Finishing 'Fleabag' leaves a specific kind of void. It’s more than just the end of a show; it’s the loss of a confidante. You miss the fourth-wall breaks, the sharp humor, and the gut-punch of unexpected emotion. Where do you go from there?
I May Destroy You
If you appreciated
'Fleabag's' unflinching look at trauma, Michaela Coel's 'I May Destroy You' is essential viewing. While it tackles the devastating subject of sexual assault, it does so with a surprising and deeply human blend of wit, confusion, and raw honesty. The series follows Arabella, a writer piecing her life back together after her drink is spiked. It forgoes easy answers, instead exploring the murky gray areas of consent and memory with a perspective that is as vital and singular as Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s.
Russian Doll
For another series centered on a magnetic, messy protagonist, look no further than 'Russian Doll'. Co-created by and starring Natasha Lyonne, the show features a cynical New Yorker named Nadia who finds herself in a time loop, repeatedly dying on the night of her 36th birthday. Like 'Fleabag', it uses a high-concept premise to explore deep-seated trauma, self-destruction, and the difficult path toward connection and healing, all wrapped in a darkly comedic shell.
Feel Good
Co-created by and starring comedian Mae Martin, 'Feel Good' is a semi-autobiographical series about love, dependency, and identity. It captures the dizzying highs and painful lows of a new relationship, complicated by the protagonist's history with addiction. The show shares 'Fleabag's' knack for mining discomfort for both sharp humor and profound emotional insight, creating a love story that feels intensely personal, complicated, and deeply relatable.
Back to Life
Often compared to 'Fleabag' for its blend of dark comedy and a complex female lead, 'Back to Life' is a hidden gem. Created by and starring Daisy Haggard, it follows Miri Matteson as she returns to her small hometown after 18 years in prison. The show expertly balances the awkward humor of her readjustment to society with the slow unraveling of the mystery of her past. It’s a gentler, more melancholic watch, but shares a focus on a resilient, misunderstood woman navigating a world that has already judged her.
This Way Up
If the sisterly bond between Fleabag and Claire was your favorite part of the show, 'This Way Up' is for you. Created by and starring Aisling Bea, it centers on Áine, a woman trying to piece her life back together after a 'teeny tiny breakdown,' with the help of her protective sister, Shona (played by the brilliant Sharon Horgan). The series is praised for its honest, witty, and tender depiction of mental health and the unconditional, messy love between sisters.
Catastrophe
Written by and starring Sharon Horgan and Rob Delaney, 'Catastrophe' is a brutally honest and hilarious look at marriage and parenting. An Irish teacher and an American ad exec have a weeklong fling that results in an unplanned pregnancy, prompting them to try and make a life together. The show's power lies in its depiction of a relationship that is simultaneously romantic and deeply challenging, finding profound love amidst the chaos of real life. It’s a masterclass in laughing through the darkness.
Crashing
Before 'Fleabag,' there was 'Crashing,' Phoebe Waller‐Bridge’s first series. This six‐episode comedy follows a group of twenty‐somethings living as property guardians in a disused hospital. Waller‐Bridge stars as Lulu, a chaotic force who crashes into the life of her childhood best friend. You can see the DNA of 'Fleabag' here: the complicated relationships, the messy desires, and Waller‐Bridge's signature wit, just in a slightly more frantic, ensemble‐focused package.
High Fidelity
While the fourth‐wall break is 'Fleabag''s signature move, other shows have used it to great effect. The TV adaptation of 'High Fidelity,' starring Zoë Kravitz, uses the direct‐to‐camera address to pull you into the world of Rob, a record store owner obsessively recounting her top five heartbreaks. Like Fleabag, Rob is an unreliable narrator guiding you through her own romantic post‐mortems. It offers a similar feeling of being a character''s secret‐keeper, in on the joke even when the joke is on them.
