It’s been almost three years, but we’re pleased to be able to say that Fleabag is back for a brand new series.
Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s critically-acclaimed BBC Three series made a huge splash when it debuted in the summer of 2016, with the writer and star going from strength to strength since then, with a role in Star Wars spin-off Solo and the huge success of Killing Eve.
Now, she’s returning to the role that first brought her acclaim, ready for some brand new adventures that look to be just as shocking, hilarious and, indeed, uncomfortable as series one.
But let’s be honest… since the summer of 2016 there’s been rather a lot going on, so there’s every chance you’ve all but forgotten how things stood when we last checked in with Fleabag.
For those who need a quick reminder ahead of series two, here’s a quick run-through of the series one finale....
Most of the action took place at Godmother’s “sexhibition”
Godmother (played expertly by recent Oscar winner Olivia Colman) was famously passive aggressive throughout the first series of Fleabag, but in the finale, she reached new levels of cruel.
Pointedly explaining her show was actually about “power”, she invited Fleabag to her “sexhibition”, only to hand her a tray of drinks and a sticker, expecting her to play waitress for the evening.
When Godmother literally clicked her fingers across the room, a fairly drunk Fleabag reached her limit, and deliberately smashed a tray of champagne glasses, causing a big old scene.
Both of Fleabag’s main relationships came crashing down around her
First off, Arsehole Guy left the “sexhibition” early, revealing he’d fallen in love with someone with “really massive bouncy tits”. He noted that his new love had never been able to satisfy him because Fleabag “kept turning up like this sexy plank”, but that he wanted to give it a go anyway.
In a double-blow, Fleabag returned to the room only to see Godmother had sculpted her ex (and usual fall-back), Harry, as a castrated nude figure as part of her art show. She was then greeted by the real Harry, who disclosed he was dating someone new.
Claire went back on her word
Fleabag and her sister had been making strides with their relationship, and Claire had even revealed plans to take her much-wanted promotion in Finland, leave her sleazy husband and give our titular heroine the money to save her failing café.
Unfortunately, when she showed up at the “sexhibition”, it was apparent that Martin had bent her ear, turning Claire against Fleabag, and preventing her from doing what she really wants, including helping her sister out of debt.
Fleabag finally had a talk with her father, but it was interrupted by Godmother
Throughout the first series, Fleabag had issues communicating with Dad, who she caught crying outside after her outburst at the “sexhibition”.
The two briefly talked it out, but just as they were starting to reconnect, and Fleabag apologised for her behaviour, Godmother appeared in the distance, to which Dad said simply: “I… think you should go.”
We found out what really happened to Boo
After Fleabag confessed to Claire that Martin had tried to kiss her at her birthday party, we learned that he had manipulated the truth and made it seem like the opposite was actually the case.
“How can I believe you?” Claire asks. “After what you did to Boo.”
Boo’s fate was hinted at throughout the series, but this is the moment we finally discovered what really happened.
In flashbacks, we saw that Fleabag slept with her friend’s boyfriend, leaving Boo heartbroken and saying she was planning to deliberately land herself in hospital, so she could get him back by not allowing him to visit.
We’d already been told how this turned out, though, with Boo instead causing a road accident that killed not only herself but two others.
Interestingly, what we didn’t learn was whether Boo ever knew that the person her boyfriend slept with was her best friend, and we’ll be interested to see if this something disclosed in series two.
There was a moment of salvation at the end
Remember the very first episode, when Fleabag applies for a loan to save her café, only for Bank Manager to turn her down, branding her a “slut” after she accidentally flashes her bra at him?
Well, as it turned out, he also wound up being her saviour. Spotting Fleabag in the exact same spot where Boo ended her life, he took her inside the café, where he learns it’s guinea pig-themed, rather than catering to guinea pigs.
He then allows her a second interview, presumably also granting her the loan that will save her business.
And there you have it. Series one ended with Fleabag seemingly burning her bridges with Godmother, Claire mistakenly believing her sister tried to kiss her husband, and Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s character being given a second chance at running the café she once owned with her late friend.
The first episode of Fleabag series 2 is now available to watch on BBC Three, and will air on BBC One at 10.35pm.