By Caitlin Kelly
I hope by now you’ve heard of this show, and seen it…a two-season television series created by and starring 33-year-old Phoebe Waller-Bridge, who this year won the Emmy for Best Comedy, Best Comedy Actress and Best Writing.
The show’s first season — deeply British — probably turned off a lot of viewers: her character, whose only name is Fleabag, is sex-obsessed, sarcastic, guarded and has behaved really badly at times. She’s mourning the recent deaths of her mother (breast cancer) and best friend and London fellow cafe-owner (traffic accident.)
She’s not perky and likeable. You want to shake her by the shoulders as much as give her a hug.
But the second season, which I recently binged, is much less comedy and so often the smartest and deepest look I’ve ever seen at what we want when we think we want sex — and we crave something much deeper and more lasting.
And so much more elusive.
And, of course, she wants it from….a Catholic priest.
It’s really difficult, if you have a certain kind of family of origin and a certain kind of sexual history — OK, mine — to watch Fleabag and her out-sized and inchoate yearnings and not feel deeply seen.
Her sister Claire is spiky and angry and married to a really awful American. Her father is unable to share emotions or show Fleabag how much he loves her, instead forever kowtowing to his new wife-to-be, who is (the amazing Olivia Colman, winner of this year’s Oscar for Best Actress in The Favourite) an even more awful person, simpering and selfish and passive-aggressive.
This brought back wayyyyyyyy too many memories for me of how my father (equally allergic to feelings and discussion of same) always makes sure the women in his life take precedence. Fleabag seems to have no pals and her sister is too often freaking out over something to be a reliably loving presence.
Fleabag also bounces off men (literally) like a pinball, until she meets the hot priest. I’ll save you the spoilers, but suffice to say he’s the only character finally able to challenge her and puncture her flip, glib defenses.
I also recently saw the original one-woman show that was the initial idea for all of this and it is astonishing, with lightning-quick shifts in mood and tone.
Have you seen it?
Broadside 
Yes! Saw it and loved it, especially (like you), the second season. Phoebe Waller Bridge is hugely talented and an inspiration to all women who share the background you describe — myself included. Catherine Reitman is also breaking ground with Working Moms, hilarious and also a trip down memory lane as it’s shot in Toronto.
Have you also seen (!???) Baroness von Sketch? Four hilarious Canadian women. I dream of writing for them.
No but will check it out! Also my dream to write or work with any of these amazing women, to which I’ll also add Sharon Horgan (Catastrophe).
Hmmm. Must look! BvonS are a hoot.
I have heard about it (and heard it’s really good) but I don’t have access atm.
I’ve yet to see it but intend to in the very near future. it sounds brilliant on so many levels
The first and second season are very different! I hope you can see it.