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A love letter to ‘Fleabag’ and how it changed my life
The article is a personal tribute to *Fleabag*, arguing that Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s comedy-drama remains an unusually honest and influential portrayal of modern womanhood. Its author says the programme changed how they understood grief, shame, sex, self-sabotage and the pressure on women to appear composed, while making these subjects funny rather than sentimental.
The piece highlights Fleabag’s direct address to the audience, which creates intimacy but also exposes the character’s emotional avoidance when the Priest notices it. It credits Waller-Bridge’s writing and performance, alongside performances from actors including Sian Clifford and Olivia Colman, for balancing bleakness with humour across two series. The author also notes the show’s wider cultural impact, including its awards success and its lasting relevance years after its 2019 finale.
In short
- *Fleabag* is praised as an honest, funny portrayal of modern womanhood.
- Its fourth-wall device makes viewers complicit in Fleabag’s emotional defences.
- The article argues its cultural and personal impact has endured.
Explained simply
Fleabag is a British comedy-drama series created by and starring Phoebe Waller-Bridge. It ran for two series, concluding in 2019, and became one of the most acclaimed television programmes in recent years.
The show follows its titular character, a sharp-witted but struggling woman navigating messy relationships, family dynamics and her own self-destructive habits in London. Fleabag frequently breaks the fourth wall by addressing the audience directly, creating an unusual intimacy with viewers whilst simultaneously exposing her emotional avoidance and dishonesty.
The series became culturally significant for its honest portrayal of modern womanhood, exploring themes like grief, shame, sex and societal pressure on women to appear composed. Supporting performances from actors including Sian Clifford and Olivia Colman, combined with Waller-Bridge's writing and performance, made the show both darkly funny and deeply affecting, earning widespread critical acclaim and awards recognition.