Fleabag season 2 was critically acclaimed, becoming the show's breakout moment, which makes the fact that Fleabag ended after two seasons all the more confusing. First airing in 2016, there were three years between Fleabag season 1 and its follow-up. However, the show proved that good things take time, as Fleabag season 2 was lauded for its masterful blend of comedy and heartfelt emotion.
Created by Phoebe Waller-Bridge as an adaptation of her one-woman show of the same name, Fleabag's success saw the actress and screenwriter gain international attention. She was nominated for BAFTAs, Emmys, and Golden Globes for her work on Fleabag, and has since worked on the blockbuster franchises Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and James Bond. With so much success and critical praise heaped on its second season, it seems almost unbelievable that Fleabag ended after just two seasons.
Phoebe Waller-Bridge Wanted Fleabag To End
Despite its stratospheric success, Fleabag season 2 marked the end because Waller-Bridge felt the story was complete. At the beginning of Fleabag season 1, the title character uses sex as a way to deal with the turbulence in her life - whether that's her guilt over the death of her best friend, her difficult familial relationships, or her failing café. By the end of season 2, she comes to acknowledge this and finally feels able to move on with her life in a more positive way. Fleabag's ending is bittersweet, which left many fans longing for more, but Waller-Bridge remains adamant the show is done - at least for now.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Waller-Bridge explained that she wanted to "respect that arc and let [Fleabag] go and live for a bit." While it's unusual for shows to end while at their peak, Waller-Bridge made the correct decision, as Fleabag's ending was perfect. It masterfully concluded the character's arc in a way that's poignant and hopeful but not a fairytale love story that would undermine the show's overall tone and themes.
Fleabag Nearly Didn't Even Get Season 2
Despite eventually crafting a perfect ending to Fleabag in season 2, actor Sian Clifford revealed that Waller-Bridge actually had to be persuaded to work on a second season. Clifford, who plays Fleabag's sister Claire, explained to The Express that she was "one of the people that was encouraging a very reluctant Phoebe to even make a second series." Waller-Bridge was hesitant to return to Fleabag because she felt the first season had already adequately told the story and couldn't see a way to keep the show's fourth wall breaks fresh - until she was suddenly hit by the idea of bringing in someone else to break the fourth wall with her.
In Fleabag season 2, Fleabag's connection with the "Hot Priest" leads him to notice and in her fourth wall breaks. It comes as a shock to both Fleabag and the audience, bringing an extra level of intensity to their relationship that only adds to the genius of Fleabag season 2. Waller-Bridge explained to The Hollywood Reporter "Once I had that idea I was excited, and then I felt like I could start writing again.” While Waller-Bridge has expressed a fantasy about re-visiting Fleabag later in life, she's made it clear that she would need another equally strong flash of inspiration to revive the series.
Sources: The Hollywood Reporter, The Express