Fleabag (2016)

The series is hailed as a gloriously rude, filthy and funny update on confessional singleton comedies like Bridget Jones, blending gross-out gags with touching explorations of grief, loneliness and dysfunction, anchored by Waller-Bridge’s impeccable timing and expressive performance.

The review calls Fleabag a minor masterpiece that grows stronger with each episode, revealing its core as a story of grief and truth-telling rather than mere bad behaviour, with excellent performances including from Hugh Dennis.

Phoebe Waller-Bridge's series is a sharply funny and deeply felt comedy about a woman in crisis. It stands out for its incendiary take on modern life and strong central performance.

Fleabag is a wonderfully funny yet melancholy comedy about a chaotic woman dealing with loss and isolation. It excels through its magnetic lead performance, fourth-wall breaks, and efficient use of flashbacks to reveal deeper emotional truths.

The critic describes the series as exceptionally creative and wonderful, noting the intoxicating mix of humor and sadness in the lead performance and its distinctive new voice on television.

The critic calls the series an unflinching and clever look at tricky youth and self-destruction, highlighting its addictive blend of hilarity and bleakness along with the lead's direct-to-camera asides that create intimacy.

The critic finds the series a bleak but riveting portrait of defeated, unlikable characters navigating grief, dysfunction and self-loathing through sharp, bitter humour and strong performances, especially from Waller-Bridge.

The series feels unique on TV for its singular first-person perspective and fourth-wall-shattering asides that make the protagonist's inner life immediate and personal. It balances crass humor with a powerful portrait of grief and the need for connection.

The critic finds the series delightfully daring and praises its razor-sharp script and deadpan wit, comparing it favorably to Catastrophe while noting its deeper emotional undercurrents about grief and failure.

The critic praises how the series impresses in its debut season by unpacking the protagonist's need for validation through sex and revealing unexpected depth and power in its later episodes, ultimately revealing itself as a tragedy beneath the comedy.

The critic hails Fleabag as a revelatory series that masterfully blends grief, sex, and sisterhood into a bold comedy that challenges the patriarchy. She singles out the emotional depth of the sister relationship and a standout episode involving family mourning and intimate revelations.

The critic finds that Fleabag's direct address to the audience works exceptionally well, providing insight into the character's inner life that other shows lack. She singles out the honest, unfiltered monologues that make vile behavior understandable and keep the audience on the character's side.