Thanks for reading us again! In our previous edition we talked about some interesting references in The Matrix Trilogy, today we’ll talk about a writer and actress to be kept in the loop: Phoebe Waller-Bridge, our new favourite teaser.
Over the last decade, this queen of dark humour became a great figure in the comedy scenery because of her colourful writing and strong voice.
Today, in this edition of NewsletterName, let us tell you about three of her most attractive productions. We won’t say these are the best she has on her repertory, but they are a good sample of her style and themes.
Fleabag (2016-2019)
This is one of the most provocative, honest and funny shows of the past decade. Also, it is the most outstanding work of Waller-Brigde.
It follows Fleabag, a very lonely woman living in London. We watch as she deals with grief, romantic failures and deep family issues by taking the most peculiar decisions. The results are often awkward and hilarious. There are three stances that make this show pop:
- Fleabag (yes, this is the “official” name of the protagonist) tells us her story in a very direct manner by breaking the fourth wall and talking to the audience herself.
- She established a friendly tone with her short expository monologues and interventions of dialogues that makes us feel comfortable with her.
- Also, the melancholic atmosphere and unbelievable situations this story has, are the ones that spice the show up.
The character was created, written and played by Waller-Brigde, who ended up winning a BAFTA TV Craft Award, a Primetime Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award, among others, for her work with this series. The episodes are short and bittersweet, told in a fast rhythm and with a perfect structure. Fleabag is a most interesting character that lives to make us laugh, as it was described by her creator.
We promise you, this show will make you laugh and feel the urge to scream “don’t do that!!” to the screen a couple of times.
Killing Eve (2018-2022)
Killing Eve is based on a novel written by Luke Jennings and adapted for TV by Phoebe Waller-Brigde in her unique way. It is a kind of “mouse and cat” chase in which are involved Eve Polastri, a MI6 agent, and Villanelle, an international hit woman.
In these deeply feminine story, the audience explores the devious relationship that is developed between these two women, in which the roles of pursuer and pursued are often shifted from one character to the other. Obsession, friendships and loyalty are frequent topics that work as pivots for the situations we see.
Waller-Brigde wrote the main roles focusing on manifesting a physical violence that is natural in many women, but not regularly told because it doesn’t go with the pre-establish idea of what a woman should be. Let us be clear, Killing Eve it is not a feminist discourse. However, it tells us a story from a different perspective than usual. This is what makes this show so interesting.
2022 is going to be a great and a sad year for us, fans of Killing Eve. This series premiere in 2018 and its fourth and final season will be premiere this year. This means that there will be no more Eve and Villanelle for us. Still, we need to be thankful for the run we’ve had with them and enjoy this series on its way to become a classic.
Run (2020)
On this series, Waller-Brigde’s involvement was limited, but striking. This is the story of a young couple that made the pact to leave everything and run to each other if one gave a special code. Decades after this promise was made, one of them calls it, and they are reunited in odd and unclear circumstances. Waller-Brigde’s role as a character was small, but her role as executive producer made the show much more promising.
Run was created by Vicky Jones, a frequent collaborator of Waller-Brigde since her early creative years. Critics agreed that the frenetic rhythm of the show given to it by Jones is one of its big attractions. This rhythm it’s partly sustain by narrative spins and by the performances of Merritt Wever and Domhnall Gleeson, the actors playing the two main characters.
Although it is very entertaining, the themes and topics are a bit dull for those accustomed to the beat Waller-Brigde gives to her stories. However, Run grants us a “romcom” (romantic comedy) with twists that take it out of the typical cheesy stories. You need to harness and enjoy this light narrative with lots of action wrapped up in a love story.
We’ve seen her act, write, produce and adapt. No doubt Phoebe Waller-Brigde has a lot more to offer and, luckily, we will be witnesses as she rises up with much more of her amusing and hilarious style.
We hope you savoir these recommendations and fall in laughs, I mean, in love with Phoebe Waller-Brigde as we did. See you next time!
