Netflix is the home to countless comedies, but some stand out more than others. Crashing, a Channel 4 mini-series, found a home on Netflix — and a whole new audience. With only six episodes in a single season, few people would have heard about the mini-series, which was released in 2016. Short, binge-able, and hugely funny, Crashing comes from the familiar and brilliant mind of Phoebe Waller-Bridge.
The show charts the journeys of six people in their 20s who have decided to become property guardians of an abandoned hospital wing. With minimal rent and a large space, these six acquaintances manage to make this arrangement work, which is also a cheeky commentary on the cost of living crisis. However, their convoluted and wild lives keep the show interesting as they crash and burn against each other, inevitably. Each character is a chaotic ball of energy that brings their own troubles, traumas, prejudices, and quirks to the forefront, often resulting in relentless hilarity. Crashing’s characters may face constant conflict, but they were very much like a dysfunctional family that could never be put right and shares a surprising connection with another chaotic family from Bridgerton.
Crashing Was Fleabag Before Fleabag
Fleabag is the feather in Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s cap, and its warm reception proves how effective her writing can be. Fleabag was an audacious but authentic take on the single woman’s life as she navigates dating, earning a livelihood, family dynamic, love, and, most importantly, grief. The titular character, also played by Waller-Bridge, is reeling from the loss of her mother and best friend, but her hypersexual nature and chaos-loving self can’t quit. Unafraid to be raunchy and completely inappropriate, the show thrived on imperfection. Fleabag examined the broken parts of humans in uncomfortable detail, breaking the fourth wall and addressing the audience at crucial points. It made Waller-Bridge a household name. However, even those who were keen fans of the Prime Video comedy would not know that Waller-Bridge’s first show was actually Crashing, and it went largely under the radar. Nominated for one BAFTA Award and one BAFTA Craft, Crashing was Fleabag before Fleabag.
Like its successor, Crashing revolved around a single female character, also portrayed by the writer herself. Lulu is, at first glance, a manic pixie dreamgirl with a ukelele, but Waller-Bridge subverts clichés by making her a more twisted version of this trope. Lulu was Anthony’s childhood friend, who lived in the hospital along with his fiancé, Kate, so that they could save money for the wedding. She enters the scene in a whirlwind of love, anguish, hope, and anger, as the attraction between Anthony and Lulu is immediate and obvious. Melody is an eccentric French artist who immediately takes a liking to Colin, a divorcee, and paints his sorrows on her canvas. Sam, also a sex-addicted young man, can’t seem to stay away from sheepish Fred, nor can he stay with him. While Fleabag revolved around one character, Crashing brought the same manic energy to six more, and each of them was flawed, infuriating, yet also relatable in their struggles in youth. Watching Crashing makes it clear that it is the predecessor of Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s pièce de résistance, as many of her ideas can be seen in a rudimentary form in the former. Just as darkly funny, it also explores human nature at its most amusing and most fundamental.
Jonathan Bailey Played a Standout Role In Crashing
Jonathan Bailey, known for his emotional and heartfelt performance as Anthony in Bridgerton, played Sam in Crashing. As the eldest Bridgerton son, Bailey portrayed a man who refused to buckle under the weight of responsibility but denied himself the simple pleasures of love and happiness so that he may serve his duty to his family. Having witnessed his father’s death at a young age, Anthony closed himself off to what he considered trivial emotions at a young age. However, being a Regency-bred young man, he was a thorough gentleman (albeit with some rakish tendencies.) The arrival of Kate Sharma in his life lifted his misconceptions about life, love, and marriage, leading to a breakthrough for him. Anthony was closed off, arrogant, bullheaded, but with a heart of gold who needed the right person to help him open up. Jonathan Bailey was critically praised for his portrayal, especially as he managed to stand out in a rather large and talented ensemble. Bailey’s role in Crashing had its similarities and dissimilarities to his breakout Bridgerton character.
In addition to displaying Jonathan Bailey’s incredible acting talent, Crashing also shared a push-pull love story with Bridgerton. Much like the repressed feelings between Anthony Bridgerton and Kate Sharma, Lulu and Anthony in Crashing had also been denying their emotions for years. Decades of sexual tension and affection were passed off as dares and cheeky jokes, but to everyone outside of their bubble of denial, the chemistry was palpable. Anthony even chose a partner who looked like Lulu, although Kate was not as free-spirited or carefree as Lulu was. The tension was strung tight across every single episode, and fans waited with bated breath to see if Lulu and Anthony would give in to their obvious love for each other. However, Crashing left this at a bit of a cliffhanger.
