One of the most exciting shows of the last decade has been Fleabag. Though it ran for a short two seasons, Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s darkly comedic series was phenomenal. It was funny, sad, frustrating, and uplifting all at once as we follow the titular character navigating through her complicated life.
Fleabag is certain a unique and complex character, with the show fully embracing both her good moments and bad moments. There are times when the audience’s hearts break for her. At other times, however, we can’t believe her selfishness and the damage she can cause to those around her.
Felt Bad: Harry Taking The Dinosaur
In the first season of the show, we are introduced to Fleabag’s on-again, off-again boyfriend Harry. Though Harry certainly has his own faults, he seems to care a great deal about Fleabag and treats her well. She is less caring, which leads to their frequent breakups.
Fleabag remarks that whenever they break up, Harry will leave a small toy dinosaur behind as an excuse to return. However, after one particularly bad breakup, Harry takes the dinosaur with him. The hurt look on her face shows that she knows it’s over for real this time.
Hated: Scaring Harry
After getting back together at one point, Harry makes an effort to add some romance into their relationship. He suggests they do little gestures every once in a while to surprise the other and keep things fresh.
Fleabag takes this suggestion in the wrong way. When Harry is in the shower, she decides to put on a mask, take a knife, and scare him. Not only is that not romantic, but it’s also a pretty mean joke that causes Harry to have a nervous breakdown.
Felt Bad: Silent Retreat
One of the signatures of the show is the way Fleabag breaks the fourth wall. However, over time, it becomes clear that she speaks to us because she can’t be truthful with the people around her. So the fact that she finds herself at a silent retreat is really no help to her at all.
While there, she runs into an acquaintance who is in sexual harassment therapy. He is very truthful to Fleabag about his remorse and what he wants. In a rare moment of being open and vulnerable, Fleabag says “I just want to cry all the time,” showing that she is much sadder than she lets on.
Hated: Breaking The Award
At the beginning of the show’s second season, Fleabag is in a much better place. She is making better decisions and her café has become successful. She is doing so well that her sister asks her to cater for an awards ceremony at her workplace.
Claire is obviously terribly stressed out organizing the event. She shows Fleabag the award that has to be given, stressing its importance and asking her not to touch it. Once alone, Fleabag immediately grabs it and drops it, shattering it to pieces. It’s clear that some of those bad instincts remain.
Felt Bad: Getting Kissed By Martin
Likely the most unlikable person on the show is Claire’s husband Martin. He is an abrasive, self-centered, and rude man who is incredibly irritating. However, he sinks to a new low at Claire’s birthday party when he drunkenly tries to kiss Fleabag.
This is obviously a betrayal to Claire but it’s also horrible for Fleabag. Not only does she have to be harassed by this repulsive man, but she is also put in an awkward situation in which she has to choose to tell Claire the truth which could end her marriage, or hide the truth and allow her to be married to such an odious man.
Hated: The Truth About Boo
Through various flashbacks, we are introduced to Boo, Fleabag’s best friend, and co-owner of the café. The two are obviously very close and Fleabag seems much happier having a companion like Boo around.
We learn Boo died after walking into traffic once she found out her boyfriend cheated on her. It’s later revealed that Fleabag was the one who slept with him. The guilt of this mistake clearly eats away at Fleabag, but it’s hard not to be angry at such a selfish act.
Felt Bad: Her Sister Didn’t Believe Her
When Fleabag sees that Claire is making the wrong decisions for the sake of her marriage, she decides to tell her the truth about Martin trying to kiss her. Claire is hurt by the admission but seems thankful that Fleabag confessed.
However, Claire later tells Fleabag Martin insists it was Fleabag that came on to him. She says she believes him because of what Fleabag did to Boo. It is a frustrating and cruel moment to use Fleabag’s greatest shame against her, especially since Claire obviously knows the truth deep down.
Hated: Mean To The Priest
The most fascinating and complex relationship in the show is between Fleabag and the Priest, a Catholic priest she befriends and develops feelings for. They have very open conversations but the Priest still sees there is something she is hiding from him.
He tries to get her to open up as he genuinely cares about her. But despite listening when no one else will, she attacks him and pushes him away. It is a defense mechanism but it’s unfair to a man who was a good friend to her.
Felt Bad: The Priest Leaves
Despite the Priest’s insistence that there would be no romantic relationship between them, they do eventually sleep together. However, in the end, the Priest decides that his true calling is with God.
It is clear that Fleabag cares more about this man than anyone she has been with before. She tells him that she loves him. He responds, “It’ll pass,” before telling her he loves her too and then walks away, leaving Fleabag alone once again.
Hated: Letting The Cat Go
Another character that is hard to like is Fleabag’s godmother, who is now engaged to her widowed father. Godmother is a passive-aggressive woman who treats Fleabag quite poorly and can be very self-centered. However, in one instance, Fleabag goes too far in getting back at her.
While they are having a celebration in memory of Fleabag’s late mother, Godmother is once again being insensitive. Fleabag excuses herself and goes to the washroom where she takes Godmother’s prized cat and lets it out the window. It is a very cruel act that could put the innocent cat in danger.
