spoon fed to generations since feminism has become popular amongst people

[@b-ner2616]

@@depgabby Exactly. He uses commercial feminism instead of actual feminism because that fits the way they display it in the show.

[@narutodebates1534]

He addressed this under the comments of the pinned comment

[@isabelagusmao6504]

What you call "modern feminism" is actually liberal feminism, or feminism being coopted by capitalism. There are whole schools of thought that criticize the "girl boss" ideology. Black feminism, intersectional feminism, radical feminism, marxist feminism, anarchist feminism etc. What I love the most about Fleabag is how it makes fun of mainstream liberal bullshit feminism.

[@t.n.21]

thx for mentioning the other types :3

[@codeytherex5954]

Facts it shows women as they're, in a more human manner than feminism tries to portray

[@lucasouza889]

@@codeytherex5954 in a more human manner liberal feminism* tries to portray. just like super hero movies/007 movies/action movies in general despict men in unrealistic manner.

[@caffeine_squirrel]

Me, when I desperately need to inject bs about "capitalism" bc it's praxis 🙄

[@isabelagusmao6504]

@@caffeine_squirrel me when i'm fucking stupid

[@ellieh0397]

I actually like that he noticed she talks to the camera, like he really pays attention and sees her, you know

[@Charmedsas1]

yep. loved it.

[@prathameshrane5841]

Claire is amazing.Esp the haircut scene."I look like a pencil!" is the most random but hilarious line delivered ever!

[@SaikolaM]

I’ve watched that scene so many times and I still screamed when it popped up at the end of the video

[@camelopardalis84]

Didn't realise it was Claire. (I haven't seen the show, just heard about it through this video.) She looks way older with that haircut.

[@isabelaisme6979]

I never laughed so much at a show as when the girls went to confront the hairstylist. Man, I was not expecting that twist

[@princessxxramo]

Claire, it's French!

[@zarajday]

Fleabag is honestly a must-watch for anyone in their 20s to early 40s living in these times. I feel like most Gen Z and Millennials feel more isolated and unwanted than any generation before us, and it is good to know we aren't alone. A few times, I had to pause the show and take a few minutes to process because I could relate to the main character on such a fundamental level.

[@upsidedownrose7102]

Such an accurate depiction of grief- the top of a pencil reminding fleabag of boo in particular. The little things that trigger a memory of them

[@Azulagirlboss]

Claire and Fleabag’s sibling relationship is the one of the realest sibling dynamic I’ve seen in a movie/tv

[@rejectionisprotection4448]

Also "Better Call Saul".

[@Demi_Purple]

i knew it the second Claire asked if she washed her hands and Fleabag's immediate response was to say "No" and wipe her hand on her

[@soobinsolos]

@@Demi_Purple lmaoo i loveeed that scene it's so real

[@annahughes8272]

Fleabag may not support all aspects of modern feminism, but it is definitely a feminist show. Most important for me was the relationship between Claire and Fleabag, its so rare to see a well developed and nuanced sister relationship. And the speech about 'women in business' in season 2 is just incredible. What all these big woman centred blockbusters need to realise is that feminist media isn't about showing women as perfect, it about just showing women as they are, as individuals with all the contradictions and nuances that come with it. I think its so strange that women in films are usually either perfect beings or just 'men with boobs' (their femininity isn't a factor at all), so its so nice to see a show that treats its female characters with such respect - they aren't perfect, and their experiences as women actively affect their personality. I love Fleabag.

[@pansykiddclo]

i think what you're talking about in terms of media that's cited as "feminist" is actually what fleabag's character is struggling with at the start of this series. she's not struggling with feminism like the reactor says because feminism isn't how he describes it - what he describes is what you're talking about wrt those women-centered blockbusters. it's hollywood's idea of feminism which is often produced and written by men and it's at best flawed as fuck but at worst the actual anthesis of what it claims to be. like you said, feminism is about expressing and discussing and acknowledging the reality of being a woman in society today and all the very real, very ugly, very complicated struggles that that entails. it's not about expectation to be perfect, to not need help, to not struggle etc. that's what feminism is trying to combat.

[@sarroumarbeu6810]

I think it satirizes "modern feminism" perfectly.... Where some feminists would actively work towards a positive change for other women in less fortunate situation.... The one depicted in the show the type that was taken over by privileged ppl who think being a feminist is about feeding into capitalism like a perfect little toy ...while enjoying the pressure of it ..which is ridiculous

[@alexgac1801]

To be honest, destroying the ideas of modern feminism is probably the most actually feminist thing you can do in 2021. Have you noticed how, in twenty years of time, the average feminist went from "open minded person" to "close minded supremacist" ?

[@sarroumarbeu6810]

@@alexgac1801 you're talking about radfems that just want to go against the stream and look cool .....while literally rebranding the oppressive system in place because they're not affected by it one bit 😑😑.... Us feminists of the 3rd world we want less murders and locked up girls .. other more woke western places are like "sex work in any form should be banned forever because I can't accept that women use their bodies they way they choose to" 😳

[@saaraa7876]

@@alexgac1801 the “average” feminist definitely didn’t, because the “average” feminist isn’t spending their time on TERF Tumblr spreading hate. Of course there are (mostly) white “feminists” who care about nothing but themselves and upkeeping the social hierarchy that puts them on top. But that’s like saying the “average (white cishet) man” is one that clings to the patriarchy for dear life because they think they are the default individual and are entitled to success just based on their identity.

[@ampersandcastle1091]

I think shows carrying on way too long is a largely American problem. Looking at the UK and US versions of The Office, the UK version ended after two seasons and the US one dragged on for wayyyyyyyyy too long

[@KreeZafi]

As much as I like having lots of a good thing, I think it's very important to let a show come to a natural end instead of squeezing as much content as possible out of it. Better to keep it shorter than to drag it out and ruin it. Take Supernatural for instance, which to my understanding was meant to end after season 5, but they've made like... 15 seasons? It really felt like it came to a natural conclusion at the end of season 5 and it all went downhill from there, I tried to persevere but from season 7 onward it felt like a chore and I stopped watching a few episodes into season 10. They should've let it end when it was supposed to, it would've maintained so much of its magic that way. I absolutely LOVED Fleabag, and it was short enough that I watched the whole thing through in just an evening. Did it feel a bit sad when it was over? Yes. Would I want them to continue it? Absolutely not, it's perfect as it is, trying to push it further would likely just ruin it.

[@makomadns4]

As bad as american shows are at being too long, many UK shows are really too short and an extra season or two would be good…

[@bluesclues2980]

You won me over with the words "it ends." Now i gotta watch it. I cant tell you how much I appreciate stories/tv/movies/etc. that end. They're just proof the writers know how to write, and have direction of their story.

[@holland784]

this show changed my whole life and perspective on being a woman. female characters in most media have no personality beyond ‘hot’ or ‘badass’. i always felt alienated from fictional women because they didn’t have rich inner lives or really any kind of self - I thought maybe I was the weird one for not trying to be appealing to men at all times. I thought I was the weird one for having some ‘masculine’ interests, for not having an effortlessly perfect body, for having thoughts and feelings that were angry or loud or unfeminine. fleabag was the first female character i ever really connected with. she was witty and cool and fallible and bitter and just so unbelievably fucking REAL. she made me so much more comfortable in being a girl and i honestly can never thank PWB enough for that.

[@m.4645]

YES, 100%

[@Thecuriousincident1]

I think it's a lot to do with American TV, lots of shows in Europe are like this not exactly because this is special with the way it's filmed and all that but there are a lot of shows with characters like this in English comedy. This way up is one, chewing gum, Catastrophe, Game Face, Crashing (also by Phoebe Waller Bridge) Check out Channel four in the UK they are the channel that takes chances on things and you'll find a lot of different things there.

[@holland784]

@@Thecuriousincident1 thanks for the recommendations! i am british so i watch a lot of european shows and i agree, they tend to be more nuanced and realistic while american shows are flashy and dramatic - it’s not necessarily bad, just different. fleabag just happened to be one of the first female british comedy shows i watched - another good one that comes to mind is derry girls!! british comedy is excellent but it’s undeniable that it has a long history of being male-centric at best, misogynistic at worst. take the inbetweeners for example - a total classic, and a great show, but the women in it are either mothers or objects of desire. in context that’s fine, the writers were dramatising how horny teenage boys view women and it’s funny! but it doesn’t do much to help female self-esteem. fleabag is so ground breaking because it combines the classic rawness of british comedy with FINALLY centring the female experience. i can’t wait to check out the shows you recommended, i hope they’re just as good :)

[@katara2021]

@@holland784 Try Asian shows as well.

[@Thecuriousincident1]

@@katara2021 I want to get into them can you recommend some please?

[@squirlywirl]

I noticed that Fleabag never "dissociated" whenever she was talking to the lawyer guy in season 1. I was kinda hoping they would explore in that season 2 but I understand why they didn't. It wouldn't have made sense and it would've felt a little forced considering how the show is written. And, yes, I disagree that the fourth wall thing did not work in season 2. The person never really knew that Fleabag was "breaking the fourth wall" or talking to the air. They just notice that Fleabag goes somewhere. We're her coping mechanism and the others never really notice it happening because they don't care enough about Fleabag to truly look, even Claire. I'm surprised that it didn't work for you because it's what the series ended on. Her deciding to not have us follow her around anymore was so impactful because, at that point in time, she can finally live with herself. While the show's utilization of breaking the forth wall was already amazing, season 2 brought it to new heights for me.

[@cakecatlady263]

I was looking for this comment, and I very much agree! Rather than seeing the fourth-wall-break as a deadpool-meta-kind of thing, I saw it more as a metaphor for (as you say) a coping mechanism. Like, a form of dissociation where she talks to herself and frames her life like a kind of stand up comedy show, so she doesn't have to face the reality of what she feels or how she should deal with it. The fact that the person realizes that she suddenly disappears from conversations and intimacy is a very good choice to show how much he sees her, and how little she feels seen otherwise. I thought it was one of the most brilliant things about the show to be honest.

[@silviaov633]

Agree, I loved that.

[@jimmylu1352]

Actually in Season 2 when Fleabag was talking to Belinda about the "women are born with pain" speech, she never broke the fourth wall either!

[@squirlywirl]

@@jimmylu1352 oh, right! i forgot about that! such a good scene too.

[@chickenfoot2423]

agreed! her to-the-sides were so carefully crafted. when the hot priest notices she does it shes completely taken aback and unused to someone truly seeing through her. she also lets her asides seep into reality with him when he overhears her carrying on a commentary about ‘his beautiful neck’, supposedly to show that she cant keep up a front around him and we’re made aware of it before she is. i suppose you could also interpret this as her still speaking aside and being startled by him understanding because hes essentially reading her mind, so to speak. i also think her pushing ‘us’ away when they’re having sex is such a clever change that really sells their emotional compatibility, and it makes their parting ways so soon after that much more sad

[@TalysAlankil]

The idea that a girlboss is what "modern feminism" aspires to is…well it sure is a take.

[@mackenziel1876]

I honestly loved when The Preist started noticing the fourth wall breaks. I never really saw it as a Deadpool type "We both know I'm just a character in a show" break. I just kinda saw it as her being super narcissistic and seeing herself as kind of the main character of the world. Also, low-key because she's ill/ has some underlying disorder.. And I thought the Priest was the one to notice her weird breaks in conversation because everyone else in her life is too self-involved to notice/care

[@malawikadwivedi4741]

Fleabag is both a comfort show and a confrontational masterpiece How it manages to be both baffles me ngl

[@mariaefstratiou7427]

I specifically loved the relationship of fleabag and claire. I know many people believe that the 'love story' fleabag was talking about in 2x01, was about the priest ( i thought so too at first) , but slowly I started thinking it was about her and her sister

[@XDAliyaXD]

Claire once said "We're not friends, we're sisters" and I sometimes I remind it myself. I apreciate that the Fleabag showed that maybee it's okay not have perfect bff like relationship with one's sister as long as you love each other

[@emilykirkman8374]

I have analysed this show to death and that never occurred to me. What a wonderful point.

[@mariaefstratiou7427]

@@emilykirkman8374 thank you, you're very kind!

[@katiesmiley-oyen2908]

"The only person I'd run through an airport for is you."

[@Miliregretz]

I agree so much. The only reason both Claire and fleabag get seperate "happy endings" is because they have reconnected with eachother. PWB has said that this was her favourite relationship to write, Claire being her favourite character to write (the only one who has a name as well)

[@anassafir5845]

she is not 20 something years old, she is 32 ( 33 in second season ) and yes her name name is fleabag, she has been mentioned as such in one of the first episodes.

[@maitraiyeebhatt-em6190]

"HAIR IS EVERYTHING" - best line ever.

[@februerik]

i feel like after the s2 ending, having a 3rd season would ruin so much of her character and development like the whole point of her waving goodbye to us and not letting us follow her as she walks away was supposed to be like she doesn't need us anymore bcos shes grown so making another season would just retcon her growth

[@annahughes8272]

I feel like we as an audience are kind of a coping mechanism for her, in the same way that her humour is, its like she looks to us so she doesn't have to invest in what's actually happening to her, thats why the ending is so perfect. You're right it'd be so wrong to have another season

[@chriscze6153]

The brief clip of Envy just shows what an icon Contrapoints is.

[@santyso5075]

fr fr ✋😭

[@hypatiakovalevskayasklodow9195]

ABSOLUTE

[@oc4025]

Timestamp?

[@ivahacka]

I was thinking of her video while that dm was on screen. Absolutely perfect!

[@lainiwakura1776]

Not necessarily...

[@heg203]

I completely disagree with you about fleabag breaking the fourth wall. What I think is so incredible about the show is that we, the audience, are the main foil to flea bags character, and her relationship with us is an unhealthy, weird coping mechanism. And Phoebe Waller Bridge only agreed to do a second season of the show when she thought of a way (via sexy priest) for the relationship between fleabag and the audience to be fully resolved. Hence the last shot of the series. But thank you so much for doing a terrific interview of the show! I do agree with a lot of what you said and I really appreciate you celebrating probably my favorite series of the last 10 years.

[@victoriapina8895]

god, Fleabag is such a comfort show for me at this point, currently going through a difficult period in my life and have found comfort in its message and it brings me hope. it's wonderful, it's impactful, it's weird and hilarious--- so many reasons to go watch, so please do (if you can :) ) also.... the hot priest

[@catsrule1343]

It's "feminists" like the one who sent that message that make people wary of actual feminism. Her counterproductivity and complete obliviousness is truly outstanding.

[@leaeid1501]

What she sent was anti-feminist... she can call herself what she wants but her ignorance is not really representative

[@abinavs9136]

True it is because of people like her feminism has gone from a movement to a joke

[@omfghailmao]

If anything, I'm happy when when men consume women-centric stories and find ways to connect and empathize with leading ladies.

[@beanl]

I was gonna say, when he said that feminists expect women to be perfect that's just not true. True feminism is about letting people be whoever they want to be however they want to be, equally, without societal expectations or obligations. That's it.

[@someweirdo8380]

Toxic feminist. That’s why most people don’t like feminists. Most aren’t bad but it’s the certain ones who ruin it for everyone

[@witchplease9695]

I loved the Priest so much and that he was the only one who saw Fleabag talking to the audience because he was the only one who truly understood her, and was perfect for her, yet they still couldn’t be together.

[@ruhaninudrathossain9277]

I finished this show in one night when I was really depressed and it genuinely made me feel SO much better. It's easily one of my favorite shows now. Highly recommend.

[@wittysass3812]

I think what you don’t get about the 4th wall break is that it’s not a tool used to be ‘meta’ because it’s not actually directed at the audience, it’s meant to reflect her talking to herself, her inner dialogue.

[@alixheudebourg7074]

I finished this show, cried and immediately rewatched cause it was so good.

[@raysamayta900]

Fleabag is a masterpiece. I started watching it with no expectation at all and it surprised me greatly, I love Claire and Fleabag's relationship it is one of the most accurate sister relationships I've seen.

[@paticemd]

31:33 I am genuinely shocked you feel the 4th wall breaks didn’t land. I feel like both series were all about fleabag’s relationship with the camera, the way she hides her secret from us and then eventually gets to a point where she can “move on” in the final scene

[@maheenabbas8371]

I feel that the priest breaking the fourth wall is actually one of the most genius parts of the entire show. For Fleabag, breaking the fourth wall could be a means of searching for validation or some form of acceptance. Just like Fleabag, the priest's whole thing with the fox only he is able to see and hear is like his own "fourth wall break." The priest notices this behaviour from Fleabag because he is the only one who has fully connected with her that deeply. At the end of season 2, Fleabag walks away and doesn't look at the camera, and she also sees the fox. The priest and fleabag's respective mechanisms in searching for acceptance are mirrored in each other.

[@donnaherrera7415]

I like the breaking of the fourth wall, it's her coping mechanism, so on the last episode she no longer needs it. She does it in moments where she looks away. She looks at the camera as she's talking to the priest and is talking but he only sees her look a away for a moment as if lost for a moment but it her coping. It's her talking to the audience that in reality doesn't exist.

[@beanl]

I really wish people would stop generalising feminists...

[@johnpoole3871]

Feminists are not Feminism. Feminism is supposed to be a set of ideas, if you cannot at least talk about those ideas and their implications then it's a meaningless term. Feminists are people and thus full of contradictions and nuances.

[@FirstnameLastname-zq8oy]

@@johnpoole3871 no one said feminists weren’t nuanced and no one said that some feminists don’t contradict other feminists, in every group of people that is bound to happen. You seem to be misunderstanding their comment, they literally just said they wish people would stop generalising feminists, which people usually do, like this channel for example. This dude has a preconceived idea of what feminists are like, and because Pheobe Waller bridge and fleabag as a show don’t align with his previously set view of feminists, he doesn’t seem to understand that fleabag is a show with pretty obvious and heavy feminist themes, and could be considered a “feminist” show.

[@joellezima3506]

Just thought I’d add this, my boyfriend and I LOVE this show. We quote it constantly. He deployed overseas four months ago and I sent him a care package, with “the only person I’d run through an airport for is you” on it. Phoebe is a star storyteller, and every aspect of that show is real, relatable, and full of art. I just love it

[@bethb8653]

also really disappointed you didnt like the best aspect in the whole series. the priest noticing fleabags 4th wall breaks is just the most wonderful thing ive seen on tv for so long. i dont think that fleabag 'knows shes on a tv show', i think she's talking to us as if we are her friend. as you said before, she basically had one person who actually liked her for herself, who really saw her, and that person died, so we as the audience became an embodiment of boo, or just somebody to talk to if not because fleabag never really got over boos death. the fact that the priest notices how she almost dissociates from the real world to talk to us shows that he really sees her, like boo did, and she hasnt experienced that in a long long time. and whilst fleabag has us, the priest has the foxes, in my opinion a personification of God or just of his temptation to deviate from religion.

[@Jonunu1607]

As a woman in her 30s who has a very “successful” professional career I really resonate with Claire. Just that constant feeling of living in a prison that chokes you up but you should be grateful because ✨money✨ and to have a person like Fleabag in your life makes you yearn for that freedom to just be a mess which I can promise you I get allowed to be like once a year. It’s reductive of the other person’s experience I know but I resonate with them - I just hide my struggles under all this success.

[@sarroumarbeu6810]

I'm sorry if this comes off as intrusive.... But what truly makes feel stuck? Expectations? A family that watches like a hawk? The pressure of appearing perfect at all times? ... I'm genuinely curious... I'm in my early 20s and my whole life was built around the goal of becoming a successful woman....but I also don't wanna be trapped in this role of success...

[@nograviti2388]

As a black man I struggle with this. It just seems like a very white and privileged show. I grew up in public housing, highlight of my life was a kid being murdered in front of me at 11. Grew up in desperate poverty (going to bed hungry and watching a mother cry every time a final notice letter slipped through the mailbox), struggled with Aspergers, racial exclusion when I got a scholarship to a very white school on the basis of my academic ability. I then got into finance and IT, I have a large home in a nice part of town. I say to kids who are still growing up in sink estates my life is bliss. Maybe I am being simple but I have no real problems, what problems do you have? You want to grow up dodging dealers who want you to sell product as a child on the way home from school (beating you up when you say no)? Want to deal with a mum who is bipolar or catatonic in your formative years.. Want to be chased by kids with knives trying to rob you when you are out on your bike? My gut instinct is "please get over yourself", but the more reasonable part of me asks seriously what problems do you have? If fleabag is the dilemma of a modern woman (imo White woman), I think such privileged people need to look outside their bubbles more or even just once... A black friend once told me "privilege is invisible to those who have it", your post immediately reminded me of that statement..

[@adm-nu8nk]

​@@nograviti2388 I think you generally care about understanding so I will try to explain: being aware of your privilege doesn't make the shitty feelings go away. "Winning" at capitalism and occupying a higher rung in the West's socio-economic ladder doesn't really make you happy. People with millions of dollars and immense power are often deeply miserable, I know this from personal experience and it is also corroborated by research. There's a difference between recognising how you benefit from the system and enjoying yourself or feeling fulfilled by it. We have stumbled into a fundamentally anti-human system and way of life. I respect and understand why many people from marginalised backgrounds choose to go into finance, because having moral and/or political objections to capitalism and being able to act on those objections is itself a privilege. I don't know your personal feelings about the ethics or sustainability of capitalism (or its origins in white supremacy and colonialism), but it sounds as though your sense of it having worked for you is making it difficult to empathise with other people for whom it's supposed to work, but who feel like there's a problem. I should also add that being "the most desired segment of your society" has little to do with power, agency, opportunity, or self-determination. By the way, you're hearing that from an Indian woman and you're choosing to fight her on it, which says a lot (she might not be in the West but racism and colorism operate there, too). Totally agree that the show is very white. It's also very posh.

[@emma-rdgs]

@@nograviti2388 this is your experience as ONE black person, not all blk people are poor.

[@nograviti2388]

@@emma-rdgs Where did I say all black people were poor??

[@hopeworldgirl218]

The fact that now people believe being a feminist is wanting to be a cold independent successful girl boss is truly a tragedy. I will never forgive karens for that.

[@Ives268]

I don’t know if it’s just Karens. I mean, fleabag also goes against the modern idea of being like morally perfect to be deserving of empathy which is definitely more like tumblr/ Twitter performative activism types that I wouldn’t call karens

[@depgabby]

It’s capitalism you shouldn’t forgive

[@depgabby]

@@Ives268 yup it’s chronically online “social justice workers” if anything

[@nancy-jx4nw]

Karens are white women that profit off of racism, stop using the term in every random context

[@yanad5613]

The worst is that this is what lots of men believe we as women should be too. Being a modern woman means you’ve got to be as successful as if you were a man with steal balls but also you have got to be successfully married, have a child, tho look like you never had a child, and manage business if your own, also split the bills 50/50…

[@Miliregretz]

About the 4th wall break: fleabag was supposed to end after 1 season, after the secret is revealed and fleabag stops talking to he camera for the last few scenes. PWB says she felt artistic integrity in ending it there. In order to make a second season she had to come up with a reason for fleabag to start confiding in the audience again, so she made the decision with the priest. If it wasn't for that "gimmick" there wouldn't be a season 2 ! Anyway I thought this was a very on point review. Thanks for talking about it. Sincerely, a feminist

[@JamesRoyceDawson]

I will forever simp for Phoebe Waller Bridge. I would love to see her as The Doctor in Doctor Who

[@yueyuewu4630]

Fleabag is phenomenal!!!! At some point during season 1, I cried and couldn’t stop crying because I realized how very alone Fleabag is. The only friend that she had is gone, her mom passed away, her dad doesn’t know how to care about her, her sister can’t tolerate her very well, and she has a passive aggressive and manipulative stepmother. So it was really such a sad show that pretended to be a comedy.

[@andreavalos6414]

The fact that ends on its own terms it almost makes this like an unicorn on Modern television

[@Helnolya]

- I don’t know what to do with it. - With what? - With all the love I have for her… I don’t know where to put it now. - I’ll take it. No, I’m serious. It sounds lovely. I’ll have it. I still think this is the most beautiful thing I've seen on television. Fleabag is a masterpiece and it is SO accurate with the description on how it feels to be a woman now a day BUT ALSO how it feels to be a human, a flawed human. This show is my absolute favorite of all time.

[@RenoReborn]

I loved the Preist being able to see into Fleabag's little moments, it is genuinely unsettling to have him invade those thoughts which sold the "fuck off" reaction from her at the end of the Cafe scene, I think it's all handled perfectly.

[@everdeneb4811]

Fleabag's final episode left me heartbroken, but in a good way, and if you don't get how being heartbroken can make some people feel good, then you haven't watched this show yet. One of the best series out there.

[@tia4337]

The way they made me hate Olivia Colman character so much, good job to both actress and writer

[@F.A.Jaramillo]

Fleabag wasn’t talking to the audience, she was talking to her friend Boo. In the end, she left Boo’s when she broke up the the priest. She moved on to her new life and forgiveness.

[@VereskVeil]

I never expected to finish this show, both seasons in one day. Because I just couldn't stop. And I really love that the priest noticed the breaking of the fourth wall. I thought it was smart and unexpected.

[@silviaov633]

Feminism is not about women being perfect and not needing anyone. Of course we are not perfect, we are human beings, that's the whole point. We want equal rights and to be treated with the same respect and patience as men do because we are people too.

[@victoriavelinova8655]

Fleabag is an amazing masterpiece that mixes comedy and real strugles. I think this show knows exactly how to use breaking the forth wall not just to make the audince laugh but also to show the problems going on in Fleabag's life. That's such a brilliant way to show how the character distance herself from the "real" people around her to keep herself from being vulnerable to them and directs her attention to us, the "fictional" people in her life. Also Andrew Scott as the Priest...that's it.

[@infinitegalaxy89]

I absolutely agree on the "End" part, too many shows overstay their welcome effectively ruining it. Even more so with sitcoms, they just never know when to stop. Very unpopular opinion, but The Office is a prime example of this, it just went on and on, and completely killed its charm. And that's why I love Michael schur, he ended Parks n Rec and The Good Place on a high note after telling a concrete amazing story.

[@stillfangirlingtoday1468]

I absolutely hate that it ended, but I love it and that is a great thing. I always want to rewatch Fleabag again because I miss it so dearly. And that is just genius! They cut us off when we are the most invested and we never recover from it, we are always longing for more Fleabag, so it will inevitably become a classic for anyone who watches this show.

[@tinedhooghe4625]

The reason season 2 was so late, is because she initially wasn't going to make a second season! Very glad she did tho

[@LiliRoche]

one of the things I really appreciate about Fleabags are the connection of the sisters. They argued but they still love each other and they have their own quips and little things. It shows such genuine connection that it reminded me of my own sister.

[@JG-kk1mr]

"the only person i'd run through an airport for is you."

[@aLexen1983]

I’ve seen Fleabag at least three times now, since I discovered it this year. I try to recommend it to anyone. On the one side, it’s funny, upbeat and a true comedy. And on the other side, it’s deeply deeply saw. I’ve seen shows that break the 4th wall, but I’ve never seen a show where you as the viewer are the only friend left in the live of the main character. Her connection to the viewer seems like her only remaining lifeline. Such a shock in the 2nd season when the other character is able to see her connection to the viewer. It’s truly a masterpiece. If you haven’t seen it, go for it. It’s 2 seasons for 6 episodes each. Each episode is 20 minutes. It’s a small investment for a unique experience.

[@edb2720]

I didn't know anything about this show, never heard of it. At 13:44 you convinced me that I should watch it. I stopped the video. Binged watched the whole thing and now I love it. Fleabag is a wonderful show, thanks for introducing me to it.

[@vaishvi1762]

i was suffering through an intense depressive episode when i came across fleabag and watched it in its whole entirety in 3 days. I dont think ive cried or had an existential dread harder than those days i swear it was almost a religious experience

[@toleble7301]

I finished the entire thing today and I've never had a favorite show or thought anything was incredible before but now I think I do. Killer headache cause of screen staring but it's worth it.

[@Ladyknightthebrave]

Welcome to the Fleabag hype train :)

[@lolalila7680]

Absolutely loved your video on the show! Was my introduction to your channel and have gone back to it several times :)

[@lemondrizzlecake7766]

@Ladyknightthebrave I want you to know your video on Fleabag is the reason I watched this show. So thank you

[@greeneyesgirl467]

Your video truly made me appreciate Fleabag all the more 😊

[@ananyalways7534]

Absolutely loveeeee your channel!!

[@we_love_the_books5617]

This show honestly changed my life. It's true that every time you watch it you catch up on something different. It has all these different layers and I believe that if anyone could rewatch their life, it would feel like fleabag. Not for the despair that you might feel throughout the show (cause true, I end up being devastated by it each time), or maybe even a little by it, because it feels real, brutally true and it does not give you a cookie at the end of it telling you life is all going to be like you want it. The characters are shitty people, but at the end of the day, we all are in a way or another, to someone that we met in our lives. If I could ever meet Phoebe I would just thank her for this work of art. By the way, it was reeeally hard for me not to add anything else, if I could, I would honestly just talk about Fleabag all day. In a way I'm glad not everybody has seen it or it would just be my only topic of discussion.

[@georgie7355]

i watched it recently, and finished it within two days. i loved it so much. it was so refreshing. i actually felt like watching real people going through real things. phoebe is incredibly talented.

[@Leonore995]

This show hurt me in the best way, especially season 2. The “do you want to f*ck a priest? Or do you want to f*ck god?” line really stuck with me.

[@vanessaajohn]

This show is an all timer for me and something I would like to bring that I don't feel is touched on a lot in discussions is the amazing portrayal of sisters. Something I'm just realizing is the lack of sisters in films who are a focus, yet there are 8 billion films about brothers. There is a very specific dynamic that sisters have that I hope gets explored more in media because Claire and Fleabag are so incredible.

[@supposedlymel]

I binged fleabag after learning pwb wrote the first season of killing eve (my favourite show ever). two completely different genres and she excels in both. she's a damn genius and her characters in fleabag (and ke as well) are both likeable and unlikeable. definitely deserve of the multiple Emmys she won back in 2019

[@angelicaschuyler9349]

See, I totally agree with most of your points! However, I personally LOVED the way the priest begins to notice Fleabag's small asides to the camera. Beyond showing their connection, the show has such well developed rules: Fleabag can talk to the camera at any time, and no one will notice. And then it completely shatters them. It throws you off so completely and is shocking in a really understated way. I thought it was completely brilliant, and another way to elevate the device of 4th wall breaks beyond what we've seen before.

[@joesoq]

non fleabag but phoebe appreciation comment: i totally loved killing eve s1. the following seasons, not as much.

[@Maiasgameroom]

Killing Eve season 1 was phenomenal, seriously! But then there is this decline each season after unfortunately.

[@emma-rdgs]

That's bc she didn't write season 2 and 3

[@LennyCartwright]

"Because everybody, EVERYBODY makes mistakes in life. You've done it. I've done it. Fleabag's done it". The person who sent this insanely self-sufficient gatekeepy DM and who probably feels SO dumb right now has done it.

[@galesito1733]

There is something so honest about this show that raises it above the vast majority of sitcoms. I love it and, like you, I was glad that it ended because it has two perfect seasons and the story was told. It was perfect with none of the tropes of normal sitcoms. The relationships Fleabag had with her family felt so real and everybody in the show had their own problems, just like in real life. I didn't hate any of the characters because I could see that they all had their own issues. Her father, sister and stepmother and Fleabag herself were all so brilliantly conceived and fleshed out, warts and all. I've known all of these people in my life.

[@pandapotato5121]

When Claire is freaking out on the phone and fleabag is talking to the (bank?) guy I laughed out loud when, quietly in the background, Claire said “no don’t bring Hillary” and “who’s Stephanie?”

[@shiny_creations]

This show was like therapy for me! I actually understood my relationship with my own sister better because of the sibling love/hate rivalry in Fleabag. It's so refreshing to have a cast of morally questionable and flawed characters stumbling through their lives and not getting some terrible comeuppances as a result. Thank you for covering this show on your channel! x

[@rosamy2017]

I’m so glad you didn’t take that DM to heart. Sexism hurts everyone, not just women. How silly to think that the world would be improved if men weren’t exposed to positive female representation…

[@chickenfoot2423]

and also how silly to not think that men being exposed to womens pov in shows like fleabag wouldnt help women themselves lmao. i would much rather live in a world where men watched shows with female protagonists than one where those shows were seen as only for us as a subsection of media consumers lol

[@martyna1628]

i see her looking/talking to the audience similar as Elliot's "friend" in Me.Robot - it's their coping mechanism

[@meganjames2322]

I would honestly love to see you cover Phoebe’s series ‘Crashing’, a one season show she wrote, that was made before the fleabag series. It follows an extreme exaggeration of characters that are all fairly unique and chaotic in their own ways (some more overtly than others) and, while Phoebe’s character is predominantly at the centre of the show, the writing does well to distinguish the characters from one another instead of making one character exist purely to support the presence of another’s narrative. The show itself is just an entertaining watch but I’d be really interested in hearing your thoughts on it :)