Stephen Colbert's Take on Fleabag's Biggest Mystery Is So Lit, Even Phoebe Waller-Bridge Gave Up
After all these years, we still want to know what did that fox mean?
Fleabag is undoubtedly iconic already, even though its second (and, alas, last) season ended in 2019. It is this show that still makes us want to look at the non-existent camera and give it a smirk whenever something goes wrong (or hilariously chaotic) in real life.
Full of snarky humor, relatability, drama, and of course love, Fleabag had it all. It also had plenty of mysteries: from the main heroine's unrevealed name to the meaning of that fox that wouldn't stop chasing the hot priest until the very end.
The latter had everyone guessing, with fan theories suggesting different versions — from the symbol of sexual desire to the priest's feelings for Fleabag. However, when The Late Show's Stephen Colbert presented his own take on the mystery, even the series creator and star Phoebe Waller-Bridge was speechless — with the greatest of compliments.
"I think the fox is the hound of heaven," Colbert said three years ago when speaking to Waller-Bridge via videocall, causing her to open her mouth in pleasant surprise.
But then, the host effortlessly recited the poem by Francis Thompson, titled The Hound of Heaven, making Waller-Bridge even more surprised.
"And in the end, when the hound finally catches him, it says 'Ah, fondest, blindest, weakest, I am He Whom thou seekest! Thou dravest love from thee, who dravest Me,'" recited Colbert even further, explaining his take on the meaning of the fox.
Waller-Bridge could only say she was "completely blown away," because yes, that was impressive.
"Yes, that's what it is!" she laughed. "Can you do that whenever anyone asks what I said the fox was?"
Turns out, Colbert's performance impressed her so much she decided to not even give her own explanation as to what the fox meant; after all, isn't it magnificent that everyone gets to put their own meaning into a thought-provoking metaphor?
And to be honest, we're so fascinated with Colbert's intellectual take on the issue, we'd prefer to just join his team.