Actress, playwright, and writer Phoebe Waller-Bridge stars in this hilarious dark comedy about a flawed, angry woman (never referred to by name) living in London who is coming to terms with the recent death of her friend, all while handling depression, her dating life, a failing business, a snobby (but endearing) Type A sister, and a psychotic stepmother. Does that sound like a downer? Alright. It's a little bit of a downer, sometimes, but that's the beauty of Fleabag.
After losing both her mother and her best friend, Fleabag spends much of the first season trying to use her quirky bravado and sarcasm as a shield and distracts herself with sex. Under all the wry asides about sexual positions and knowing glances into the camera, the main character is struggling to deal with an immense amount of grief, depression, and guilt, which the show tackles with a deft hand.
The series is relatable in many ways throughout, but it's the last episode, after Fleabag finally falls apart and contemplates stepping out in front of traffic, that gutted me. Her tearful conversation with the Bank Manager gives her a chance to be honest with herself for once, and he convinces her that it's OK to make mistakes. (That's why they put rubbers on the ends of pencils, after all.) It's a brilliant, cathartic moment.
— Quinn Keaney, editor, Entertainment
