A few years previously, Fleabag’s mother died. Fleabag and her sister Claire (Sian Clifford) are dealing with their grief differently; Fleabag dates a lot of different men and presides halfheartedly over her cafe, which is home to a resident guinea pig named Hilary. Claire, on the other hand, is a driven overachiever who stays with her husband, Martin (Brett Gelman), despite the fact that at Claire’s birthday party, he tried to kiss Fleabag.

One pastime the sisters enthusiastically share is reveling in their dislike of their stepmother, who is only ever called “godmother” and is played with delicious venom by Olivia Colman. Godmother is a talented artist who makes it clear to her stepdaughters that she controls their father’s life and they had better not mess with her. All of this grinding irritation and mutual dislike is conveyed via amusing British repression.

The Torso

A good bit of the season revolves around a small statue of a woman’s torso that Fleabag stole from Godmother’s home studio. Fleabag asks Martin to sell it, but he gives it to Claire for her birthday instead. After Fleabag secretly returns the piece to the studio — Godmother can’t prove Fleabag took it, but she clearly suspects her — Claire steals it back again, mainly because Colman’s character is vicious to the sisters at a lunch meant to celebrate the memory of their late mother.

A ‘Sexhibition’ Party

Fleabag’s father (Bill Paterson) tries to keep the peace between his wife and daughters, but his hopes for harmony among them are dashed at Godmother’s “Sexhibition,” an art show at which Fleabag is pressured into serving drinks. Late in the party, she smashes several glasses in front of guests, but Godmother’s fury at this rebellion is not the worst part of Fleabag’s night. Her father makes it clear that he wants his new marriage to work, Fleabag’s ex shows up with a new girlfriend and the hot, rather dim guy Fleabag has been dating casually dumps her. Worst of all, Claire tells Fleabag that she believes the story she’s been told by Martin: That Fleabag kissed him at Claire’s birthday party, not the other way around.

A Revealing Turn