Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		0.0
Overall		3.0

Fleabag: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman March 14, 2024

Note that this is the value release of 'Fleabag,' containing both seasons one and two. Screen Media has also made seasons one and two available individually, though at time of writing, at least, season two appears to be unavailable through Amazon.

Well, here is Fleabag, the British BBC Comedy show about a title character known only as "Fleabag" whose life is a mess, but it would seem something of, maybe, even a happy mess. At times. Or something. For all the stress her life entails as the show follows her throughout her daily routine, she seems to live a life that goes with the flow, a life that rides the upheavals of the up and down roller coaster by sinking to the bottom and rising to the top in a sort of rinse and repeat fashion. She's her own worst enemy and her own best friend all in one as her life revolves around her image, her sex, her tongue, and her relationships. It's a difficult show to describe, and it's also a difficult show to watch, at times. For as vulgar as it absolutely is -- that cannot be denied, even by today's standards -- it's also very well acted and convincingly real as a glimpse into the mind -- for better or for worse -- engaging with the life of appearances and facades which this show jumbles to quite interesting impact.

Fleabag practically defies a typical introductory plot paragraph that would normally explore, maybe, some if not most or all of a traditional "first act" of a show or film. Rather, this a show that lends itself more to a "set the stage" or "what to expect" type of pronouncement, so here's what to expect by setting the stage: Phoebe Waller-Bridge plays the nameless title character (call her "Fleabag"...take of that what you will). The show follows her daily life in London, exploring her sexuality, relationships, highs, and lows in life with what is often a running, or at least recurring, narrative insight that reveals her innermost thoughts with blatant language and expression. Often these are verbally manifest as well on the outside. The character is described – maybe not best described, but described nevertheless -- as self-centered, a liar, a thief, and sexually promiscuous, as someone who speaks with a vulgar mouth, and so on and so forth. She might put on some semblance of exterior satisfaction and at times quasi-confidence, but she's really quite broken and directionless, living as much through a facade as through her reality. This is her life, and a life difficult to put succinctly into words it is.

The show, or maybe better said “Fleabag,” will break the fourth wall, offering exposition that is essentially her internal thought processes, defense mechanisms, and private conversations with herself that sees her analyzing the situation in which she finds herself, sometimes at a bit of a distance from the moment and at times in squarely in the middle of it, even in the midst of her most “intimate” moments with others. She’ll even turn to the camera at any time that a deeper understanding of her emotional response and self-talk are critical to the plot and help explain her actions. At other times she narrates a scene almost as if she’s reading a novelized version of her life, which is acted out in the moment. For example, “he kisses you,” and he kisses her, and “he leaves,” and he rises to exit as the audience sees in the show’s opening moments after one particular sexual encounter. It’s a an interesting structure that is best described (at least I think so), as a living novel of sorts.

One of the problems, though, is that there is not always a directional plot. The show has some plot lines running through it, some character relationships that grow and evolve over time, and various happenings that offer basic and essential story progression, but at the same time there is a certain meandering quality to the show. It can be both linear here and a snapshot there, but in Fleabag those snapshots are vital in establishing and building the character. This is a show run more on feeling than movement, more on the inward progression of the character and less on her outward progression. So it’s a very unusual production (and in fact it is based on Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s own brief character sketch she created about a decade ago). The show is fiercely original and unapologetically open to anything and everything. It is certainly a defining product of its time.

Fleabag: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Screen Media's 1080p Blu-ray release of Fleabag scores high marks for video. The image is crisp and well defined, taking the digital source and showing it for just about everything it's worth at this resolution. Clarity is exceptional, allowing viewers to take note of fine skin details, hairs, fabrics, and environmental elements with all of the razor precision 1080p, and the source, allow. Viewers will never feel shortchanged, as if they are missing anything, or in any way disappointed with the imagery on display. It's consistent through the two seasons, too, so it is in fine shape from top to bottom. Colors follow suit with excellent presentation parameters. They are bold and vivid, nuanced and often striking, capturing a blend of boldness and subtlety alike that bring the show to life. Contrast and temperature are dialed in at normal, so there is no skewering the image away from a balanced color spectrum. Black level depth is excellent, whites are bright, and skin is realistic. Mild noise appears at times but there are no other source issues. The encode appears in fine shape as well.

Fleabag: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Fleabag's audio needs are relatively basic, so it is no surprise to see that Screen Media delivers the series for home consumption with a DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 lossless soundtrack. The presentation is in fine shape, offering exceptional clarity to any and all elements, including music, which is well spaced and richly detailed. Of course, there is a lack of immersion without the would-be accompanying surround speakers in use. Still, front engagement is excellent. A bit of mild environmental fill slings around the front, especially in outdoor shots where various sounds of the city nicely define, albeit lightly, the place, the people, and the time. Dialogue is clear and well prioritized. It also flawlessly images to the center.

Fleabag: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This two-disc Blu-ray release of Fleabag contains no supplemental content. The main menu screen offers a clip montage (the same on both discs) set a Hard Rock score. Menu options include "Play All," "Episodes," and "Setup," which merely allows the user to toggle the English SDH subtitles on and off (which can also be done during program playback). No DVD or digital copies are included with purchase. This release does not ship with a slipcover.

Fleabag: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Fleabag is sort of schizophrenic, jumping from one emotion to the next, one thought to another, one activity to the next, and that seems to be the point. It's a pointed and brutal look at modern life, for better or for worse, and it is unabashedly authentic to the character's internal and external functioning. It's also at times very light and at others very dark. It's graphic, vulgar, the whole nine yards. It's bound to be divisive, so viewers should expect to be shocked. The featureless two-disc set does include solid video and audio presentations, good enough for fans to buy, even without any extras in support.