'Breaking the 4th Wall' is a term used to describe the technique when the character in the show looks to the camera and speaks directly to the audience. The name is derived from the fact that, typically, a film set has three walls, with the fourth being the camera; when the character speaks into the camera they 'break' the barrier between the themselves and the audience and therefore break the fourth wall. In the Gaze Theory it is known as the extra-extra diegetic gaze. Examples of films and programmes that break the wall include Miranda, Deadpool, and the recent BBC boxset Fleabag.
Phoebe Waller-Bridge's self written six part series Fleabag, is an adaptation of her award winning one woman play. The show is based around a single, twenty-something woman living in London, who is desperately trying to make ends meet whilst single-handedly running a failing cafe. Over the course of the episodes, we get an insight into Fleabag's life, especially the relationship with her hugely successful older sister, her ever changing love life, and the accidental suicide of her best friend, Boo.
Many of the characters featured throughout this boxset are not given real names, including the eponymous character of Fleabag herself. Instead, they are known by a trait which defines them such Bus Rodent and Godmother. This technique consciously highlights their insignificance compared to the other people in her life such as her sister Claire, and best friend Boo.
The continual breakage of the fourth wall brilliantly engages the viewers in the hilarious, snarky inner thoughts of the main character, played by Waller-Bridge herself. These scenes provide short bursts of comedic gold, cleverly placed within the ceaseless humour. The life of the other characters continue whilst Fleabag talks to the camera, regardless of the situation, and sometimes remain engaging with her. The use of this technique is also employed to inform the audience what is going to happen next, particularly when interacting with another person; suggesting that her life follows a predictable, standard pattern. Bringing down the fourth wall makes this series all the more funny, and allows the viewers to really connect with the mindset of the main character.
Personally, I found this series hugely entertaining, and was hooked from the very first episode. Waller-Bridge's sarcasm and ingenious one-liners entwined with highly relatable yet clearly broken characters makes for side splitting viewing that always have you pressing 'next episode'.
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