Fleabag is being celebrated as the "best BBC drama" by Screen Rant, with fans calling the show "refreshing and original" and hailing it as a "true masterpiece." The British comedy-drama was created and written by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, who also stars as the title character.
The series is based on Waller-Bridge's one-woman show, first performed in 2013 at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Andrew Scott and Sian Clifford co-star, while the protagonist frequently breaks the fourth wall through internal monologues and running commentary.
What is Fleabag about?
The official synopsis reads: "A dry-witted woman, known only as Fleabag, has no filter as she navigates life and love in London while trying to cope with tragedy. The angry, grief-riddled woman tries to heal while rejecting anyone who tries to help her, but Fleabag continues to keep up her bravado through it all. Comic actress Phoebe Waller-Bridge stars as the titular character on the series, which is based on Waller-Bridge's 2013 one-woman show of the same name."
Critical acclaim and Rotten Tomatoes score
The series is critically acclaimed, reflected in its 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The critics' consensus states: "Clever and viciously funny, Fleabag is a touching, wildly inventive comedy about a complicated young woman navigating the aftermath of trauma."
A top critic said: "Hilarious, emotional and utterly surprising, the British comedy created by (and starring) Phoebe Waller-Bridge as a struggling young woman deserves the hype (and all those Emmys)." Emily Nussbaum of The New Yorker described the first series as "a precision black-humour mechanism, a warped and affecting fable about one single woman's existence."
What fans say
Fans have hailed the show for its originality. One viewer said: "This is the most original, believable, beautiful storyline I've come across in a long, long time. Phoebe Waller-Bridge is such an incredibly gifted writer and actor, and I am glad she's so young that I'll be able to enjoy her rich talents for the rest of my life."
Another reviewer added: "This series is so refreshing, it’s like a breath of fresh air. Not a big fan of forced comedies and that’s why I love Fleabag. The best parts are when Fleabag tells you what’s going on inside her head." A third said: "One of the best shows I've ever seen. Fleabag is a true masterpiece."
Fleabag is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
