How ‘Fleabag’ Became the Most Hilarious TV Show of These Years
And why is it yet so heart-breaking.
Fleabag is one of the best shows I’ve seen in years.
Only two seasons served to create a hysterically-honest and devastating world with so much lessons to deliver. Phoebe Waller-Bridge stars as main character and creator. And this is great.
Golden Globes, Emmys, Baftas. Fleabag not only became an adored show amongst the audience. Unexpected as it was, Fleabag came out as another comedy which was aimed to follow the predefined standards of the genre.
Clearly, the show turned out to be a lot more original than that.
How Fleabag did it? How it achieved the momentum of such scenes?
How characters unfolded in between one another and maintained those itchy atmospheres full of comedy and pain, all at the same time?
If first we want to understand Fleabag’s outstanding performance, we first have to take a look at:
Characters
That actually do something. From Fleabag to Claire to Martin to Fleabag’s dad and Godmother. Certainly, to any character whose presence is constant. The issues each one holds sustain an amazingly-well-structured line of encounters and conflicts. In between them and — obviously — with Fleabag. There’s where the show’s special talent for story development finds its core.
Fleabag (character) embodies the laugher, grief, honesty and anxiety which builds up the whole show as it ripples from episode to episode. It’s so sincere, so humble that it is inevitable not to plug ourselves into it.
How, despite the most heart-breaking scenes you can possibly imagine to occur, Fleabag (show) doesn’t dare move away from the tone with which it began in the first place.
How comedy still endures while you’re eager and on the brink of tears.
These group of characters take places to Fleabag’s life. A moment you love them; a moment they gain your trust; and then you hate who you’re supposed to hate.
This brings us to cast
Apart from Phoebe Waller-Bridge and her art to make Fleabag be, well, Fleabag, Olivia Colman, Sian Clifford and Brett Gelman are other extremely relevant pieces to its success. Same way as Fleabag (character); with their own problems, obsessions and jokes.
Season one was great, but shall we get some talking down regarding the magnificent and divine season two? We shall.
Andrew Scott joins the already incredible cast and adds up for a crazier and complex story.
Fleabag’s small change is there. Therefore, she’s hurt, closer to her past regrets, to being alone, chasing shadows in the dark. But still being her; still being Fleabag. A Fleabag who’s in desperate need to move on, to leave that harmful past behind. At least some parts, because as the show stated: ‘People make mistakes.’
And this is why:
Season Two Is Key
Full of old characters and old remorse. Some better to keep away, some good to attach to and learn in order to know people change, and move on, and keep going. Fleabag is constantly tempted to get back to that life, but like I said: she’s learned. And keeps moving forward regardless of the pain.
The very ending, the last episode collects the whole essence of Fleabag. Will she ever be happy? Will the Father (Andrew Scott) bring her happiness after all? Will Claire follow her heart and be brave enough to go after that desperate change away from her toxic relationship, and therefore, life?
‘This Feeling’ by Alabama Shakes seems to me as the perfect closure. It’s a beautiful, somehow funny, and destroying final.
Because in the end everything is going to be alright.
Fleabag is a much necessary show. Is a standout in terms of being decidedly different. Deep. Honest, and exactly what the world needs from time to time, if not always.
-Anabel Estrella
