Fleabag is a shot in the arm for British comedy

New BBC comedy series Fleabag is giving hope that British humor isn't sentenced to an endless loop of 'top banter' and celebrity roasting. The semi-autobiographical protagonist is a relatable yet outrageous woman (also called Fleabag) at war with herself and the world. She is both blessed and cursed with a razor sharp tongue and cynical wit which Dorothy Parker would have been proud of. It gets her out of trouble, it gets her into trouble, it allows her to express complex thoughts but also to self-sabotage relationships. The series follows Fleabag striving to succeed with the small cafe she set up with her friend Boo (who killed herself-accidentally by faking a suicide attempt) while those around her seem to breeze through life in the hustle and bustle of modern London.

The show is adapted from writer Phoebe Waller-Bridge's award winning play and she stars as it's main character- executing both inspired observational comedy in her writing and performance. It is the small gestures, confessional breaking of the fourth wall and eccentric mannerisms that bring Fleabag to life. It is the conflicted nature of the character which makes her so compelling, her relationships with friends, family and short-term lovers are incredibly intimate and honest because her very personality refuses to accept the superficial social rules. Her rebellions are small, refusing to ignore the subtle cruelty of over confident characters or being frank about female sexuality without apology. In many ways she represents the conflicted generation currently trying to break into the adult world, but finding it's hypocrisies and absurdities too unconscionable to play along with- even if it is her to her own detriment. There's a sort of punk edge to this middle-class twenty something that has been missing from comedy for too long, a willingness to shove a finger proudly out at the established ways and laugh unashamedly. Fleabag doesn't need to go to extremes to make it's point, it's brutal honesty is shocking enough to convey the ennui of the times.

 

  

With a fantastic supporting cast that never miss a comedic beat and such stellar writing we can only hope Fleabag is the sign of a change in the comedic tides in the UK to more intelligent yet rebellious comedy. 

If you're in the UK you can currently watch the whole six episodes on BBC iplayer, alternatively international viewers can catch the series soon as it has been picked up by Amazon for prime members to view soon.