Interrogating empathy in 21st century british television drama : <i>Fleabag</i> (2016-2019) and <i>I May Destroy You</i> (2020)

Promotional materials for the two TV series <i>Fleabag</i> (BBC 3, 2016-2019, Phoebe Waller-Bridge) and <i>I May Destroy You</i> (BBC 1, 2020, Michaela Coel) place viewers into a situation of empathy from the start. In <i>Fleabag</i>, the show’s protagonist is shown crying in the street, with mascara running down her cheeks and her gaze seems to avoid the camera. The red title <i>Fleabag</i> and its round slanted letters both grab viewers’ attention and suggest a certain fragility. In <i>I May Destroy You</i>, Arabella’s gaze is directed towards the audience and her face is illuminated with bright colours. Taken together, these elements question the place of vulnerability and strength in the two British series. This thesis will analyse viewer empathy and engagement within the context of the 21st century, where empathy seems to be absent. In fact, President Barack Obama spoke of an <i>Empathy Deficit</i> and a global difficulty to <i>put ourselves in somebody else’s shoes</i> in his 2006 speech. Despite this current media landscape, both shows have an active international audience.This study will trace the notion of empathy onscreen. Both <i>Fleabag</i> and <i>I May Destroy You</i> engage viewers in order to connect with their audience, to provoke emotions and create a sense of intimacy. Many viewers have found that identifying with fictional characters’ development can be very therapeutic and help them build a sense of self.Nevertheless, despite its notoriety, <i>Fleabag</i> remains the portrayal of persistent prejudices in society and on TV, while <i>I May Destroy You</i> enables the deconstruction of biassed representations and encourages more empathy in the television industry. In examining critical and audience reception of the two series through an intersectional lens, this study will explore the notion of unconscious (and conscious) bias, both on and off screen.