I generally hate 4th wall break. The reason why I had put 'generally' in this sentence is #phoebe-waller-bridge's amazing execution of this technique. Her 4th wall breaks made me an accomplice in whatever nefarious thing she is going to do next. I gladly obliged.

Fleabag is a story of a younger sibling trying to fit in the world. She does not see the world like everyone else and considering the people in her life, I couldn't blame her either. She has lost her mother recently, and her godmother has eventually filled the void in her dad's life. She and her sister, however, find this hard to digest and are not much fond of the new lady. What ensues is fleabag trying to move on and get a hold of her own life again. She has a very close friend and a confidant who loses her life in an accident. As the show starts, she really has no direction.

It is a bit fast-paced for a comedy series. For a non-native English speaker, I struggled a bit initially. American sitcoms have slowed my brain and so a British show with accented English took some time getting used to. But I was thoroughly rewarded for my patience. Phoebe Waller-Bridge is the writer as well as the lead in this show and her command over the medium shows in every scene.

Her portrayal of elder and younger siblings is quite perceptive. A tightly-wound elder sister who worries about almost everything in the world. Who is stuck in a bad marriage but has to peddle on because of 'responsibilities' towards a family. #Sian-clifford does a really enjoyable job at that. Then we have their father played by #bill-paterson. He is quite successful and well-to-do but has no clue in the world about how to handle his two daughters after his wife's passing. He stammers around them. Gives them coupons and tickets to feminist seminars, and does everything to keep them somewhat engaged but away from him.

But if I had to give one award for the best actor in the series, it easily goes to #olivia-colman. Such an extraordinary genius. It takes tremendous talent to portray livid rage even with a smile and not let it break the forced amiable demeanour. [spoiler]The scene where the priest, played by #andrew-scott, refuses the officiate their wedding, oh that seen I could watch so many times just for her.[/spoiler] Anytime Phoebe is on the screen, she holds your undivided attention, only except when Olivia is on screen.

In the second season, the brilliantly talented #andrew-scott enters the show as the priest. This is where the show went slightly downhill for me. He is brilliant. No doubt about it but the story arc gets unnecessarily edgy. The brilliant first season continues rising till the first episode of the second. S02E01 is easily the best episode of the series for me.

The premise is aimless by design, but towards the latter part of the second season, it tried to head towards a concrete conclusion. You have to watch for yourself if you are satisfied with the end. The show reminded me of one of the great chaotic movies ever, Roman Polanski's 2011 film, Carnage (I had to stop typing and go watch that trailer once again, it is that good!).

With just two seasons, I kept thinking I wanted more, I wanted to know fleabag more. That is the testament to a successful show with a timely exit. With what's happening across the Atlantic, with everyone trying hard to create franchises out of moderate successes, a two-season run is a welcome change.

I would recommend this sharply written, brilliantly acted comedy-drama. Finish one season in one sitting, it's more potent that way.

One should ask oneself a question:

Why are western women being bombarded with propaganda that normalizes turning themselves into vulgar, unapproachable and toxic cartoon characters?

What is the motivation to have women abandon all class or grace and turn themselves into vile truck drivers? It wasn't behavior you found appealing in men, so becoming what you loath isn't equality or progress.

It's regression and it's nothing to be proud of.

Sorry I just had to write a review after seeing the irony of Timefox881's review. You do realize you are the only one insinuating that women should act a certain 'way,' which is....what? A saccharinely sweet and compliant 1950's housewife? Nothing about Fleabag tells the viewer that they should act in a particular way based on gender. Unfortunate that you missed the actual themes, nuances, and cinematic devices present in the show. Fleabag uses the fourth wall to treat the viewer as her friend, her confidant, and we witness all of the events of the show through that lens. We laugh with her, we judge her, we cringe with her, we cheer her on. She is a human being, neither wholly bad nor wholly good. She has growth too! Fleabag shows that no matter how shitty you may be, or may feel your actions are, you can always try to redeem yourself. You can apply for a loan to keep the cafe you and your friend opened from going under. You can choose not to continue doing things that have always negatively impacted your life in the past. You can choose to abandon your coping methods that you have outgrown. You can lose love but not lose hope. Of course, none of this without giving up your sense of humor. In two seasons, Phoebe Waller-Bridge managed to teach more lessons than most shows that drag on for eternity. A must watch for any human being who might want to learn a little more about themselves, and others, instead of making bizarre assumptions about a particular gender.

I'd heard so much about Fleabag that I had to see what all the fuss was about. On my first attempt, I managed to get through the first episode, then abandoned the effort because it simply didn't click.
One year later, I tried again and sat through three episodes but it still didn't click. Is it a comedy or is it satire? Both of those genres often bring on guffaws, titters or even belly laughs. I experienced none of those and found the experience to be utterly tiresome.
I could just about see the wood for the trees and what Fleabag was trying to convey, but in the end I just wanted the character to drop dead.