{"id":22263,"date":"2019-10-05T13:07:36","date_gmt":"2019-10-05T12:07:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.anfocal.ie\/?p=22263"},"modified":"2019-10-05T13:11:08","modified_gmt":"2019-10-05T12:11:08","slug":"22263","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.anfocal.ie\/index.php\/22263\/","title":{"rendered":"The genius of Fleabag"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sweeping three Emmys, a sell-out Broadway show, and widespread critical acclaim, Fleabag has proved to be the most explosive television shows of 2019.<\/p>\n

Debuting on BBC Three (now an online service) in 2016, the show has become a phenomenon in only the way a British show can; being bloody brilliant and having only two seasons.<\/p>\n

With writer Phoebe Waller-Bridge securing an 18 million pound per year contract with Amazon, it begs the question; what makes the show so good?<\/p>\n

Fleabag sees a quirky thirty-year-old caf\u00e9 owner navigate her life in London as she battles with personal trauma and family tribulations.<\/p>\n

What may veer into clich\u00e9 territory for a TV show quickly becomes a masterful act of screenwriting, directing, and casting, which has transfixed viewers and critics alike.<\/p>\n

Many claim the success of Fleabag is down to the doomed romance between the title character and an Irish Catholic Priest, played by Andrew Scott.<\/p>\n

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All hail Hot Priest!<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The chemistry between the two is heightened by razor-sharp dialogue and editing to create an iconic pairing no viewer will forget lightly.<\/p>\n

Of course, the supporting characters are also pivotal in shaping Fleabag as a masterpiece.<\/p>\n

From the oddities as Fiona Shaw\u2019s therapist to Oliva Coleman\u2019s artistic Stepmother, the sensational script creates an electric energy to the show unequalled by anything else on screen.<\/p>\n

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Olivia Colman could make a paint-drying competition dramatically compelling and funny. <\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

However, the real success of Fleabag lies in the character of Fleabag herself, played by Weller-Bridge.<\/p>\n

The Londoner defies all previous portrayals of women on screen, creating a chic, disastrous millennial whose comedic timing aligns with brutal honesty.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have a horrible feeling I am a greedy, perverted, selfish, apathetic, cynical, depraved, morally bankrupt woman who can\u2019t even call herself a feminist,\u201d the character confides.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s something magically chic about Weller Bridges\u2019 character, from her 1930\u2019s movie star appearance to a stunning wardrobe which led to selling out jumpsuits and trench coats after the show\u2019s airing.<\/p>\n

The most striking aspect of her portrayal is through breaking the fourth wall and speaking directly to the viewer.<\/p>\n

Here, Fleabag gains the audience\u2019s trust by sharing an uncompromising perspective on life, from her unsuccessful romances to chaotic friendships.<\/p>\n

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Few scripts can get the balance between comedy and tragedy correct, whereas Fleabag balances the two and creates one of the most touching portrayals of modern life as a result.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just think I want someone to tell me how to live my life, Father, because so far I think I’ve been getting it wrong,\u201d the show\u2019s protagonist states in what has become the show\u2019s most iconic scene.<\/p>\n

As she struggles to cope with grieving and disillusionment- Fleabag creates an intense bond between herself and viewers as she frequently brings them to the verge of tears alongside hysterical laughter.<\/p>\n

There isn\u2019t a flawless arrangement to her life and shares the gritty struggles with an idolising viewer.<\/p>\n

The relatable nature of Fleabag\u2019s lack of guidance is a key aspect of how the show triumphs over its lacking peers (Amy Huberman\u2019s show, anyone?).<\/p>\n

Fleabag is a BBC show through and through, which is paid for by the license fee.<\/p>\n

It’s somewhat disheartening that Fleabag and Peaky Blinders is what the British taxpayer gets for the money and we’re stuck with Amy Huberman and RTE trying to make another show about Dublin crime gangs.<\/p>\n

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Amy Huberman and comedy: going together like oil and water<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

While the BBC show has garnered acclaim and a devoted fanbase, Weller-Bridge says there will not be a third season, in what is so typical of British comedy.<\/p>\n

Weller-Bridge appeared in last year’s Star Wars spin-off Solo, so Hollywood has already taken note of her, September’s Emmy success solidified what we already knew – she’s a talent that’s here to stay.<\/p>\n

With her input into the new Bond movie and a third season of Killing Eve in the pipeline, it won\u2019t be long until the 34-year-old Brit cleans up at another award ceremony.<\/p>\n

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Sweeping three Emmys, a sell-out Broadway show, and widespread critical acclaim, Fleabag has proved to be the most explosive television shows of 2019. Debuting on BBC Three (now an online service) in 2016, the show has become a phenomenon in only the way a British show can; being bloody brilliant and having only two seasons. […]<\/p>\n

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