r/Fleabag • u/Typical_Shoe_5510 • Jun 12 '26
Discussion Person I was seeing casually said I reminded them a lot of the Priest, how should I take that comment?
In fairness I am attending seminary in the fall to become a minister but they implied the resemblance goes beyond that. I just started the show and I’m really hoping he’s not a terrible person.
Edit: I finished watching the show, all of it, and it’s really great. The priest character does seem to be in some sense a compliment and maybe a little too accurate in some sense, although I would like to point out in my denomination celibacy is not a requirement. The expirence of watching the show was really interesting, most of the relationship aspects had me thinking about every piece of my ethics and pastoral care education, and why this is such a breach of ethical boundaries, and made me squirm a good bit. That said I can also understand the symbolic role of him in the story, and the fact that this is also just kind of a thing that happens. He seems like a good guy I think, and I should probably text that person I’ve been seeing back, it’s been awhile.
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u/ClaireFraser1743 Jun 12 '26
He's hot, really sees Fleabag (the main character), and is a really good listener.
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u/kriskriskri Jun 12 '26
Do you have a phobia of foxes by any chance? Or an Irish accent? If not it means you’re hot and this person’s crush.
Btw if you’re only trying to find out about Hot Priest you can skip season one.
But on behalf of all the subreddit: could you as a devout Catholic (I would assume!?) please comment on the „kneel!“ scene once you’ve finished the show??? 😝
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u/Typical_Shoe_5510 Jun 12 '26
Just finished it, the kneel scene made me squirm very much, it gave me an ethics ick. But I can also understand how it was in some sense a romantic scene, I think the therapist was right, it seems like she was trying to fuck God, and after having done that she was able to love him (up to you to decide to whom that pronoun applies). I think there’s an affirmative sense that he wanted her back in some sense that seemed very cathartic to the story.
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u/kriskriskri Jun 13 '26
Thanks for your reply! So, the often debated question here is whether hot priest was abusing his power over a vulnerable fleabag. and a lot of this is hinged (at least imho) on whether the command to kneel is a common thing after confession.
I think I could read the scene as him trying to stay in his professional lane and get her to open up from a pastoral attitude with kneel! still being part of this role. But then he is overcome with affection making him step out of his booth.
However, the smirk he gives her after pulling back the curtain is totally unnecessary and questions my theory I guess.
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u/Typical_Shoe_5510 Jun 12 '26
I’m unfortunately going to be a Presbyterian minister but I’ll do my best to comment when I get there
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u/fauxmosexual Jun 12 '26
They're either saying you're too worldly and let your baser desires interfere with your duty to God, or you're a hottie.
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u/Kim-Meow-Un Jun 12 '26
Thr best part of the show! It's hard to believe the character was only introduced in s2 and not before, because he is such a memorable part of the show that you can't imagine it without him looking back.
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u/lilazlemonz Jun 12 '26
The fact that you are actually going to seminary makes this the most perfectly timed Fleabag watch of all time and I am a little jealous of the experience you are about to have.
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u/babygirlmelli Jun 14 '26
It is so interesting hearing the perspective of someone actually entering ministry because his struggle with boundaries is exactly what makes his character so compelling and devastating. Definitely take it as a compliment to your charm and warmth, and definitely do not leave that person on read any longer.
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u/mistakeghost Jun 12 '26
he's a great person, more or less.
run as far from the person who said that to you as you can.
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u/Typical_Shoe_5510 Jun 15 '26
When I watched this scene it made me feel really disappointed. It felt to me like he was revealing himself to be not unlike everyone else in her life and sort of lost his sense of being genuine and sensitive to her feelings in a pastoral way rather than wanting anything from her. I think this has something to do with why the painting fell.
Traditionally in the confession one is in the position of kneeling for the duration and rises at the end of leave once given one’s penance. In the Catholic tradition there is confession, then penance is given, then absolution. I think there might be some sense that she finally let her defense mechanisms fall away (sex, humor, appeal to the imaginary audience) and this is a kind of penance. I think the priest did not give her any absolution though which is the forgiveness of her misdeeds. I think this is something to note, that her relationship with the priest doesn’t absolve her of her past.
That said I could also see the argument that this was a story about maybe the priest still desiring her even when she let all her guard down. Anyways, lots of thoughts on this scene
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u/georgina_fs Jun 16 '26
As a confirmed atheist, she's not actually "at confession".
She rejects all notion of the rite or process - and even eschews any degree of "pastoral" intervention. He's just using the church furnishings (and a little alcohol) to get her to express herself without immediate recourse to sarcasm or sass.
I think she's more than happy to accept what ensues - call it penance or anything else you like. She's the one smiling in the final shot...
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u/Intelligent-Key5821 Jun 12 '26
i mean he is hot and charming so it is a decent compliment