Think you caught everything in Fleabag? Think again… Turns out the joke may have been on all of us. A decade after Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s iconic series first aired, fans are still uncovering hidden clues, clever symbolism and emotional details that slipped past even the most devoted viewers. Every rewatch seems to reveal another layer, proving Fleabag was far more meticulously crafted than most people realized.

It’s been 10 years since Fleabag first appeared on screens.

All the clever details and hidden meanings in Fleabag as Phoebe Waller-Bridge's  iconic show turns 10 - so how many did YOU spot? | Daily Mail Online

Based on Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s one-woman show, the groundbreaking series followed protagonist ‘Fleabag’ [Phoebe] as a free-spirited but angry and confused young woman struggling to cope with her grief.

Despite airing for just two seasons, the show has been credited with changing the TV landscape, inspiring a wave of ‘messy female’ leads and encouraging others to break the fourth wall.

Phoebe Waller-Bridge Has Given You No Time To Emotionally Prepare For ' Fleabag' Season 2

Now regularly cited as ‘one of the greatest TV series of all time’, the show earned Phoebe a whole host of awards, including BAFTAs, Emmys and Golden Globes, as well as making her a household name.

And Fleabag’s legacy continues, as while it may have been a decade since it aired, fans are still discovering the clever hidden details and meanings in the show.

Fleabag season 2 delivers a genius vision of unruly womanhood - ABC News

So, how many did you spot?

All the clever details and hidden meanings in Fleabag as Phoebe Waller-Bridger's iconic show celebrates its 10th anniversary - so how many did YOU spot?

All the clever details and hidden meanings in Fleabag as Phoebe Waller-Bridger’s iconic show celebrates its 10th anniversary – so how many did YOU spot?

The smoking symbolism

Unlike many modern shows, Fleabag featured several smoking scenes.

Yet one theory is that Fleabag’s smoking mirrors her relationship with Dad.

She offers Dad a cigarette in the series one finale during a row, but Dad takes it just to drop it.

The second time she offers him one, as their relationship is on a smoother road but not quite healed, he considers taking it only to change his mind.

By the series two finale as they have come to terms with their relationship, Dad finally smokes while chuckling to himself.

The Four Evangelists

In season two, Fleabag’s sister Claire (Sian Clifford) is at the Best Woman In Business Awards when she makes a religious reference in her speech.

She begins by saying: ‘A huge thanks to Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John for coming up with this award,’ a nod to the authors of the Gospels in the New Testament.

While there is of course irony in thanking four men for a women’s awards, she then has to hand Belinda Friers (Kristin Scott Thomas) a naked statue instead of the original award, setting the scene for Belinda’s feminism speech.

The mouse represents Fleabag’s Dad

Fans have theorised that the quiet mouse in the attic represents Dad’s [Bill Paterson] feelings about his upcoming marriage.

He reveals he has left a friendly trap for the rodent while also hinting that he feels trapped in his marriage with Godmother.

Dad is also quiet as a mouse, failing to ever finish a sentence in the second series.

The hidden tribute

Phoebe paid a subtle tribute to editor Gary Dollner who worked on both series of the show.

During the finale, Fleabag is seen sitting at a bus stop where the digital display reveals the bus is heading to Dollner Avenue.

Phoebe went on to work with Gary again on Killing Eve.

Fleabag has been credited with changing the TV landscape, inspiring a wave of 'messy female' leads and encouraging others to break the fourth wall

Fleabag has been credited with changing the TV landscape, inspiring a wave of ‘messy female’ leads and encouraging others to break the fourth wall

The fourth wall is her dead best friend

Many viewers have suggested that when Fleabag breaks the fourth wall she isn’t speaking to the audience but in fact her friend Boo [Jenny Rainsford].

Boo accidentally killed herself when she intended to injure herself by walking into the path of an oncoming car after learning her boyfriend had cheated on her.

Fans believe that as Fleabag finally starts to come to terms with Boo’s death she begins breaking the fourth wall less.

At the end it’s apparent she has made peace with the tragedy as she waves goodbye.

What does the fox say?

One of the biggest disagreements between Fleabag fans are the symbolism of the fox that is seen in several scenes of the show.

Some believe the fox represents Hot Priest’s (Andrew Scott) struggle with celibacy, with the animal appearing just as he nearly succumbs to his lust.

Others claim it represents Fleabag’s former self, given foxes are usually riddled with fleas and she tells the animal to follow Hot Priest in the series finale.

Another theory is that the fox is the audience, and is who she is addressing when breaking the fourth wall, given that she waves goodbye to it during the finale.

Fleabag is available to stream on BBC iPlayer and Prime Video 

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