How does Neil LaBute even have a job in Hollywood after The Wicker Man?

I've finally gotten around to watching Fleabag, which has managed to redeem Andrew Scott for me. (I mean, it's not his fault how horribly Moriarty is written in Sherlock, but really, he's just awful.) I was actually delighted to find he can be charming and sweet. t edit And HOT. Daaaaang.

Not done with S2 yet, but I'm close.

Oh shit, I'm officiating at friends' wedding in March, and I might have to use the last part of Hot Priest's "love feels like hope" sermon.

I was actually delighted to find he can be charming and sweet. And HOT. Daaaaang.

Right?? I found his Moriaty extremely off-putting and not very compelling, plus I thought his face looked kinda squirrel-y. But Scott in Fleabag was a whole another league. The thing that made him so attractive, I think, was that he listened -- really listened. That he listened *actively*, with all of his mind and heart and undivided attention that he was able to look past her self-defenses when nobody else in her life, even her family, was able to penetrate her walls.

Also: his adorable, irreverent sense of humour. Plus my not-so-dormant priest kink (stupid Catholic upbringing!)

That he listened *actively*, with all of his mind and heart and undivided attention that he was able to look past her self-defenses when nobody else in her life, even her family, was able to penetrate her walls.

He was the only one who caught her breaking the fourth wall! I died!

Plus my not-so-dormant priest kink (stupid Catholic upbringing!)

Hard same. (I will not admit how many times I rewound and watched the confessional scene.)

(I will not admit how many times I rewound and watched the confessional scene.)

While in the fresh thrall of the show, I *almost* caved and bought a refrigerator magnet that just said, KNEEL. Honestly, I'm not sure how they pulled off that power dynamic without it coming off as remotely skeevy, but such is the power of Phoebe W-B and her writing skill, I guess.

While in the fresh thrall of the show, I *almost* caved and bought a refrigerator magnet that just said, KNEEL.

Ahahahahahaha!!!! I think that would be a fine life choice.

Honestly, I'm not sure how they pulled off that power dynamic without it coming off as remotely skeevy, but such is the power of Phoebe W-B and her writing skill, I guess.

Honestly, that scene walked a really fine line for me. (To the point that, the first time Hot Priest said "Kneel," and my reaction was HELLO, I immediately told myself "What is wrong with you??? That is NOT what he meant! Get your mind out of the gutter!")

Granted that Fleabag (the character) doesn't believe in God, so that defangs the spiritual power imbalance (IMO). But then she's so incredibly vulnerable in that scene, which skews the power imbalance between them as 2 lonely people. I think if Hot Priest hadn't gotten on her level, on his knees, it wouldn't have worked. It would have been totally skeevy. Instead it was just filthy hot (I know, I have ISSUES).

t edit I should say, I'm impressed with how well that scene walked that line and came out on the not-skeevy side (for me, at least; I understand opinions about it are divided on Ye Olde Internet).

No, you're exactly right. That scene is so hot BECAUSE it walks that line so deftly. It has massive, massive potential to be super-skeevy (and probably is for some people, esp. if they or their loved ones were ever predated upon by a member of the clergy) but for me, it just works.

And another Fleabag S2 thing: god DAMN, was Kristin Scott Thomas amazing or what? I mean, yes, Phoebe Waller-Bridge is a goddamn genius for the writing, especially the "Women are born with pain built in" monologue, but even so, Kristin Scott Thomas just fucking KILLED IT.

Just pre-registered for Disney+.