Fleabag (2016)

One should ask oneself a question: Why are western women being bombarded with propaganda that normalizes turning themselves into vulgar, unapproachable and toxic cartoon characters? What is the motivation to have women abandon all class or grace and turn themselves into vile truck drivers? It wasn't behavior you found appealing in men, so becoming what you loath isn't equality or progress. It's regression and it's nothing to be proud of.

Sorry I just had to write a review after seeing the irony of Timefox881's review. You do realize you are the only one insinuating that women should act a certain 'way,' which is....what? A saccharinely sweet and compliant 1950's housewife? Nothing about Fleabag tells the viewer that they should act in a particular way based on gender. Unfortunate that you missed the actual themes, nuances, and cinematic devices present in the show. Fleabag uses the fourth wall to treat the viewer as her friend, her confidant, and we witness all of the events of the show through that lens. We laugh with her, we judge her, we cringe with her, we cheer her on. She is a human being, neither wholly bad nor wholly good. She has growth too! Fleabag shows that no matter how shitty you may be, or may feel your actions are, you can always try to redeem yourself. You can apply for a loan to keep the cafe you and your friend opened from going under. You can choose not to continue doing things that have always negatively impacted your life in the past. You can choose to abandon your coping methods that you have outgrown. You can lose love but not lose hope. Of course, none of this without giving up your sense of humor. In two seasons, Phoebe Waller-Bridge managed to teach more lessons than most shows that drag on for eternity. A must watch for any human being who might want to learn a little more about themselves, and others, instead of making bizarre assumptions about a particular gender.

I'd heard so much about Fleabag that I had to see what all the fuss was about. On my first attempt, I managed to get through the first episode, then abandoned the effort because it simply didn't click. One year later, I tried again and sat through three episodes but it still didn't click. Is it a comedy or is it satire? Both of those genres often bring on guffaws, titters or even belly laughs. I experienced none of those and found the experience to be utterly tiresome. I could just about see the wood for the trees and what Fleabag was trying to convey, but in the end I just wanted the character to drop dead.