Fleabag

British comedy-drama television series. Written by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, who also plays the main character of the show. This show is based on Waller-Bridge's one-woman stage show of the same name [1]. This sitcom consists of 2 seasons comprising six episodes each. It premiered on digital channel BBC Three on 21 July 2016. [2]

This series is about "Fleabag" (Phoebe Waller-Bridge), a good-looking woman in her thirties, who lives in London. She runs her own failing "guinea-pig-themed" café, that she opened with her best friend Boo (Jenny Rainsford). "Fleabag" struggles in her life, her cafe is about to close down, her sister Clair (Sian Clifford) dislikes her, her father (Bill Paterson) avoids her, her relationship with her godmother (Olivia Colman) is very difficult and her best friend Boo died. In season 2, she is attracted to a Catholic priest (Andrew Scott). "Fleabag" is a very lonely and self-loathing person, who tries to find any kind of human connection to fill the void in her heart, usually it means meaningless sex. Yet, she is very self-aware about her life and herself. Season 1 and season 2 cover a lot thematic ground, like themes of grief, spirituality and religion, temptation and sibling relationship. During all the episodes we see the world from the point of view of the main character, she gives comments by way of breaking the fourth wall, about the relationship between men and women or parents and children.

The show Fleabag is similar to Miranda. It is a sitcom about a middle-class woman who is struggling with her difficult situation in both family and life in general. She is also unable to stop herself from making sarcastic comments about everyone and everything, this makes this show very funny. But unlike Miranda, this show is very depressing, because it is about a difficult life. Even though the characters in this show are broken and unhappy, they all try to deal with the problems thrown at them.

One of the recurring theme in this sitcom are sibling rivalries between sisters. Fleabag has a great representation of relationship between sisters. Clair and "Fleabag" are very different people, but they still care about each other. The interaction between them creates a lot of comical and sweet moments.

Character Analysis

• Fleabag portrayed by Phoebe Waller-Bridge.

This character is not named and only referred by her nickname. She is a good-looking woman in her thirties. She is tall, slender, and has short dark brown curly hair. "Fleabag" is very snarky and sassy. She is always cracking jokes, even when it seen inappropriate. She has very active sexual life. She always breaks the fourth wall, and talks directly into the camera.

• Claire portrayed by Sian Clifford.

Clair is "Feabag's" sister. She is married to Martin and has a step-son Jake. In season 2 she gets divorced. She is uptight and seem unhappy with her life. Claire is a reserved person, she hardly smiles or show emotions, she usually feels irritated especially by her sister. She likes to have control in her life, even organising surprise party for herself.

• Dad portrayed by Bill Paterson.

Like "Fleabag", this character remain unnamed in the show. Dad is the father of "Fleabag" and Clair. His first wife, mother of Clair and "Fleabag", died of cancer. Later, he remarried his daughter's Godmother. He still grieves for his first wife.

• Godmother portrayed by Olivia Colman.

Another unnamed character in the show. Fleabag's and Clair's godmother, and their father's new girlfriend, wife since season 2. She is an artist. She is passive-aggressive, controlling and self-centred.

• Hot Priest portrayed by Andrew Scott.

Another main character in the second season of the show. He was the priest marrying Godmother and Dad, and became "Fleabag's" new love interest. The Priest is a very good looking man, in his late thirties. He is short with dark brown hair. Because of his religious believes, he needs to remain chaste, but he is attracted to Fleabag, so he is being tempted.

Reception and Rewards

Phoebe Waller-Bridge won a BAFTA for best female performance in a comedy programme in 2017. [3]. The show won the Writers’ Guild of Great Britain Award for best TV situation comedy. [4] In the Royal Television Society Awards Fleabag received award for Best Writing (Comedy) and Breakthrough Star of the Year [5], and in the Broadcasting Press Guild Awards received award for best writer [6]. On review website Rotten Tomatoes, both seasons of Fleabag got approval ratings of 100% by the critics and 93% by the audience [7].

Sources

1. Swain, Rhea. “If You Love British Comedy, 'Fleabag' Is a Must-Watch.” The Daily Targum, 27 Apr. 2020, www.dailytargum.com/article/2020/04/fleabag-series-review.

2. "Fleabag." Geektown, https://www.geektown.co.uk/tvairdates/fleabag/.

3. "Bafta Television Awards Shortlist 2017". BAFTA, 11 April 2017, http://www.bafta.org/media-centre/press-releases/television-awards-nominations-list-2017.

4. "Writer's Guild Awards 2017". WGGB, 23 January 2017, https://writersguild.org.uk/writers-guild-award-winners-2017/.

5. "RTS Awards 2017". Royal Television Society, 21 March 2017, https://rts.org.uk/award/rts-programme-awards-2017.

6. "The Night Manager, The Crown, Planet Earth II and Desert Island Discs take top prizes at 43rd Broadcasting Press Guild Awards". Broadcasting Press Guild, 17 March 2017, http://www.broadcastingpressguild.org/2017/03/the-night-manager-the-crown-planet-earth-ii-and-desert-island-discs-take-top-prizes-at-43rd-broadcasting-press-guild-awards/.

7. "Fleabag". Rotten Tomatoes, https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/fleabag.