Episode #1.4

What an incredible performance by Hugh Dennis. Probably one of the greatest I have ever seen to be honest, if not THE greatest. It was such a relatable performance, and it almost makes me want to put something similar into my TV show that I want to make in the future. Anyways, I actually do consider this episode to be the best out of the ones I have watched as of right now. The storyline was just very very interesting, and it was very realistic in every second of the episode. This episode definitely felt more like drama than comedy most of the time, but that doesn't mean it was bad. This episode was definitely a special one.

This is a poignant, touching episode. Fleabag and Claire are at a women's retreat, compliments of their father. They are sworn to silence while there as a rather spartan woman leads them. Of course, there are so many issues between them and in their respective worlds that the silence thing just isn't going to happen. They are tortured souls in their own way. The final part is so moving and so sad. I really enjoyed this.

When I watched the first and even the second episode I didn't really like the show. It felt like it was a mediocre show with good acting and some funny parts here and there but I wanted to keep watching because the Fleabag-Boo relation was somewhat promising for future episodes. I really liked this episode not because it was about Boo(like I expected) it was about Fleabag's relationship with Claire and actually the community which surrounds her. I really like the portrayal of how men's "spa" and women's "spa", that was cleverly written with some funny jokes. The thing I like the most about this show probably is, how Fleabag turns and shares her thoughts with us. Sometimes it is overused, but when it is used properly then it adds a lot to the show. Even though this episode was cleverly written, it was still not effective or funny. It tries to do both, therefore isn't perfect in either of them.

We get a recap from the first episode when Fleabag met her bank manager for the loan and behave inappropriately. Does this mean Hugh Dennis has more than just a bit part in the first episode?

Fleabag and her sister Claire go to what they think is some kind of a spa weekend paid for by their father. In fact it is a female only retreat where they are expected to remain silent and do menial work. However it is a retreat with some random derogatory remarks about women.

Fleabag tells Claire that her husband made a pass at her. Claire feels rather sexually frustrated and has a job offer which she feels she needs to turn down.

This was a well balanced episode, funny especially with the way they gently poke fun at the stupid rules of the retreat but it is also bittersweet.

The poignant part is when Fleabag walks in on a nearby male only group trying to deal with their frustrations against women and she finds the bank manager from the first episode. Apparently he has been touching a work colleague and forced to confront his behaviour. He turns down Fleabag's offer to touch her boobs but confesses that he just wants to go home with his wife and children.