Discussion Analysis 2: Fleabag
Fleabag Season 1
Implicit Promotional (implied aspects brought to the viewer through diagetic information)
Prologue: first idea or hook that gives the audience interest in the television series
The trailer starts off with an upbeat song in the background while the main character herself, "fleabag" talks to the camera breaking the fourth wall in a disruptive and direct way. This feature is present throughout the entire trailer and teelvision show, and it not only makes the character relatable but gets the audience close to whatever she is doing in that moment. The trailer proceeds instances of charismatic scenes that showcase the hook of the series: fleabag is the purpose the trailer is so engaging, her talking, her mannerism and all the other factors that make her character the face of the show.
Orientation: the context and situation of the story within the tv show
In the trailer the context is revealed by a series of vignettes, made up from various instances of the show where the character of fleabag is defined by her actions and more importantly her words tha are thrown towards the camera, otherwise known as the audience. In a specific fraction of the trailer, we see fleabag and her family around a dinner table discussing the overall situation they are in, hinting on the death of their mother, the non-existance bond with their father, and the oppressive presence of their G-Dmother. These scenes display the dark british humor that will be a staple for the show.
Complication: the introduction of the destructive element to the story
The destructive element is never introduced as a specific moment in the trailer, but it is seen as a overwhelming feeling of anxiety that builds up as the audience slowly understands the orientation for this series. We can say that one complication for the show is the negative relationships that fleabag has in her life, these are some prevalent damaging elements that could turn into obstacles throughout the show.
Evaluation: the interpretation of the elements applied to the cultural context
Fleabag is a humorous critique towards reality, expectations, and life itself as it displays a satirical view of death. Using dark british humor the show truly searches for raw scenarios to bring to the audience, with a discussion around feminism, love and sex, death and mourning, above many others.
Explicit Promotional (all elements not explicitly shown in the story)
Promotional Identification: name credit
The promotional name credit with fleabag goes to Phoebe Waller-Bridge as the creator, writer and star for the show Fleabag and its immense success around the world.
Promotional Recapitulation: the context of situation
The trailer showcases the intensly funny moments of the series, capturing the attention of the viewer and underlineing the comedic aspect of the series, diverging from the more macabre and uneasy context that show deals with, for example Boos presence is seen as any other character in Fleabag's life, and never one symbolizing suicide.
Promotional Interpretation: impact on the audience
My personal interpretation alligns with many other viewrs that loved the show. Fleabag takes a spin on macabre themes and turns them in jokes and stupid comedic moments to joke about; it easies the pain of reality with the sweet sting of stupidity.
Promotional Recommendation: encouragement to the audience
In the middle of the trailer, right when the beat of the rock song drops and vocels starts, there is a writing that states of the show being an Amazon Prime Original Series.
Promotional Information: how to access the tv show
At the very ending of the trailer after the screen turns black, it presents the information on how to view the tv show: Stream with Prime on September 16.
Fleabag Season 2
Implicit Promotional (implied aspects brought to the viewer through diagetic information)
Prologue:
Ther trailer for the second season of Fleabag starts off with a much different tone than the one talked about above while still mantaining the overall concept of the show. The music chants a religious choir and not rock n roll shifting the theme to much more spiritual one, Fleabag still breaks the fourth wall but to summarize what has happened through the jump between the seasons.
Orientation:
The show has achieved a turn especially while vieweing the main characters change in persona as a more responsible and mature human being, the overall theme of death, while still being prevalent, it is toned down to be more respectful and thoughtful towards what comes after it as shown with the presence of "The Priest". This new character is of key importance throughout the trailer as he is seen again and again in it, mostly in close contact or in some kind of relation to Fleabag.
Complication:
The destructive element is never introduced as a specific moment in the trailer, but it is seen as a overwhelming feeling of anxiety that builds up as the audience slowly understands the orientation for this series. We can say that one complication for the show is the negative relationships that fleabag has in her life, these are some prevalent damaging elements that could turn into obstacles throughout the show.
Evaluation:
Fleabag is a humorous critique towards reality, expectations, and life itself as it displays a satirical view of death. Using dark british humor the show truly searches for raw scenarios to bring to the audience, with a discussion around feminism, love and sex, death and mourning, above many others.
Explicit Promotional (all elements not explicitly shown in the story)
Promotional Identification:
The promotional name credit with fleabag goes to Phoebe Waller-Bridge as the creator, writer and star for the show Fleabag and its immense success around the world.
Promotional Recapitulation:
The trailer brings to the viewer a series of scenes that portray the humor showcased in the show, the disfunctionality of the Fleabag's family is even more intense as the first section of the trailer links on what seems like a family dinner to celebrate the engagment of her distant father and the G-Dmother who still has a persitent chokehold on her life.
Promotional Interpretation:
My personal interpretation alligns with many other viewrs that loved the show. Fleabag takes a spin on macabre themes and turns them in jokes and stupid comedic moments to joke about; it easies the pain of reality with the sweet sting of stupidity. Even though the theme of death is still very much in the center of the show, the presence of The Priest balances the complicated way mourning is seen in the first season, focusing on the future (afterlife) and not the past.
Promotional Recommendation:
Within the trailer big red writing announces The Award Winning Series is Back as the motif of rock n roll music from the first season trailer comes back to unite the two videos.
Promotional Information:
At the very ending of the trailer after the screen turns black, it presents the information on how to view the tv show: Amazon Original Series-Fleabag-The Second Coming.
Contrast/Similarities
The two trailers showcased above are immediately found similar as they present an advertisment for the same television series: Fleabag, the method of grasping the interest from the audience is quite the same as it pushes the comedic outlet of dark british humor under the spotlight. Specific implicit promotional utterances are used in both trailers, for example the complication being a sum of problematic characters or events that fall upon the main character.
The contrast of these two clips are obviously set in the context and the explicit promotional interpratation the audience has through the show, as the first season of Fleabag deals with mourning and dealing correctly with loss (Boo's suicide and Fleabag's guilt), the second season has a much brighter tone, focusing on the positive aspect of life. Catholicism and religion is brought in, not with a hard to swallow manner, but simply as an outcome of death and a more positive way to deal with it.
Reflection
This is one of my favourite shows and i'm so glad to talk about it within this project, not only becasue it is a splendid series to watch but also to analyse and appreciate the aspects of discourse used in it. I chose specifically two clips from the same show because I wanted to see how discourse shifts even at its slitest when compared and contrasted to a similar version of it, having only two seasons it was an easy choice mainly because the context and overall story that goes on in the series are completed and have a structured ark.