Ten years have passed since Phoebe Waller-Bridge's acclaimed series "Fleabag" first graced television screens. The show, which originated from Waller-Bridge's one-woman play, centered on a titular character grappling with grief, anger, and a free-spirited yet confused existence. Over its two seasons, "Fleabag" has been lauded for its impact on the television landscape, paving the way for complex female protagonists and innovative storytelling techniques, notably the breaking of the fourth wall.
Despite its relatively short run, the series is frequently cited among the greatest television shows of all time. It garnered numerous accolades for Waller-Bridge, including BAFTAs, Emmys, and Golden Globes, solidifying her status as a prominent figure in the entertainment industry. The show's enduring legacy is evident as audiences continue to unearth its intricate details and hidden meanings.
Thematic Symbolism
A recurring motif in "Fleabag" is the use of smoking. One interpretation suggests that Fleabag's smoking habit mirrors her evolving relationship with her father. In the first season finale, she offers him a cigarette during an argument, which he takes but then discards. A later offer sees him contemplate accepting it before changing his mind. By the second season finale, as their relationship has improved, he finally accepts and smokes a cigarette, sharing a moment of understanding.
Another notable instance of symbolism occurs in the second season during a speech at the Best Woman In Business Awards. Fleabag's sister, Claire, played by Sian Clifford, makes a biblical reference by thanking "Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John" for the award, a nod to the authors of the Gospels. This is juxtaposed with the irony of thanking four men for a women's award and the subsequent presentation of a statue to Belinda Friers, portrayed by Kristin Scott Thomas, setting the stage for Friers' feminist speech.
Fans have also theorized that a mouse appearing in the attic symbolizes the feelings of Fleabag's father regarding his impending marriage. He mentions setting a "friendly trap" for the rodent, which some interpret as a reflection of his own feelings of being trapped in his marriage to the Godmother. His quiet demeanor throughout the second series, often failing to complete sentences, has also been likened to being "quiet as a mouse."
Hidden Tributes and Narrative Devices
Waller-Bridge incorporated a subtle tribute to Gary Dollner, the editor who worked on both seasons of the show. In the series finale, Fleabag is shown at a bus stop, and the digital display on the approaching bus reads "Dollner Avenue." Waller-Bridge later collaborated with Dollner on the series "Killing Eve."
The narrative device of breaking the fourth wall has been a subject of much discussion. One prominent theory suggests that Fleabag is not addressing the audience directly but is, in fact, speaking to her deceased best friend, Boo, who died accidentally. The theory posits that as Fleabag comes to terms with Boo's death, her fourth-wall breaks become less frequent, culminating in a final wave goodbye that signifies her peace with the tragedy.
The Fox Symbolism
The presence of a fox in several scenes has sparked considerable debate among viewers. One interpretation links the fox to the "Hot Priest's" struggle with celibacy, with its appearances coinciding with moments where he is tempted. Another theory suggests the fox represents Fleabag's past self, drawing a parallel to the flea-ridden nature of foxes, and noting Fleabag's instruction for the animal to follow the "Hot Priest" in the finale. A third perspective proposes that the fox symbolizes the audience itself, whom Fleabag addresses when breaking the fourth wall, as evidenced by her final farewell to it.