Fleabagfocuses on the titular character (Phoebe Waller-Bridge) navigating the tumultuous world of adulthood after a tragic loss. In two seasons, audiences ingest a beautifully complicated story of grief, romance, and maturity that doesn’t overstay its welcome. With its noteworthy cinematography and frequentbreaking of the fourth wall,Fleabagstands as a show that is exceptionally idiosyncratic in its storytelling and accessible to any adult similarly wandering through life.
WhileFleabag’s uniqueness sets it apart from most dramedies, it also exists within a collection of shows that expertly chronicle the messiness of adulthood, loss, and romance. Largely from the perspectives of women, these flawed protagonists make for excellent narratives while also pushing back against damaging constructs that render folks to silent suffering. These 10 shows handle impossible topics with a remarkable earnestness, granting voices to overlooked communities and helping viewers feel less alone.
10Frayed (2019-2021)
Set in the late 1980s,Frayedfollows a recently widowed Sammy (Sarah Kendall) returning home after news of her bankrupt estate sends shockwaves. Leaving her luxurious London lifestyle for her Australian abode, her children soon realize that their mother is not all she made herself out to be. Dealing with the rather hostile attitudes towards her return, Sammy attempts to provide her family with the closest thing to a stable environment while also confronting long forgotten memories.
Employs Fleabag’s Signature Cringe Humor
BothFleabagandFrayedemploy a unique form of cringe humor that highlights the ridiculousness of the respective situations. Furthermore,Frayedunderstands the power of an unlikable protagonist. Much like Waller-Bridge’s creation, Sammy is a difficult character to root for, in spite of her hilarious quips. However, it becomes all the more feasible for viewers to foster some consideration for Sammy’s predicaments as the series progresses.Stream on Max
9In Limbo (2023-Present)
House of the Dragon’s Ryan Corr stars alongsideThe 100’s Bob Morley in the 2023 seriesIn Limbo.A story crafted around a devastating loss, both leads shockingly offer some of 2023’s most amusing moments in a TV show. Following a grieving Charlie (Corr), the series focuses on his relationship with his late-best friend Nate (Morley) and coversthemes of loss and grief, male depression, and generational divides. Charlie and Nate share a series of entertaining conversations that quickly shift from comical to depressing while remaining all the more illuminating.
A Deep Dive into Death and Depression
While both shows discuss depression and deaths of a loved one,In Limbooffers the audience an earnest look into how depression affects men. With patriarchal views of masculinity being entrenched in every facet of society, men feel as though they must sacrifice their mental health and emotional expression for the sake of desirability. Through Charlie and Nate’s shared experiences,In Limbobrings a lot of heart and humor to a deeply saddening situation, accomplishing whatFleabagachieves in respect to Fleabag and Boo’s (Jenny Rainsford) conflicting friendship.Rent on Prime Video
8I Hate Suzie (2020-2022)
I Hate Suzieis a compelling British dramedy that looks into the life of the titular pop star (Billie Piper) and the shattering of her seemingly perfect image after she suffers from a horrific breach of privacy. The series chronicles her coping with the startling news, protecting her family, and maintaining her recently compromised fame. In under two seasons,I Am Suzieeffortlessly establishes itself as a fascinating satire on the “price of fame” and its many discrepancies.
Exploring How Misogyny Affects Women
Whether it be Fleabag’s self-reproach or Suzie’s embarrassment, both series excellently explore how women and femmes are largely judged through the lens of misogyny, regardless of the gender of the observer. Much like Fleabag’s startling betrayal,Suzie is seemingly alone in her efforts to remedy her life after incriminating news made headlines.
However, her witty lines and laugh-inducing actions are entertaining enough to find a necessary lightness in this rather dark situation; never forfeiting the gripping story of Suzie in favor of an artifical serenity that minimizes her trauma.Stream on Max
7Chewing Gum (2015-2017)
Coming from a deeply religious, immigrant household, Tracey’s perception of sex, relationships, and the human body is understandably warped and while the series doesn’t take itself too seriously while discussing these topics, Tracey is in full command of her narrative rather than being denigrated as an endless source of ridicule.
Reminiscent of Fleabag’s Awkward Charm
Chewing Gumretains the same awkwardness that madeFleabagexceptionally enjoyable. Both protagonists have a comical yet worrying clumsiness in their approach towards life and typically wander into ridiculous scenarios. While Tracey’s relationship to death may differ, both women share a complicated relationship with intimacy, diving into extremes in hopes of discovering a resolution to their inner turmoil.Stream on Max
6Never Have I Ever (2020-2023)
Never Have I Ever
Devi Vishakumar might be one of the most chaotic protagonists in recent memory. However, it’s for that reason why theNever Have I Everlead is one of the best. Following her high school journey after a traumatizing loss,Never Have I Everis a hilarious comedy that is committed to sharing the typical discord of adolescence while also touching on the immigrant experience from a South Asian perspective.
Messy and Chaotic Leads (That We Love)
While there is a stark age difference, Devi and Fleabag are not only similarly messy, but equally entertaining. Whether it be in the inadvertent harm they cause to loved ones or their troubling selfishness, both comedies offer audiences multidimensional anti-heroines that induce laughter and deep reflection with their every move.Stream on Netflix
Related:Never Have I Ever: Shattering Conventions and Re-Defining Coming-of-Age Tales
5Insecure (2016-2021)
From YouTube fame, Issa Rae blossomed into the mainstream with her hit seriesInsecure. Loosely inspired byMisadventures of Awkward Black Girl, the series chronicles the disillusionment and ambition of middle-class Black Americans living in Los Angeles. Largely focused on Issa Dee (Rae), the series covers everything from her toxic non-profit workplace environment, her relationship with the recently humbled Lawrence (Jay Ellis), and her friendships with Molly (Yvonne Orji), Kelli (Natasha Rothwell), and Tiffany (Amanda Seales). Throughout its five seasons,Insecureoffered a new generation of viewers an exciting, original dramedy that calls back to beloved series likeGirlfriendsandLiving Single.
Women’s Journeys Towards Self-Love
As the titles suggest, both women’s stories center around their frustration with how their life panned out before taking us through their messy yet entertaining paths towards self-love and improvement. WhileFleabag,at times, may feel insular,Insecureaccomplishes similar goals while expanding and creating a grand universe that hosts many familiar souls. From her time at “We Got Y’all” to her entrepreneurial endeavors, Issa forges a web of connections that help bolster her professional profile while also sparking sincere moments of self-reflection.Stream on Max
4Crashing (2017)
Before many knew her as Fleabag, Phoebe Waller-Bridge starred alongside Jonathan Bailey and Julie Dray in the comedy seriesCrashing.Focused on six property guardians, the series follows their companionship while living together in a former hospital. With a curiosity about each other’s backstories and sexual appetites, the series is a concise yet comical marvel that promises to leave audiences with a smile on their face while jumping into complicated interpersonal connections and the drama they produce.
From Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s Early Career
Many fans and critics of Bridge’s career continue to profess that the dazzling creative many of us have come to love would not be the same without the Netflix series. Blending ludicrous love triangles with intriguing character studies,Crashingeffectively juggles multiple, well-written stories without sacrificing the quality of the series. Similarly, both series employ a series of talented thespians that bring the imaginative words from the script to life, resulting in a truly riveting experience.Stream on Netflix
3Girls (2012-2017)
Girlsremains one of the most controversial series of the 2010s. However, that hasn’t stopped a new generation of fans ushering in an era of reprisal for the Lena Dunham series. Following aspiring writer Hannah Horvath (Dunham) and her close-knit circle of friends in New York City, the series documents the insufferably hilarious quartet of young women aiming to make sense of their seemingly directionless lives. AMillennial character studyat its core,Girlsdepicts the good, the bad, and the ugly with equally attentive writing, making for a truly enjoyable ride.
Flawed and Complex Characters We Can Relate to
Girlsis a fascinating look at the lives of endearing yet intolerable people in New York City. Instead of pulling away, the series dives deeper into the complicated personalities of the four women and their friend group. Whether it be Hannah’s immaturity or Marnie’s callousness, the show does an excellent job at crafting complete characters who are forced to come to terms with their destructive habits as they inch closer to their respective futures. LikeFleabag, Girlsfocuses on the undesirable aspects of growing into your own person, and has quite a lot of fun tracking that inevitable journey.Stream on Max
Related:The 15 Best Female-Lead TV Series of the 2010s
2You’re the Worst (2014-2019)
You’re the Worst
Toxic romances seem like quite an obsession across all the media. However,You’re the Worstis easily one of the best stories centering around two self-destructive characters. The series follows Jimmy (Chris Greere) and Gretchen (Aya Cash) after they reconvene at the wedding of a mutual friend. Known for their rather distasteful traits, the two attempt to foster a romantic relationship while sifting through their offputting personalities, and in turn, the five-season exploration is nothing but amusing.
Cruel and Comical
You’re the Worstrelishes in the deviousness of their protagonists, offering cruel yet comical moments for audiences to enjoy as Jimmy and Gretchen’s relationship evolves. Much like the flawed Fleabag, both Jimmy and Gretchen come to terms with their indiscretions just as they realize their worrisome behavior doesn’t prevent them from finding love.
As the series persists, Jimmy and Gretchen’s mental health issues offer necessary insight into their psyche, and enrich the story.You’re the Worstis a uniquely enthralling love story between two folks who undergo cycles of self reflection that mirror Fleabag’s own journey.Stream on Hulu
1I May Destroy You (2020)
Coming off the heels of her successes withChewing Gum,Black Mirror,andBlack Earth Rising,Michaela Coel returned during the peak of the pandemic withI May Destroy You. A crushing examination of sexual assault, consent, and mental health —bolstered by an infectious soundtrack— the HBO series follows burgeoning writerArabella (Coel) moments after a traumatic night and sees her coming to terms with her assault and interrogating the pervasiveness of exploitation in all fields of life.
An Authentic and Gripping Reflection of Reality
Similarly toFleabag,I May Destroy Youdives into traumatic situations head-on, following a protagonist submerged in the depths of their haunting experiences. Furthermore,I May Destroy You’s writing is crafted with a unique, emotionally mature, and inquisitive pen that doesn’t shy away from the grotesque realities of rape culture. Created with compassion, emotional intelligence, and imagination in mind bothFleabagandI May Destroy Youoffer audiences authentic and gripping reflections of reality.Stream on Max
