Fleabag priest might seem dreamy, with his cheeky Irish accent wrapped up in a face/body combo that’s a perfect 50/50 amalgamation of Ant and Dec. Do not be fooled! I’m not talking about his probable drink problem (nobody’s perfect), or his lack of discernible hairstyle (did he just wake up?!), but his treatment of the lovely Fleabag!
It goes without saying that I’ve just watched the end and this will contain plenty of spoilers. If you’re not there yet, save this for later, go and watch the rest and come back for my rant.
Fleabag Priest spoilers are below the picture:
Before you say it, I know he’s a fictional character, but he’s so much more than that. Women are lusting after him and ignoring the alarm bells that should be ringing (from the belfry). This is why Fleabag Priest is the absolute worst.
He made her believe she did something wrong
He led her on, he forced her to chase him and then when he started to give in, he looked like he blamed her. It’s not her fault his calling wavered, it’s not her fault if he developed any feelings for her.
She’s not some evil temptress that he didn’t stand a chance against. As a priest he has to have been strong willed (to give up all the fun stuff and serve God), so presumably he could just not get caught up with a girl he fancied. He knew what would happen if he turned up at her house.
God talks to him but Fleabag’s vagina has a stronger power of him? Puh-lease!
His excuses are naff
I’m not saying God isn’t a valid choice, but if his calling could be overcome while he got a quick bit of sex, then his calling wasn’t all that strong to begin with. He doesn’t love her. He wanted to sleep with her and continue with the comfortable life he’s made.
I don’t know a single woman who hasn’t received an unacceptable excuse, from an unworthy man, in reference to why he’s treated her so cruelly. See, he’s one of those men.
He abused his position
No, not as a priest. Priesthood gave him no power over her because she was an atheist. The position he abused was being privy to exactly how troubled she was. He let her list her flaws, he waited until she broke and then he kissed her for the first time. If the painting hadn’t fallen, he’d have probably slept with her there and then (you know, if he wasn’t fictional).
His intentions were never pure
He positioned himself as someone who she could trust – a saviour of sorts, but once he got what he wanted, he cleared off. I don’t doubt he really fancied her, but you don’t treat someone you love like that. He pretended it was deeper, he pretended to deliberate. They both knew he’d choose God, he just wanted his fun first.
As a priest, it’s more than likely he could sniff out here vulnerability, and if he couldn’t, it was handed to him on a plate when she claimed her sister’s miscarriage, and her promiscuity was quickly referenced. He never intended to befriend her, he saw a troubled, unravelling woman and he decided to see where it would take him.
Have I ruined him yet?
(P.S. Fleabag is SO GOOD isn’t it?)
Amen to that!