21 July 2016 (2016-07-21) – 8 April 2019 (2019-04-08)
Fleabag is a Britishcomedy-drama television series created and written byPhoebe Waller-Bridge, based on herone-woman show first performed in 2013 at theEdinburgh Fringe Festival. The series was produced byTwo Brothers Pictures for digital channelBBC Three, in a co-production agreement withAmazon Studios.[1][2] Waller-Bridge stars as the title character, a free-spirited but angry and confused young woman living inLondon.Sian Clifford co-stars as Fleabag's sister Claire, withAndrew Scott joining in the second season; most of the show's main characters are never named, including Waller-Bridge's and Scott's. The protagonist frequently breaks thefourth wall, providing exposition, internal monologues, and running commentary to the audience.[3][4]
The show is adapted from Waller-Bridge's 2013Edinburgh Festival Fringe one-woman play of the same name which won a Fringe First Award.[16][17][18] The initial idea of the character of Fleabag came from a challenge by a friend, where Waller-Bridge was given the task of creating a sketch for a 10-minute section in a stand-up storytelling night.[19]
Olivia Colman as Fleabag and Claire's godmother, who began a relationship with their father not long after their mother's death and eventually becomes their stepmother
Brett Gelman as Martin, Claire's aggressive alcoholic husband
Fleabag has a one-night stand with Arsehole Guy, before picking up another man on the bus, Bus Rodent, to whom she recounts how she split from her regular boyfriend, Harry. After being refused a business loan by Bank Manager for her failing café, she meets and argues with her high-achieving sister, Claire, at a feminist lecture. She visits her father and godmother (who is now in a relationship with her father), from whose home studio she steals a sculpture of a woman's torso. On a taxi ride home, she recounts how her best friend Boo (with whom she started the café) accidentally killed herself after her boyfriend cheated on her.
Fleabag tries to sell the stolen statue to Claire's art dealer husband, Martin. She runs into Arsehole Guy, but the awkward sex that ensues makes her run back to her emotionally fragile, on-and-off boyfriend, Harry. Harry leaves her for good, however, after she scares him in the shower, and after he discovers that she has been lying about giving up masturbation.
3
Episode 3
Harry Bradbeer
Phoebe Waller-Bridge
4 August 2016 (2016-08-04)
Fleabag helps Martin buy a present for Claire, who is organising her own surprise birthday party. She reconnects with Bus Rodent and takes him to the party. To Fleabag's shock, Martin gives the stolen sculpture to Claire. Later, a drunken Martin attempts to kiss Fleabag, but is rebuffed.
4
Episode 4
Harry Bradbeer
Phoebe Waller-Bridge
11 August 2016 (2016-08-11)
Courtesy of their father, Fleabag and Claire reluctantly visit a female-only silent retreat, where they frequently break the rule of silence. Fleabag admits to Claire that she stole the sculpture, and Claire asks her to return it. At the retreat, Fleabag runs into Bank Manager, who is attending a neighbouring workshop following a sexual harassment scandal at work. The two bond over their shared unhappiness. Claire reveals that she has been promoted to a lucrative position in Finland, but considers turning it down for the sake of her family. Fleabag attempts to persuade her to take the job by telling her of Martin's behaviour at the party.
5
Episode 5
Harry Bradbeer
Phoebe Waller-Bridge
18 August 2016 (2016-08-18)
On the anniversary of their mother's death, Fleabag and Claire return to their family home for the annual memorial lunch. Fleabag takes the opportunity to restore the sculpture to her godmother's studio. Things get heated, and plans are being made for the godmother's "sex-hibition". Claire re-steals the sculpture for Fleabag, after which Fleabag rekindles her relationship with Arsehole Guy.
6
Episode 6
Harry Bradbeer
Phoebe Waller-Bridge
25 August 2016 (2016-08-25)
Fleabag goes to the "sex-hibition", and finds that she was invited to act as a waitress; she makes a scene in response. She is dumped by Arsehole Guy, and then discovers that Harry has a new girlfriend. To Fleabag's surprise, Claire has turned down the Finland offer and decides to stay with Martin, who has convinced her that Fleabag made the move at the party. Their confrontation triggers a flashback, revealing that Fleabag was the woman with whom Boo's boyfriend cheated. After being turned away by her father, a heartbroken and guilt-ridden Fleabag contemplates suicide, but is stopped by Bank Manager, who happens to pass by. After listening to her confession, Bank Manager decides to offer her another shot at the business loan for the café.
Having cut ties with her family and taking steps to improve her life after the events of series one, Fleabag returns after one year to join an uncomfortable family dinner, celebrating her father's engagement. She finds herself intrigued by the priest, who is to officiate at the wedding. Claire has a miscarriage during the dinner but refuses to inform anyone or seek medical help. Fleabag covers for her by claiming the miscarriage. Martin's flippant attitude angers Fleabag, who initiates a physical fight with him. The sisters proceed to go to a hospital in a cab.
8
Episode 2
Harry Bradbeer
Phoebe Waller-Bridge
11 March 2019 (2019-03-11)
To Claire's surprise, Fleabag's café is now a thriving business. The sisters visit their family, where Fleabag is once again treated dismissively by their step-mother to be. Claire reveals that Martin is planning to press charges against Fleabag for assault, but she arranges legal advice for Fleabag. Fleabag goes to amental health counselling session, which affirms her desire for the priest. She connects with him, helps him out at a garden party and attempts to flirt with him.
9
Episode 3
Harry Bradbeer
Phoebe Waller-Bridge
18 March 2019 (2019-03-18)
Fleabag helps with an award event at Claire's work, where she discovers Claire's crush on a Finnish colleague, Klare. The event almost ends in disaster but Fleabag manages to salvage the situation. Claire remains angry at her nonetheless. Fleabag has a profound conversation with Claire's co-worker Belinda at a bar. She continues to flirt with the priest, but he remains unwilling to violate hisvows of celibacy. In a moment ofmetafiction, the priest begins to notice Fleabag breaking the fourth wall.
10
Episode 4
Harry Bradbeer
Phoebe Waller-Bridge
25 March 2019 (2019-03-25)
The priest and Fleabag's pleasant day together ends on an unhappy note when she rebuffs his attempt at getting to know her more and helping with her troubles. She looks back on her painful memories of her mother's funeral. At night, Fleabag goes to pray at the church, where she meets the drunken priest and they establish a closer bond. After Fleabag's confession, they succumb to a moment of passion but the priest has second thoughts and is unable to carry through.
11
Episode 5
Harry Bradbeer
Phoebe Waller-Bridge
1 April 2019 (2019-04-01)
The priest informs the family that he is no longer able to officiate at the wedding, before telling Fleabag not to visit his church again. Claire falls into a state of panic after having second thoughts about her new haircut. Fleabag comforts her and Claire is further reassured when Klare declares he loves her new look. Fleabag covers for Claire and argues with Martin, who is concerned that Claire is considering leaving him. Fleabag gets a visit from the priest, who reveals his feelings for her are more than physical. The two have sex, and Fleabag pushes the audience away.
12
Episode 6
Harry Bradbeer
Phoebe Waller-Bridge
8 April 2019 (2019-04-08)
On the day of the wedding, Fleabag and the priest wake up together. At the garden wedding, Fleabag returns the stolen sculpture to her godmother, who reveals the figure was based on Fleabag's mother. Claire reveals to Martin the truth about her miscarriage, before begging him to leave her. Fleabag persuades Claire to go after Klare and helps her father through the wedding. After the ceremony, the priest and Fleabag admit their love for each other at a bus stop, but he states that he has chosen God after Fleabag asks "It's God, isn't it?". The two end things on amicable terms. Fleabag sees a fox and points it towards the priest. She then walks away, leaving the audience behind at the bus stop.
BBC Three was the original broadcast channel for the show with a repeat run broadcast onBBC Two between 21 August and 25 September 2016. The second series was broadcast onBBC One at the same time as being released on BBC Three, by this time only available online.[20]
It was picked up by the on-demandAmazon Prime Video (formerly Amazon Video) service and premiered in the United States on 16 September 2016.[18][21]Fleabag is also available onIFC in the US. In the Netherlands, it was picked up byNet5.[22]
The show has been remade for French television byJeanne Herry. TitledMouche [fr] (French for 'fly', the insect), it started airing on 3 June 2019 on pay channelCanal+.Mouche is a close remake, though set inParis withCamille Cottin in the starring role.[23][24][25]
The second and final series premiered with a family dinner party filmed at the American steakhouse,Smith & Wollensky inCovent Garden. Hot Priest's church was the Romanian Orthodox and formerAnglican church St. Andrew's inKingsbury. Godmother's sexhibition was held at theTate Modern inBankside. Claire's penthouse office was filmed fromHeron Tower inBishopsgate. The funeral was filmed at St Dunstan and All Saints Church inStepney. The hair salon was 137 – Taylor and Taylor inShoreditch.
Filming for the first series started in late April 2016,[26] and was released from 21 July to 25 August 2016. Filming for the second and final series started in late August 2018[27] and was released from 4 March to 8 April 2019.
Both series ofFleabag received widespread acclaim from television critics. At review aggregation websiteRotten Tomatoes, both series received approval ratings of 100%. The first series received an average rating of 8.5/10, based on 42 reviews, with the site's critical consensus reading: "Clever and viciously funny,Fleabag is a touching, wildly inventive comedy about a complicated young woman navigating the aftermath of trauma."[29] The second series received an average rating of 9.3/10, based on 99 reviews, with the critical consensus stating: "Fleabag jumps back into the fray with a bracing second season that upholds its predecessor's frenzied wit and delicate heart, replete with Phoebe Waller-Bridge's indefatigable charisma".[31] AtMetacritic, the first series received aweighted average score of 88 out of 100, based on 19 critics,[30] while the second series received a score of 96, based on 21 critics, both signifying "universal acclaim".[32]
Emily Nussbaum ofThe New Yorker described the first series as "a precision black-humour mechanism, a warped and affecting fable about one single woman's existence."[33]Maureen Ryan atVariety called it "scathingly funny", concluding that "long after it's pulled you in with its irreverence and jokes about sex, and beguiled you with its cutting wit and messily human characters, it reveals that it's actually a tragedy".[34]Hank Stuever ofThe Washington Post characterised it as a "funny, highly profane but surprisingly poignant dramedy".[35] Mike Hale inThe New York Times praised the show for its "restless, almost feral energy and its slap-in-the-face attitude."[36]Mary McNamara of theLos Angeles Times commended its unpredictability, acting, and "clear eye for truth that often becomes, like all good comedy, quite devastating".[37]
The second series received unanimous acclaim and was considered a cultural phenomenon. Serena Davies ofThe Daily Telegraph lauded the second series as "a near-perfect work of art".[38]Mary Elizabeth Williams ofSalon praised its "brilliant swan song", finding the series's conclusion satisfying and "well-earned".[39] ForRolling Stone,Alan Sepinwall wrote that the "tragicomic masterpiece reaches new heights in its second outing".[40]James Poniewozik ofThe New York Times wrote that "the new season feels immediately confident, if inevitably less groundbreaking. Yet it continues to push its form".[41] Hannah Jane Parkinson ofThe Guardian described the conclusion as "the most electrifying, devastating TV in years," writing of the second series that "it seems as though many who either did not watch the first series, or who didn't think it lived up to the hype, have been converted".[42]
According to Metacritic's aggregate of decade-end lists,Fleabag was the second-highest ranked show of the 2010s.[43] It has since been considered by multiple publications to be one of thegreatest television series of all time.[b]
Former United States PresidentBarack Obama named the second season ofFleabag among his favourite films and television series of 2019. In his annual list, which he released on Twitter on 29 December 2019, he added a small addendum with the title, "and a quick list of TV shows that I considered as powerful as movies:Fleabag: Season 2,Unbelievable, andWatchmen."[49]
