In the final moments of season 2, Fleabag turns to the lens and waves goodbye to us, the people inside the camera. We have been her companions, the people who have been allowed to understand her grieving heart just a little better.
It with a mix of nostalgia and gratitude that we watch Fleabag walk away. We’re going to miss her. It was an exquisite treat to be with her for another season. Phoebe Waller-Bridge both wrote and stars in this masterpiece of sad, troubled, comedy. Waller-Bridge can be funny, seconds later show vulnerability and pain, then whipsaw us into longing and love in a flash.
It’s over a year since season 1 ended. Fleabag meets the family for a dinner to make ready for the wedding of her Dad (Bill Paterson) to her TMI Godmother (Olivia Colman). Her sister Claire (Sian Clifford) is there from her job in Norway with her creepy husband Martin (Brett Gelman).
Before the evening is over, Fleabag falls for The Priest (Andrew Scott) who will officiate at the wedding, Claire has a miscarriage, and several people get punched in the nose.
A year of missing her mother and her friend Boo (Jenny Rainsford) haven’t reduced Fleabag’s pain at losing them, although she has pulled herself together a bit. She’s turned the guinea pig cafe into a success. She’s quit having so much random sex all the time.
Phoebe’s relationship with Claire is spotty. They have each other’s backs but with a degree of venom. Without a close relationship, we people behind the lens of the 4th wall are her only friends, her only confidants. We watch as Fleabag’s heart swells with love for The Priest she can’t have. Well, at least not permanently.
The Priest is the one who calls her back to reality when she’s gone off discussing things with those of us behind the 4th wall. He’s the only person who’s ever noticed or cared about her peculiar way of spacing out of a situation.
I love Fleabag, I want her to be happy. It’s so very hard. A Priest, for crying out loud!
Fleabag makes flirtatious remarks to the Counsellor (Fiona Shaw) and tries making out with one of Claire’s business associates, Belinda (Kristin Scott Thomas). The Hot Misogynist (Ray Fearon) gets a trial run between the sheets. None of them can replace The Priest. It’s so very hard.
The music chosen felt like part of the comedy. You get a hint of it in the trailer below. It screams at you in hilarious inappropriate ways. I found it added tremendously to my enjoyment.
Harry Bradbeer directed every episode of season 2. I hesitate to say season 2 was better than season 1, because season 1 was brilliant. But season 2 is brilliant as well. Phoebe Waller-Bridge brings a gift for the unexpected and unusual. She’s one of the best writers of our time, and a superb actress as well.
The series is only available on Prime Video.
Have you seen season 2 yet? What did you think of it?
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Fleabag: A breakthrough in filmmaking! Complex, charming, sexy, witty, ridiculous, funny, sad, cringeworthy – Phoebe Waller-bridge is a genius and terrifically human. I’ve watched it 3 times.
I like rewatching it too. Have you seen Crashing (https://oldaintdead.com/review-crashing/). You might like it too.