The post 6 TV Shows to Check Out if You Loved Fleabag appeared first on Entertainment For Us.
]]>Waller-Bridge was the showrunner for the first season of the thriller Killing Eve. The show is about two powerful women who team up thanks to their shared talent for killing.
Chewing Gum follows a witty woman obsessing over sex and navigating her 20s. If you love Fleabag for its holds-nothing-back humor, give Chewing Gum a try.
Shrill is a BBC drama that follows a female journalist face her self esteem issues and rethink her body image. It’s relatable, charming, and full of wisdom.
Russian Doll stars the wonderful Natasha Lyonne in a Groundhog Day-style scenario. It’s full of quirks and Lyonne is brilliant and hilarious in her role as Nadia.
Before Fleabag, Waller-Bridge created the miniseries Crashing. It follows young adults in London and explores similar themes to her critically-acclaimed show.
Him & Her is an anti-romance that is set almost entirely in a one-bedroom studio apartment. Like Fleabag, it shuffles expectations and opts for honest, messy moments over polished romance.
The post 6 TV Shows to Check Out if You Loved Fleabag appeared first on Entertainment For Us.
]]>The post “Fleabag” Keeps Smashing It At The Big Award Events – Here’s Why appeared first on Entertainment For Us.
]]>The show has been described as “genius” and “hilarious” by TV’s harshest critics and it is undoubtedly one of the most popular TV series of the past five years. We’ve laughed and cried with Fleabag and we have streamed that episode at least four times (this month…). But what is it about Waller-Bridge’s masterpiece that has it at the center of the award ceremony radar?
The story itself is great, but it’s nothing groundbreaking. We follow a posh woman through London as she navigates life after the death of her best friend. The characters are not like your everyday people and yet somehow, they are more relatable than anyone else on TV at the moment. Claire’s hysterical breakdown over a haircut, the dad’s inability to communicate with the girls about anything sensitive, and Harry’s breakup routine are all subtle details that resonate with a wide audience. This isn’t a drama about mysterious strangers showing up in the middle of the night with a dark past, it’s a show about the intricate details of modern life.
What makes the series even more relatable is the intimate way that we get to know our protagonist. Fleabag speaks to us directly, frequently while she is in the middle of a fight or an intimate moment in the bedroom. Many shows break down the fourth wall but in Fleabag, we are spoken to directly. We are given a special invitation into the protagonist’s mind and this is not just a source of intimacy, it is a source of humor. Much of the show’s hilarity comes down to Waller-Bridge’s brilliant scriptwriting and ability to shine a light on the awkward details of everyday life.
When you combine this relatability with the gorgeous soundtrack from Phoebe’s sister and the stellar acting and direction, what you have is a show that stands up above the rest. It scores highly in all categories but at the end of the day, what makes the show so special is the fact that is real. It’s a show about characters we have nothing in common with that we might as well have everything in common with. It’s a show about what it means to be a human being in the modern world. And that is why Fleabag is smashing it at major award events.
The post “Fleabag” Keeps Smashing It At The Big Award Events – Here’s Why appeared first on Entertainment For Us.
]]>The post Phoebe Waller-Bridge on Saying Goodbye to “Fleabag” appeared first on Entertainment For Us.
]]>Waller-Bridge, the creator of Fleabag, which earned her a BAFTA and three Emmy Awards, sat down with New York Times Magazine in honor of the release of Fleabag: The Scriptures, a book that includes the complete script of the show as well as additional commentary from Waller-Bridge herself.
“When I was in my 20s and feeling quite frustrated by my position in the industry by just wanting a job. That was pretty much it,” she said. “But also in life as well, just feeling my place in the world as a woman and as a woman who wanted to write and act and how I felt about myself physically and what my power was, all that kind of stuff was going on at the same time, I did feel this real rage underneath it all. But I didn’t ever want to express pure rage to people so I think it came out as jokes. Fleabag was the expression of the kind of ‘ahhhh’ that came out.”
And what’s in the future for Waller-Bridge? She has an idea for her next project, but all she really cares about is how audiences will receive her work.
“That’s all I care about. I really really care. I really want it to have impact every single time,” she said. “It drives me insane because [of] the constant voice of it’s not funny enough or what’s the point? All that kind of stuff. I feel like each time I’m writing something it has to be the best thing I’ve ever written, which isn’t fun to be around.”
The post Phoebe Waller-Bridge on Saying Goodbye to “Fleabag” appeared first on Entertainment For Us.
]]>The post Why Doesn’t “Fleabag” Have a Name? appeared first on Entertainment For Us.
]]>In case you aren’t caught up, the show explores a deeply troubled woman who appears to measure her existence through sex and power. Following the death of her best friend, we accompany Fleabag on an incredible journey. The character, equally debilitated and lovable, draws the audience in with her open commentary and situations that arise out of troublesome decision-making. Waller-Bridge tears down the fourth wall so Fleabag can talk directly to the audience, often revealing hilarious insight on human awkwardness.
And yet – even though we can see the inner workings of the central character – we never learn Fleabag’s name. Some fans have found this unnerving, tweeting: “It’s so frustrating to try and talk about Fleabag without knowing her name”.
Phoebe Waller-Bridge explained to Decider: “I wanted something that would create an immediate subtext for the character”. The writer also revealed in Vanity Fair that she “liked the idea of withholding some of that mystery.”
But surely names are a crucial part of our identity? By naming a person, we can frame them in some sort of context. For example, Olivia Colman plays the “godmother,” Bill Patterson is simply known as “dad,” Andrew Scott – “the hot priest,” and Hugh Dennis as “Bank Manager.” All these characters are mixed up in Fleabag’s life choices, and yet by not naming, they come across as archetypes, rather than humans with real character development.
This list of nameless characters goes on. Throughout the two seasons, we are introduced to “arsehole guy,” “hot misogynist,” and “bus rodent”, to name but a few. We have to ask whether this is a pre-meditated commentary on society, or just Phoebe Waller-Bridge continuing with her cheeky writing style and keeping some of the mystery locked away forever.
Fleabag initially started as a one-person act written and performed by Phoebe Waller-Bridge at the Edinburgh festival. Perhaps all the other characters that arose from this initial masterpiece were not as important and thus did not merit a name. But then we have to ask ourselves why the central character herself is only ever referred to as “Fleabag.”
On the flip side, it’s also worth exploring that some of the characters do have names, such as Fleabag’s sister “Claire” and her husband “Martin.” Claire adds to the comical and bizarre nature of the show, when she meets a man with the same name, and ends up leaving her husband for him. But what makes Claire’s violent, abusive drunk husband worthy of a name? All the characters in the show are deeply flawed but each possesses a redeeming trait, even if sometimes very small. Martin is portrayed as a spineless drunk that goes out of his way to be cruel to people. Does this selfish portrayal, make him more human – and thus worthy of a name?
Ultimately, it seems that Phoebe Waller-Bridge has not only succeeded in creating a masterpiece that captivates the audience every minute of every show. She has held onto an element of mystery. The significance of some characters having names, whilst the majority do not, has sparked significant debate. At the heart of the debate is the charmingly nameless character of Fleabag.
The post Why Doesn’t “Fleabag” Have a Name? appeared first on Entertainment For Us.
]]>The post 6 TV Shows to Check Out if You Loved Fleabag appeared first on Entertainment For Us.
]]>Waller-Bridge was the showrunner for the first season of the thriller Killing Eve. The show is about two powerful women who team up thanks to their shared talent for killing.
Chewing Gum follows a witty woman obsessing over sex and navigating her 20s. If you love Fleabag for its holds-nothing-back humor, give Chewing Gum a try.
Shrill is a BBC drama that follows a female journalist face her self esteem issues and rethink her body image. It’s relatable, charming, and full of wisdom.
Russian Doll stars the wonderful Natasha Lyonne in a Groundhog Day-style scenario. It’s full of quirks and Lyonne is brilliant and hilarious in her role as Nadia.
Before Fleabag, Waller-Bridge created the miniseries Crashing. It follows young adults in London and explores similar themes to her critically-acclaimed show.
Him & Her is an anti-romance that is set almost entirely in a one-bedroom studio apartment. Like Fleabag, it shuffles expectations and opts for honest, messy moments over polished romance.
The post 6 TV Shows to Check Out if You Loved Fleabag appeared first on Entertainment For Us.
]]>The post “Fleabag” Keeps Smashing It At The Big Award Events – Here’s Why appeared first on Entertainment For Us.
]]>The show has been described as “genius” and “hilarious” by TV’s harshest critics and it is undoubtedly one of the most popular TV series of the past five years. We’ve laughed and cried with Fleabag and we have streamed that episode at least four times (this month…). But what is it about Waller-Bridge’s masterpiece that has it at the center of the award ceremony radar?
The story itself is great, but it’s nothing groundbreaking. We follow a posh woman through London as she navigates life after the death of her best friend. The characters are not like your everyday people and yet somehow, they are more relatable than anyone else on TV at the moment. Claire’s hysterical breakdown over a haircut, the dad’s inability to communicate with the girls about anything sensitive, and Harry’s breakup routine are all subtle details that resonate with a wide audience. This isn’t a drama about mysterious strangers showing up in the middle of the night with a dark past, it’s a show about the intricate details of modern life.
What makes the series even more relatable is the intimate way that we get to know our protagonist. Fleabag speaks to us directly, frequently while she is in the middle of a fight or an intimate moment in the bedroom. Many shows break down the fourth wall but in Fleabag, we are spoken to directly. We are given a special invitation into the protagonist’s mind and this is not just a source of intimacy, it is a source of humor. Much of the show’s hilarity comes down to Waller-Bridge’s brilliant scriptwriting and ability to shine a light on the awkward details of everyday life.
When you combine this relatability with the gorgeous soundtrack from Phoebe’s sister and the stellar acting and direction, what you have is a show that stands up above the rest. It scores highly in all categories but at the end of the day, what makes the show so special is the fact that is real. It’s a show about characters we have nothing in common with that we might as well have everything in common with. It’s a show about what it means to be a human being in the modern world. And that is why Fleabag is smashing it at major award events.
The post “Fleabag” Keeps Smashing It At The Big Award Events – Here’s Why appeared first on Entertainment For Us.
]]>The post Phoebe Waller-Bridge on Saying Goodbye to “Fleabag” appeared first on Entertainment For Us.
]]>Waller-Bridge, the creator of Fleabag, which earned her a BAFTA and three Emmy Awards, sat down with New York Times Magazine in honor of the release of Fleabag: The Scriptures, a book that includes the complete script of the show as well as additional commentary from Waller-Bridge herself.
“When I was in my 20s and feeling quite frustrated by my position in the industry by just wanting a job. That was pretty much it,” she said. “But also in life as well, just feeling my place in the world as a woman and as a woman who wanted to write and act and how I felt about myself physically and what my power was, all that kind of stuff was going on at the same time, I did feel this real rage underneath it all. But I didn’t ever want to express pure rage to people so I think it came out as jokes. Fleabag was the expression of the kind of ‘ahhhh’ that came out.”
And what’s in the future for Waller-Bridge? She has an idea for her next project, but all she really cares about is how audiences will receive her work.
“That’s all I care about. I really really care. I really want it to have impact every single time,” she said. “It drives me insane because [of] the constant voice of it’s not funny enough or what’s the point? All that kind of stuff. I feel like each time I’m writing something it has to be the best thing I’ve ever written, which isn’t fun to be around.”
The post Phoebe Waller-Bridge on Saying Goodbye to “Fleabag” appeared first on Entertainment For Us.
]]>The post Why Doesn’t “Fleabag” Have a Name? appeared first on Entertainment For Us.
]]>In case you aren’t caught up, the show explores a deeply troubled woman who appears to measure her existence through sex and power. Following the death of her best friend, we accompany Fleabag on an incredible journey. The character, equally debilitated and lovable, draws the audience in with her open commentary and situations that arise out of troublesome decision-making. Waller-Bridge tears down the fourth wall so Fleabag can talk directly to the audience, often revealing hilarious insight on human awkwardness.
And yet – even though we can see the inner workings of the central character – we never learn Fleabag’s name. Some fans have found this unnerving, tweeting: “It’s so frustrating to try and talk about Fleabag without knowing her name”.
Phoebe Waller-Bridge explained to Decider: “I wanted something that would create an immediate subtext for the character”. The writer also revealed in Vanity Fair that she “liked the idea of withholding some of that mystery.”
But surely names are a crucial part of our identity? By naming a person, we can frame them in some sort of context. For example, Olivia Colman plays the “godmother,” Bill Patterson is simply known as “dad,” Andrew Scott – “the hot priest,” and Hugh Dennis as “Bank Manager.” All these characters are mixed up in Fleabag’s life choices, and yet by not naming, they come across as archetypes, rather than humans with real character development.
This list of nameless characters goes on. Throughout the two seasons, we are introduced to “arsehole guy,” “hot misogynist,” and “bus rodent”, to name but a few. We have to ask whether this is a pre-meditated commentary on society, or just Phoebe Waller-Bridge continuing with her cheeky writing style and keeping some of the mystery locked away forever.
Fleabag initially started as a one-person act written and performed by Phoebe Waller-Bridge at the Edinburgh festival. Perhaps all the other characters that arose from this initial masterpiece were not as important and thus did not merit a name. But then we have to ask ourselves why the central character herself is only ever referred to as “Fleabag.”
On the flip side, it’s also worth exploring that some of the characters do have names, such as Fleabag’s sister “Claire” and her husband “Martin.” Claire adds to the comical and bizarre nature of the show, when she meets a man with the same name, and ends up leaving her husband for him. But what makes Claire’s violent, abusive drunk husband worthy of a name? All the characters in the show are deeply flawed but each possesses a redeeming trait, even if sometimes very small. Martin is portrayed as a spineless drunk that goes out of his way to be cruel to people. Does this selfish portrayal, make him more human – and thus worthy of a name?
Ultimately, it seems that Phoebe Waller-Bridge has not only succeeded in creating a masterpiece that captivates the audience every minute of every show. She has held onto an element of mystery. The significance of some characters having names, whilst the majority do not, has sparked significant debate. At the heart of the debate is the charmingly nameless character of Fleabag.
The post Why Doesn’t “Fleabag” Have a Name? appeared first on Entertainment For Us.
]]>