IT'S FRENCH | Fleabag Season 2 Episodes 4 & 5 | Reaction & Commentary

[@TBwth]

The mixed feelings about the Kneel scene are real. The priest is so loveable but I think this shows his darker side a bit. He'd been drinking and took advantage of that moment of vulnerability.

[@FrankFreezy_]

Like every character in this show, they all make mistakes - this just felt so off because of the state she was in. I agree.

[@XyName]

Interesting! For me it was just a general approach to the point that Fleabag just can't do anything "right". She often looks not "right" to other people (too drunk, too over-/underdressed/too sexy) and they judge her. so the only moment it is typical for people to look bad she looks good. Or she is hungry at the funeral and so she eats and that gets judged too. For me it is symbolic to the way that she is/grieves different than other people or in a normal way would let herself feel what she would like to feel ignoring social standards but noone is supporting her. Even Harry is like "you should cry. I can't see tears". I love Boo because she lightens the mood, offers her a cigarette and she does not judge her for looking good or not crying. she sees that Fleabag hates it and therefore makes jokes but also tries to help her.

[@orangemarmalade77]

The reveal of the haircut reference photo is absolutely hilarious, no notes. Can't wait for your reaction to the finale!

[@FrankFreezy_]

😂😂 too good! Their hairdresser didn’t fuck up this time

[@floreg.b12345]

The kneel seen is so interesting. Up until recently I had the same view as you but then I had this realisation. She wants physical intimacy and he values emotional intimacy. So when she is emotionally vulnerable he rewards her physically and it happens the other way around later on. He kneels to her level and joins her in her emotions.

[@FrankFreezy_]

I get you. Beautiful said. But what complicates it is that I don’t think that’s what she needed in that moment. She needed guidance. She needed stability. She needed a friend. And there’s a level of indulgence in there that taints what you beautifully explained. He knew he did something wrong after that picture dropped.

[@lauralouwhooo]

​​@@FrankFreezy_ I think this is incredibly true and the show very much means to convey that. He is human and he fails her in this moment. It's "hot" not because it is transgressive but because of the extreme emotional vulnerability and the response to it, but as you said that response was actually moving in a manner to replicate all of her traumas and worst choices, and reinforce them. It's what she wanted from him originally, but it's the absolute worst thing he can do, and he does it in the moment when she finally emotionally opens up. Is likely from what little we know about hot priest, that negative, compulsive behavior works same for him as Fleabag. Or at least it did. He has a drinking problem and a brother who is a pedophile and a very dark past that led him to a life of celibacy & dedication to survive. I appreciate the complication of the scene because we can have an empathy for their bad choices, & understand their bad choices while still recognizing them as bad. Fleabag isn't dumb. She went to the church perhaps hoping he'd be there. And the entire show she attempts to wear him down. He is human. But at the end of the day he is an authority figure and knows it's wrong. Few people can have us love such deeply flawed protagonists, but Phoebe Waller-Bridge finds a way

[@Charikful]

I love your commentary so much and also think, there is a really underrated line there. When Fleabag told the Priest that she was about to pray, he went "Nonononono, thats my thing!" And I do interpret it as a peak into his past, that he was probably a Fleabag too, until he found faith, and religion was "his thing" to get over it, and we see the confirmation of this darkness comming to front in the "Kneel" scene. This show is so beautifully written that everyone can find their own nugget of truth in it!

[@FrankFreezy_]

I like this 🌺

[@lauralouwhooo]

@@Charikful I agree. I always felt his alcoholism (and his words about being lost until he found the priesthood) make it clear how similar they are. I also think there's the implication the priest may have been abused by his pedophile brother. At the very least, he has trauma from it either way, but one of the highest predictors of substance abuse is being the victim of sexual abuse as a child. I prefer that they kept this past somewhat ambiguous so we didn't project too much on it, but it made me wonder. It would also explain why he chose a path of no romance/sex.

[@yb9964]

Also, Claire is suchhhhh an older sister it actually pains me 😭 this irrational jealousy despite being more conventionally successful because deep down you know you haven’t done any of it for you, but to be loved and to catch up for your lack of other more easy-to-like characteristics that nobody gave you the space to develop 🥴 you feel like a vase on display, as fragile as it is empty….I’m taking an appointment with my therapist rn

[@FrankFreezy_]

Haha hope the appointment goes well. Yeah I love Clare, I feel like she so relatable for so many

[@evienicks]

I always took her incredible good hair and skin day at the funeral as a way to heighten the dissonance between what she's feeling internally (unbearable grief) and how she's managed to externalize that so far (not at all).

[@Anna-jl7gy]

That's so interesting! I've always wondered if there was something behind that joke

[@FrankFreezy_]

Interesting! I like

[@lauralouwhooo]

I think it also ties into how her father advises her to ignore her grief and just be funny & happy

[@glendakathrein]

the "see you next week" during the haircut scene is just so hilarious to me I love this show so much

[@Anna-jl7gy]

I agree that the Kneel scene is very conflicting but I really don't think it makes the priest "the Villain". Like every character on this show he is very flawed; he seems to have a drinking problem and he was probably like fleabag ( had a life of chaos maybe) before he found faith. I think the priest lost his self control because he is moved by fleabag being vulnerable with him, and he clearly regrets it as soon as he realizes what he's doing.

[@FrankFreezy_]

So true. Not a villain at all

[@aydenkelly6274]

When her father tells her to smile and charm when she is so lost in her grief, and defines her as the fun one, you can absolutely see why she ends up joking and distancing everyone - and unable to interact honestly with anyone - when she is wrestling with even worse grief and guilt about Boo's death. (Especially when her love and grief for her mum is tied with her love and grief for Boo.) She has always been boxed in by her family's definition of her: the mess-up, quirky, charming one who attracts lots of men. And the perceived freedom of that is envied by her sister, who doesn't see all the constraints. And man, the disrespect of everyone focusing on her appearance when she has just lost her beloved mum....

[@sleepykitty1745]

I read "I'm glad my mum died" and it was amazing. Made me glad her mom died too, honestly. Jeanette is a really amazing and smart woman

[@neadod2902]

I personally view the kneel scene as 2 vulnerable people opening up to each other in different ways. In episode's prior it's been made clear to him & us that she fancies him however, he's told her nothing's going to happen. In the kneel scene, the priest is clearly drunk making him vulnerable. Imo after listening to Fleabag open up, him kissing her is his way of also opening up & revealing his attraction towards her (a very impulsive way that he seems to regret straight after).

[@mythtified9118]

I find the kneel scene quite difficult, because it may not be what she needed in the moment, but she was sober and he was quite obviously very drunk, and regretful as soon as he realized what he was doing. In the scene where they cheers, you can clearly see the first bottle being empty, hence why he grabs the second. So it's hard for me to see him as a villain in this scene, because she may be vulnerable, but he's highly intoxicated, she knows that in a sober state he probably wouldn't do this, especially not in a church, and she's responding to it anyway.. I'm wondering if gender plays a role in how the scene is perceived, because if she was drunk and he wasn't, it probably would be perceived very much as him taking advantage even if she kissed him first. When I first watched this, I definitely remember feeling very weird about her engaging him when she probably very much was aware of his state and when she has indicated that she's interested in sex with him, while he, in a sober state, always said no. I see it more as two messy people being put together while they are both stuggling with their respective impulses.

[@LocalTadpole03]

that’s a very good point while he as a priest has some of power as she came to the church. ultimately it’s just a good gray showing why they needed to grow away from one another regardless.

[@chronicsimmerr]

I like that she covered the camera this time, she usually never does during those times. Which means this one is special

[@Eli-pi4eh]

I viewed the kneel scene as two lost people finding comfort in each other for a moment. They’re both deviating from the path they had initially set themselves on and were drawn to each other, it was a moment of weakness from them both in a sort of desperation of something to cling on to (each other). It’s funny thinking about them being like lost kids and then God intervening like “HEY, CUT IT OUT!” 😂

[@flori9060]

I’ve always interpreted her looking great at the funeral in a “can’t let anyone take a LOOK at my pain” way. She only cries to two people. To her father, who sadly shuts her grief down because she’s the “fun” one. And to Boo, who comforts her, makes her laugh and listens. I mean, even her boyfriend who she lives with hasn’t seen her cry once. I think her mother’s death is greatly underestimated in terms of Fleabag’s mental state. She lost the only older woman who she was close to. A parent nonetheless. She struggles with her identity as a woman and her mother was probably her guide. She finds solace in Boo, who takes her love with so much enthusiasm and care. But then she loses her too. And that time, she doesn’t cry to anyone about it, because she can’t. Her father shut her down before and her only companion is gone. Fleabag looking that good at the funeral, I feel, is essentially a way of showing that she was already closed off and that people couldn’t see her either, they all commented on her looks but no one asked “how are you? How are you handling this? I’m sorry for your loss”. Also adds to the value she puts on her appearance, if she looks good, who cares about who she is, what she feels, right? Nobody needs to know, and if people don’t know her, they can’t hurt her

[@flori9060]

Anyway, great reaction as always ! I love how you take the time to pause, talk and analyse. It’s very refreshing

[@yashaswinikrishnan1878]

21:20 this was so controversial, and rightfully so. Not just because the general parish saw this as a horrendous blasphemy, but because most adults who watched this felt as if he took advantage of her vulnerability and she wasn't necessarily seeking that atm. (i said adults because teenagers absolutely love this scene, probably because of their raging hormones and undeveloped prefrontal cortex 😂)

[@ZiggyonMars]

@@yashaswinikrishnan1878 absolutely, I first watched that scene as a teenager and LOVED IT. Now, yeah, that was not a good move on his part.

[@yashaswinikrishnan1878]

@ZiggyonMars HARD RELATEEEE!!!

[@NatLL20]

Thank you for the two episodes 😊 I think there's a lot to process with the relationship between fleabag and the priest but I love love love fleabag and Claire's relationship- how much it has developed since season 1 and how much Claire has grown. Comparing her to season 1 where she was going through the motions and very rigid and now she has coming to all these realizations- her relief at the miscarriage- because that would have trapped her-, how with Clair she feels carefree and happy and with martin she is putting on a facade and just isn't happy and you can kind of see that she is realizing she doesn't need to fix fleabag problems- in the past she has bailed her out but now her cafe is successful so Claire and fleabag can have a more sisterly relationship instead of Claire worrying and fixing fleabags problems and cleaning us messes. Especially in episode 5, you just see hope in Claire now. I could go on but I can't wait for episode 6. The writing is amazing- episode 5 and 6 are my favorite 😍

[@Exoixx]

Am I crazy? I always saw the kneel scene as Priest relating completely to what Fleabag was saying, that’s part of why he sought God/joined the church (to be told how to live) but he’s still suffering/scared hence the alcohol problem. Obviously as an atheist, Fleabag is not part of any sort of authority/power dynamic. And to say Fleabag is vulnerable in this scene is kind of the point but let’s not forget when she finds the priest in the vestry, he’s clearly not in a good place himself. They are both extraordinarily vulnerable in that scene. I don’t think priest is taking advantage at all. It’s a moment of true connection and understanding. They are both in the same psychological space in that moment.

[@FrankFreezy_]

You’re not crazy

[@emoedison]

She keeps calling him "Father" -- even in the confessional, where she finally opens up completely and is vulnerable with him. He realizes that that's not the way he wants to relate to her anymore, and asks her to call him by his first name, Neil. "Just Neil. (Not Father.)" That's why there's a flash of a smile when he goes to open the door of the confessional and finds her on her knees. I think Waller-Bridge finds it amusing that so few people get this joke.

[@tiapesi2738]

Oh my.. THANK YOU so much! This is amazing. It makes it even more perfekt.

[@JamieReed-n3p]

Yes, thank you so much for explaining this! Neil and Kneel mixup. That still fits with the interpretations of emotional and physical intimacy and flawed people, but makes the priest less of a villain!

[@asteven8]

Oh. my. goodness! That is brilliant. Now I have to rewatch it again with that in mind.

[@batatapalio2676]

WHAT

[@LW114YT]

Do you have a source for that? What do the scripts say?

[@jackiew4363]

I saw everyone complimenting her at the funeral as a way to show how her appearance is valued over her grief as a woman, and the pressure to look bad, or worse than usual, otherwise she must not be suffering. More people commented on how she looked, rather than asking if she was okay, even her own boyfriend Harry. This plays into Fleabag's twisted sense of self being tied up in her own objectification, and sexuality. As a woman, what you bring to the table for others to see and commodify is always more valuable than what you are feeling inside, and in extreme cases like Fleabag's, is a complete erasure of your own humanity. Imagine how jarring it must be for the community around you to show more concern over your appearance than your well-being, in the wake of tragedy. Even at your own mother's funeral, what you do for others still comes first.

[@rimamondal0405]

I really like your reaction. You truly like this show, and your appreciation and thoughts about different topics seems interesting.

[@FrankFreezy_]

Thank you! 😊 can’t help but love it

[@kelliems75]

Both of their humanities entered the space at the same time. She finally let it out and, he gave in. Right or wrong. I think it was necessary for both of them. He kind of gave her the positive reinforcement in the way that she understands it. Ethically, now...that presents a totally different conflict but thinking about the basics of humanity...brilliant!

[@KayMozart]

The kneeling scene was beautiful. He was thinking of her, drinking, vulnerable. She appears, vulnerable, beautifully honest, and he decided to give her what she (and he) wanted. Both were working from love, I think.

[@jainthorne4136]

I think I read somewhere that the reason so many of the characters don't have names is because Phoebe wanted them to stand in for a universal type and to preserve some of the mystery inherent in humans. We think we know each other but in many ways, we don't.

[@yvyo-m3940]

39:28. Your look at the camera. So Fleabag. Iconic!

[@walnutsrcool]

It definitely gave me weird vibes too with the priest but he also seemed drunk from the start and I read it as her walls breaking down and then his walls breaking down. Like he wasn’t trying to take advantage but like he was also having a total breakdown of self. Not an excuse but it seemed like they both were having mini breakdowns and vulnerability of truth coming out

[@alexluis2142]

Fleabag has been told multiple times that she more resembles her mother than her father. If her mother felt the same way, there's a huge possibility they had a tense relationship. Some moms take out their frustrations about their own insecurities on their children. She could be looking slightly more relaxed at the funeral

[@besupaaa]

I love Claire so much.

[@FrankFreezy_]

She’s the MVP! Especially in the finale🔥🔥👏🏾👏🏾

[@brash_and_sassy]

31:51 I don't think she was practicing abstinence.. I think she was working on not using sexuality as a coping mechanism. She's on her self improvement journey.

[@yashaswinikrishnan1878]

29:22 she HERSELF is just fleabag 😂😂😂

[@WaftingCurtains]

I think mixed feelings at the kneel scene are intentionally evoked. They're both in a very vulnerable state. Her emotionally vulnerable, him mentally vulnerable due to his crisis of faith and being super duper drunk, and they both know what they're doing is wrong but they're drawn together despite all the reasons they shouldn't be. They're messed up people and what they love about each other is also why they can't work.

[@LouiseDax]

fleabag is about messiness. prist going through some shit, drinking, anxious (fox stuff) , keeps meeting with fleabag even if he clearly interested in some way. hes learning about himself and growing, coming into himself just like fleabag. for me they're both a hot mess at this point of their lifes. I'm glad that they have each other at this time. two mushies trying to find some real ground under their feet. they keep tripping, falling, standing up again. give them time

[@noelleirina5628]

I think the characters don't have names because she has her wall up so high. "Alex" is much more personal than "hot misogynist". It reflects an emotional disconnect, keeping people at an arm's length. She's also very disconnected from her emotions and who she is, so I think she's never named because of that too.

[@beatyz2]

So I have always been someone who is mostly uncomfortable with the "Kneel Scene"... A lot of people like it. But I also don't really feel comfortable with people being strongly against it. I think at the heart of it, knowing that Phoebe wrote it..... She did not write fleabag with the aim to pander to the audience. It's in there because it means something! And I try to appreciate that even though I don't really love that part when watching a reaction because I feel like the reactions to it can be very..... dynamic

[@yashaswinikrishnan1878]

39:23 that face 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@annats45]

I think it was a moment of vulnerability for both of them but on their own way. For fleabag was to let her guard down and be open on how she feels and for him was the losing control and let free his desires now that he connected with what fleabag was “confessing”.

[@beca25694]

Ugh the kneeling scene! I've watched this shows several times and my perception of this scene, and by extension of their relationship, has shifted with time. I think that this scene just represents how Fleabag is the priest's ultimate temptation and how she sends him into chaos. I do think that he takes advantage of her vulnerability here and the way the scene is shot highlights their disparity

[@jaquanleonard8940]

I think the kneel scene is conflicting for a lot of people. My take on it is that the priest is a flawed character and, like fleabag, is struggling. Since meeting her, he wants to connect with her emotionally since that is the extent which he is allowed. In this moment, she finally allows him to do that so in turn, he’s able to connect with her sexually (something she wants). When the painting drops, he remembers to have constraint and realizes that wanting her emotionally (and allowing himself to be sexual) is a dangerous temptation that goes against his mission as a priest. It’s very easy to see this scene as a manipulation or predatory thing, but it’s with the full knowledge that she fully trust and is invested in him.

[@santiagogeringertueros7791]

(yes and he was also hella drunk)

[@SaiyanSerenityV]

I gotta say, idk how it is for amab folk but as a woman 9 times actually sounds excessive to the point of it being painful. 😬 Also I haven't looked to see if there's a poll yet but I just finished Andor and I think that series is SO good for thoughtful reactors like you and Fox, if y'all haven't seen it! It's Star Wars but it really doesn't feel like it at the same time. No Jedi, no lightsabers, it's much more politically complex and character driven. I absolutely loved it.

[@LaFayette3110]

I really thought I was in the minority on the kneel scene, didnt like it at all. Even though I feel like they were definitely going to get active after her moment there, it was the way he said it and how he was standing over her 🤷🏾‍♀️

[@littleflick]

I look like a ✏️

[@niclolkx]

Yapiii, love your reactions! ❤

[@FrankFreezy_]

Thank you!! 😁

[@jackiew4363]

The look the Priest gave Fleabag after the kiss as he's walking away always rubbed me wrong. It's like he's blaming her for trapping him in sin, but all she did was open up to him completely for the first time, he kissed her. I hate that he eggs her on to be vulnerable, kisses her, then seemingly blames her for said kiss, then abandons her. I don't view him as a villain, but i do think the kiss was a misstep, even though i thoroughly enjoyed it.

[@yb9964]

Up until I saw the comments on other videos, I always interpreted the kneel scene as him caving into her advances up until then and then her emotional vulnerability bringing out his own vulnerability regarding physical intimacy… but I definitely see how others interpreted it negatively, I just personally can’t relate that to the character as he’s been presented thus far. He sees her, sees her 4th wall, sees through her and saw she wanted someone to take initiative on things she battling in some way? She said she wanted someone to tell her what to do, fighting her own demons. Idk, I just didn’t see it like that until I saw the comments and now I’m thinking phoebe likes to write deeply flawed characters that we love throughout their flaws 😭

[@minhanhnguyen2213]

I had the same feeling about the kneel scene, it was icky. Fleabag was having a vulnerable moment and the priest made it about s*x. It did feel like he was taking advantage of her. I had felt uncomfortable about that scene for a while. My friend whom I talked to about this also agreed...However, it's been years since I revisited Fleabag, I have had some "special" experience. My experience isn't the same as Fleabag, I was SA-ed and suffered with depression. But, I relate greatly to her monologue, it's also s*xual trauma. I distanced myself from s*x, I was lost and I wanted the same thing (someone tell me what to do). ...So, I was in a bdsm relationship. Most of the time I was dom, but being sub kinda healed me. When you're a sub, you are in a vulnerable situation - this was the situation linking to your trauma, this supposed to mess you up, to scare you...But with a dom or a person that you trust, you know that you're safe. You can just put any thought behind, follow the dom's order and receive pleasure. In a way, it's like taking back your body autonomy because what used to traumatized you, now make you feel safe. I still believe that the priest was flawed and did take advantage of the situation, I just have more insight about what I could interprete. On the other hand, after finishing ss2, I think there is a parallel between Claire's pencil haircut and Boo's idea about mistake in ss1. Boo said ppl made mistake, that's why they put rubbers on the end of pencil. Claire's hair shaped just like a rubber and she was fixing her mistake, she was relief, she was moving on from her perfect image. I can't say more since I'm not sure you had finished ss2.

[@aammaalliiaa]

hi squid!!!!! 🖤

[@FrankFreezy_]

🐈‍⬛❤

[@claytondefreitaslima1169]

if you want to keep the short episode format you could watch Barry next

[@blanketsquares7607]

Squid! 😻

[@FrankFreezy_]

🐈‍⬛🧡

[@beezyqueen]

i think you’re just beginning to see ways in which the priest might be good for fleabag, but fleabag is not rly good for the priest. he’s definitely a flawed guy, but i mean he was only drunk when she showed up because she was already “in his mind.” not at all that she’s bad or leading him into temptation just that she isn’t a good fit /for him/ because he needs the religion for structure, and she shows up as an alternative that has historically not ended well for him. just my thoughts on that anyway.

[@alexandrasloane]

A lot of people see the Kneel scene as super hot. But it feels entirely wrong to me. Makes him the villain in my eyes

[@FrankFreezy_]

I feel you. It felt so wrong because that’s the last thing we expected him to do in that situation with how vulnerable and open she was being.

[@GrainneMhaol]

@@alexandrasloane I get that but we're seeing things from Fleabag's perspective to a certain extent. I feel like she's an unreliable narrator and this is part of her fantasy.

[@jainthorne4136]

@@GrainneMhaol Absolutely. The "unreliable narrator" is a classic literary device and it's especially effective with Fleabag. She tells the audience so many things directly to the camera that we assume she's telling the truth. I think that's one reason the events around Boo's death are so stunning. Up until that moment we don't think that Fleabag is involved in any way except as her friend. Love this show.

[@wendydarling5790]

Yeah. I'm in the super hot camp. 😂🥵🤷‍♀️ He didn't take advantage. Didn't coerce her into making out. It was already well-established that she wanted him. It's wish fulfillment for her and most of the audience.

[@labyrinthseoul8317]

I always viewed it as him rewarding her vulnerability with his own. And him showing her that her letting him in, letting people in, is how you become close