Ep 1. Episode 1

Fleabag season 2 episode 1, titled "Episode 1," picks up some time after the events of the season 1 finale. Fleabag (Phoebe Waller-Bridge) is still reeling from the loss of her best friend Boo, and struggling to come to terms with her own culpability in Boo's death. She's thrown herself into running the guinea pig-themed cafe she and Boo were working on together, but the business is still struggling financially.

As the episode begins, Fleabag is attending a family dinner to celebrate the engagement of her father (Bill Paterson) to his much younger girlfriend (Olivia Colman), who is also her godmother. It's a tense affair, with her dad and godmother determined to put on a show of happiness and unity, while Fleabag and her sister Claire (Sian Clifford) seethe with resentment and barely-concealed contempt.

Through flashbacks and conversations with her therapist (Fiona Shaw), we start to piece together some of the events that have transpired between seasons. Fleabag's relationship with the hot priest (Andrew Scott) is a central focus, as she confides to her therapist that they've been seeing each other in secret. She's trying to keep things casual, but finds herself becoming increasingly emotionally attached to him.

At the same time, she's taken on a new employee at the cafe - a handsome, chatty young man named Joe (David Paisley). It quickly becomes clear that Joe has a thing for Fleabag, and she's initially flattered by the attention. However, she soon realizes that he's not as innocent as he seems - he's been flirting with her to get a discount on his coffee, and he's also been stealing from the till.

Meanwhile, tensions between Fleabag and Claire come to a head when Claire reveals that she's been undergoing IVF treatments in secret. Fleabag is hurt that her sister didn't confide in her, and she's also uncomfortable with the thought of Claire potentially becoming a mother. The tension between the sisters reaches a breaking point when they end up in a physical altercation in the bathroom.

The episode ends on a melancholy note, as Fleabag retreats to a church to try and come to terms with her feelings for the hot priest. As she sits in a confessional booth, she reflects on the pain she's caused in her relationships with Boo, her sister, and the people around her. It's a poignant moment that suggests Fleabag may be starting to confront her demons head-on, even as she continues to make mistakes and hurt those she loves.

Overall, "Episode 1" is a strong start to Fleabag season 2, as it sets the stage for the emotional and thematic territory the show will explore over its six-episode run. The writing is sharp and funny, as always, but there's a newfound depth and sincerity to the storytelling that's sure to resonate with fans of the first season. Waller-Bridge's performance is once again a tour-de-force, capturing both the humor and the pathos of Fleabag's character. It's a promising start that bodes well for the rest of the season.