User reviews

I thought this show was so good I emailed BBC3 to thank them for airing it, and decided to write my first IMDb review.

I thought it would be a comedy going in, and it did really make me laugh at times, but it turned out to be something very different. Some of, if not THE best storytelling i've ever seen in series format. I won't say anything else because I loved how it quietly surprised me. I suspect this show might not be for everyone (I struggle to elaborate on that) but give it a go, a couple of episodes in and I was completely absorbed in this dysfunctional human tale.

Every part of this TV shows production was so well done. Fantastic acting, editing, photography if that's the right word. I really can't think of anything else like it off the top of my head.. so I would suggest watching it based on that alone and will be interested to see what the IMDb algorithm suggests people might also like in time. As it is I don't think any of the suggestions are remotely comparable. You really will miss out if you pass over this one, and at just two episodes you'll know what it's about. You won't be disappointed by the ending if you choose to keep going. It was SO well done. Everyone involved should be so proud.

Phoebe Waller-Bridge, I don't quite know how you do it dear but keep it up. As a 50 year old bloke this should be well off the mark for me but instead I find it by far the funniest, well observed and at times poignant thing on TV at the moment. Season 2 has hit the ground running and I am hanging on for every episode. Do yourselves a favour and binge this. Thanks to all involved with the production of this series.

I watched the first episode together with my wife and she hated it from the beginning, while I instantly loved it! This special sort of humor is always highly divisive. Either you love it or you hate it. In my experience for shows like Fleabag there's no such ratings like "quite entertaining and funny at times"! Phoebe Waller-Bridge is incredibly talented in so many ways, I can't tell what's more adorable about her work in Fleabag: the acting, the uncommon storytelling, the firework of weird gags...? Everything is fresh and unique. I really hope there's much more coming from her in the future, both as actress and as writer!

I cannot say enough about how incredible this show is. I absolutely love it. I don't think I've ever watched anything more perfect. Phoebe is an incredible actress, writer, and creator. Fleabag captures the essence of a true broken heart, I've never felt more attuned with a character. I desperately wish there could have been more seasons.

I've written individual reviews for each season of "Fleabag" but as it's becoming apparent that any more is unlikely, I thought I'd post a composite of the two reviews here, to give an appraisal of the whole run.

I'd been putting of "Fleabag" for a while, trying to let the weight of expectation die down a little, given how critically adored it is. However, the first season really lived up to its reputation as a clever, witty comedy.

Fleabag (Phoebe Waller-Bridge) is a hedonistic young woman whose fractured relationships with her family have been caused by her inability to cope with the deaths of both her mother, and more recently her best friend. The café they co-owned is struggling and her relationship seems to have come to a permanent end. She struggles to make valid connections with anyone except us, the audience.

What can I say other than the show lived up to its reputation. It's funny, clever and vulgar at the same time. Fleabag is a great character, wonderfully played by Waller-Bridge and the rest of the cast a similarly excellent too, particularly Bill Paterson as her father and Olivia Colman as her wicked god/stepmum. Even though I really liked the first run, I wasn't prepared for just how much of a step up the second season would be. It's genuinely, one of the funniest, most enjoyable seasons of comedy I've seen in a long while. There's one immediate and obvious reason for the season two improvement. In the first episodes, any love interest for Fleabag wasn't a match for her wit or temperament, they were a punchline. Here Andrew Scott's "Hot Priest" is a fully rounded character, with his own issues and can both punch back and enjoy sparring with her. . It's just funnier all round though, even better written, more moving and, as it appears at the moment that this is all we're ever going to get, tinged with a bittersweet sadness - particularly in the final moments.

Just glorious, wonderful TV.

That's a lot coming from someone who didn't cry watching "Grave of fireflies" and "Miracle from cell no.7" types of movie. The show is also really well made, great cinematography, well written and the cast is *chef's kiss. Season 1 made me cry buckets and Season 2 made me smile so much my mouth hurts. Great comfort show to revisit once in a while.

Not my typical cup of tea. Watched an episode with no intent and before I knew it I was smiling. Then laughing. Phoebe has amazing comedic talent. Even an old guy like me can recognize her talent. Quirky, irreverent, intelligent humor. Not something in abundance here in the states.

I've rarely seen anything this funny, and there it is....half an hour of non-stop laughter.

Phoebe Waller-Bridge is hysterical as she constantly shares both her innermost and her totally superficial feelings with the audience, even while she's having sex. She is totally bizarre, as are the entire supporting cast, and they won't allow you to stop laughing.

If they can keep up the energy levels of the first two episodes, they will have a major hit on their hands.

I had such a good time watching this, and I can't wait for the next episode.

Don't pass this by. It's one of the best shows TV has to offer.

Enjoy!

I never give 10 stars, since I'm personally dubious of all 10 star reviews. But lately, American 'comedies' are so full of social justice and religious/political engineering, I almost forgot what it was like to laugh. Finding this show (just started season 2)--it's an anarchistic breathe of fresh air, compared to the group-think slop being shoveled into our troughs here in the US. It's been so long since I watched something designed to make me laugh, instead of control the way I think, I'm gonna give it the full 10 stars. Very excited to watch the rest of season 2!

When I watched the first episode, I thought it was terrible. It seemed like cheap comedy. I thought it was the crude adventures of a feminist bad-ass. But I enjoyed the second episode - and to my surprise I discovered that there were twinges of emotional depth to it. The characters weren't flat like in most comedy. By the third episode I knew that I wasn't watching crude or cheap comedy. This was well thought out drama, and surprisingly realistic.

What makes fleabag special is that it isn't set in a comedy world where all the characters are silly unrealistic people. They are believable people, in a believable situation.

I seem to be one of the very few reviewers of this series who hasn't given it either a 1-2 or a 9-10 review. On the plus side, it has some good acting, although I find that a little of the lead actress/writer Phoebe Waller-Bridge goes a long way, and there are a few surprises in the storylines. However, I am truly puzzled by the preponderance of reviews here calling this show a work of genius. There is little, if anything, here which is even innovative, let alone genius.

Breaking the fourth wall? Please. Not only is that fast becoming a cliche, but as another reviewer here described better than I can, even barely-funny, obvious jokes and scenes do not require the title character to explain them to us in advance (and detracts from what humor there may have been otherwise).

I felt that this, like Broad City, is yet another grossly over-hyped series (The Guardian, I'm looking at you!) which is supposedly feminist because it is written by and starring mainly women. Not that I don't appreciate more women-created content (I do), but it is tiresome that so many shows about neurotic, immature, unpleasant women making mostly very poor life choices somehow merit the "feminist" title. At least Fleabag, unlike Broad City, has some very good acting and (if you're an Anglophile like I am) British accents to enjoy.

After the death of her best friend, an event she is partly responsible for, a woman drowns her sorrows in one-night stands and other hedonistic behaviour. Her family compounds her problems: the uptight, corporate exec sister, the alcoholic, obnoxious brother-in-law, the well-meaning but clueless father, the scheming, domineering father's girlfriend who moved in very quickly once her mother died. From here the only way is up.

Great comedy series. Created by and starring Phoebe Waller-Bridge the series pushes the envelope in terms of humour while having decent dramatic side to it too. A great device Waller-Bridge employs is voicing her thoughts directly to the camera in between dialogue. Very original and makes for some hilarious punchlines. Season 2 then takes this a step further...

On that note, the series does improve from Season 1 to Season 2. Season 1 was a good introduction to the main character and her host of issues and was very funny but did rely a bit on shock value for some of the punchlines. It all seemed about problems (and wallowing in them) rather than solutions. I did enjoy the Boo (the deceased friend) sub-plot though. It was the most emotional part of the series, it revealed the downside to the main character's behaviour and the interactions between the two of them were always wonderfully engaging and funny.

Season 2 evolves the dramatic side and feels more balanced. There are new challenges to be faced but things are a bit less outlandish.

While the series has some aspirations as a drama its strongest suite is definitely as a comedy. A few loose ends in the dramatic sub-plots makes the dramatic side feel a bit clumsy at times.

Can't fault the casting nor performances. Phoebe Waller-Bridge is excellent in the lead role and the other major characters are superbly played.

The story of a dysfunctional 30 year old, laid bare for the world to see.

For anyone a bit messed up by life the writer of this series wants you to reassure her she is not alone. Set in London it is a touching lesson in the bizarre, crazy and irrational things Londoners will do for some control and stability in their lives.

This series is absolutely not for the sane, it's for the sad, miserable and insane, desperately looking to feel good about themselves (and in need of a good laugh).

Undoubtedly the beginning of something great.

Fleabag is one of the best shows I've seen in ages. As a man in my late 30s, I skipped over this show for a few weeks on iPlayer as I saw it was on BBC3 and assumed it was most probably intended for a younger and more female demographic than me. Which it probably is.

I am glad I ignored those assumptions and watched Fleabag.

The character of Fleabag is written and performed brilliantly by Phoebe Waller Smith. Fleabag often breaks the fourth wall, hence the comparisons to Miranda. This isn't just to share witty asides - instead we are invited into her guilt-ridden conscience. In the first few episodes, Fleabag is only prepared to shows the audience her cool, hedonistic side; but as the series progresses more of the character's inner turmoil is revealed.

I look forward to seeing how this will play out in the final episode of the series. Will Fleabag finally confess to the audience and begin to come to terms with her actions? I certainly hope she does, if it will help her. I will definitely be watching, and rooting for, Fleabag.

I liked season 1. But season 2 has stolen my heart. I absolutely adore this show.

When I watched the first episode of Fleabag, I thought it was very funny but at the same time thought the main character was a bit off putting. But don't worry, her awfulness is mainly show.

When I got around to watching the second episode, which was even funnier, I was hooked, and binge-watched the rest.

Phoebe Waller-Bridge gives an amazing performance. She has a wonderfully expressive face which she uses to communicate with the audience, who she treats as a friend she's sharing secrets with. She can say everything with just a wry look or a moment of surprise.

While Fleabag can seem like a sex-obsessed sitcom, the series insistently adds complexity to its characters. The main character is funny and bawdy, but also haunted by the death of a friend and traumatized by her upbringing. Her sister at first seems like a stock antagonist, but their relationship turns out to be far more nuanced, and the actresses' chemistry is remarkable. Even a bit part early on is given a chance at redemption.

This is the first I've heard of Waller-Bridge, but she is an incredible talent. I just learned she made another series this year called Crashing, so I know what I'm watching next! (Update: I watched it, it was great)

Fleabag is a fantastic comedy, original and refreshing in this time of mediocrity.

I have to take issue with Coral Grainger's review. The character is supposed to make you cringe. But then Coral clearly watches Miranda. If your idea of comedy is Miranda or Mrs Brown's Boys then this is not for you. This works on so many levels and is a well written, clever comedy, reliant on 3D characters, plots and life issues. This is not your run of the mill 2D canned laughter BBC comedy.

Phoebe Waller-Bridge has taken her stage show and crafted it into this well executed, acted and directed gem. It is also a triumph for female writers and the amount of feminist comment in there is not lost.

The great deal of pathos will resonate with so many people in a similar life position, and there are a lot of us out there. I guess some people's lives (Coral's) are just too perfect that she cannot disconnect and walk a mile in somebody else's shoes.

Coral also blasts the sex scenes in this 'daytime show.' I do not understand that as the show is on-line and has a guidance warning before it starts! I think that is my main point – this is a comedy which is wasted on-line. Stick to Made in Chelsea Coral. Sadly, Fleabag is far too clever for the generation who will watch it.

Fantastic, well done Phoebe.

If you don't like it no one can help you. Watch it or be the poorer

I'm still so annoyed with BBC3 for switching to online only, I still enjoy watching the show on my lunch break at work, but it doesn't beat watching it on the box.

Fleabag is one of the best shows to come from BBC3 since the likes of Gary Tank Commander and Cuckoo. I don't get why a show like this isn't given a more prime time viewing slot, it seemed to be lost in obscurity and just deserved more.

Some of the situations obviously are a little unusual to say the least, but the writing is just so good.

Phoebe Waller-Bridge is proving herself to be an actress and writer etc of huge talents, Fleabag is genuinely funny, just as good as the recent channel four series 'Crashing' a project of hers I also loved. Olivia Colman can do no wrong, but it's nice to see her cast in a very different role, so often playing a 'sweet' character, she shows her versatility. Bill Patterson great also,

I find Fleabag to be mildly amusing. However, if you find the first bits, especially the sex bits funny, the rest are the same. It's a one-joke show and a one-character show. I'd have preferred it as a one-woman theater piece since the other characters seem to be just variations of the main character. there's a presentational stylistic choice, in which Phoebe Waller-Bridge talks to the audience. Some people might find it funny. I found it contrived. It's a ploy used in the bob hope/bing crosby movies and the George Burns TV show. Only these latter and much older entertainments did it better. Everything Walter-Bridge does as a character is klutzy. It gets old--very fast.

I know I'm in the minority but I found Fleabag crude and cringeworthy. The constant sexual context throughout was unfunny and the acting poor.

Im watching it for the second time. Or is it third? Its so intelligent, witty, funny, edgy, deep.

Phoebe Waller-Bridge is spectacular. Impressive even. The supporting actors as well. Its well wrtiten, the story line is so good, and the dialogue is crispy sharp. Its funny, creative, and deep.

The one thing i do enjoy the most, is her interaction with us as the viewer. How she communicate with just a glance, a quick look, so many different meanings. Making a connection to us, almost making us, the viewer, a part of a conspiracy, the plot. Making us a complicit. Its almost a litle Richard III over all of it. I love it.

If you havent seen it yet, do it. Today.

Its pure genius.