Peep Show is a classic UK sitcom, and just like so many other British comedies, it's self-deprecating, irreverent, and hateful. And for audiences outside of the UK, they might not be used to seeing London being portrayed in such an ugly manner, but for British residents, the morbid reality of it all is outrageously funny.
Main characters Mark and Jeremy live in a high-rise building in a rough area, and they lead humdrum everyday lives of going to job interviews for menial jobs and eating microwave dinners. And, amazingly, the series managed to make that entertaining for nine whole seasons, and even at its worst, Peep Show is still great.
Though season 8 is technically the worst season of the show, there's still a lot to love. The season might not have the most laugh-out-loud moments in the series, but it has some of the most interesting story arcs. Mark finds himself in a love triangle between Jeremy and Dobby, and Jeremy attempts to become a therapist, which is Jez's cringiest moment in the show.
The best episode of the season, "The Love Bunker" is sort of a themed episode that Peep Show doesn't do all that often. It sees the gang go paintballing and most of the episode takes place on the battlefield. And, interestingly, a big moment in the series is clearly influenced by the American sitcom Seinfeld, as Gerrard passes away and there's absolutely no remorse whatsoever, just like when Susan died.
Just like every first season of a TV show, the first six episodes of Peep Show were finding their footing. But even though it doesn't reach the quality of later seasons, the idea of depicting London as a realistically grey, depressing, and ugly place was so refreshing and relatable. British humor is often irreverent and nihilistic, but the first season of Peep Show took it to another level.
The first season is full of episodes about having actually achievable dreams that keep getting crushed, and going to trashy clubs that end up being more annoying than fun. Given that, the show might have been too realistic for some audiences. And though every camera angle being a different character's perspective is one of the show's unique selling points, it might have been a little jarring and off-putting in year one.
Season 5 is a great season for fans but a bad year for Jeremy. Like more famous shows like Curb Your Enthusiasm and It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia, audiences aren't exactly rooting for the hateable characters, and it's actually so gratifying when bad things happen to them. But in season 5, almost too many bad things happen to Jez and fans almost start to empathize with him.
The season starts off with a bang, as Jeremy is told by an ex-girlfriend that he might have chlamydia in the premiere, "Burgling." And from that point on, there are so many classic Jez sequences in the season, such as Mark governing Jeremy's 20 grand inheritance, and Mark subsequently evicting Jeremy. And in the final episode, things hit rock bottom when he has no other choice but to join a cult.
Season 6 is operating on full cylinders. It introduces fan-favorite character Elena, Sophie is pregnant with either Jeremy or Mark's baby, and Mark has loses his job at JLB after the company fires the whole London office. Because of that, the season has a string of hilarious interviews where Mark says one wrong thing after the next.
However, Jeremy, on the other hand, becomes more loveable than ever, even despite his sometimes terrible actions, as he becomes more selfless and actually attempts to save Mark's job interview. Though he inadvertently gets Mark into more trouble, Jez tried, and it proves that he's a much better friend to Mark than Mark is to him.
The third season has a hilarious title theme, as every episode title is one word and ends with "ing," such as "Sectioning," "Shrooming," and "Jurying." The novelty works well, as each concept sees the characters getting themselves into almost surreal predicaments.
"Sectioning" is one of the episodes that never get old, as Jez and Super Hans are given ownership of a pub, which leads to the characters all trying to section each other. And the scenes where Jez and Super Hans are rebranding the pub are priceless. Just like how HBO planned to open several Latte Larry's coffee shops to promote Curb Your Enthusiasm season 10, there should have been a real-life Free The Paedos pub to promote Peep Show.
After the first season prepared audiences for the doom and gloom approach to everyday life, Season 2 doubles down on exactly that. The show becomes heavily invested in Mark and Jez's failed attempts at starting relationships, and the catastrophic downward spirals it sends them on.
Jez is willing to marry the love of his life just so she can get a visa, even though she doesn't share the same feelings. And Mark hacks into Sophie's emails to find out what her hobbies and interests are, all while actively trying to drive a wedge between her and her current boyfriend. In season 2, Mark and Jeremy are truly despicable human beings, and that's what makes it so entertaining.
Rarely do the final seasons of sitcoms get rated so highly amongst the other seasons, especially when the show has gone on for as long as Peep Show has. Season 9 is easily one of the best seasons of the show, even though it becomes way more soap opera-esq than it has ever been.
Strains are put on Mark and Jez's friendship, Sophie is in a toxic marriage, and all of the characters are generally more down in the dumps than they have ever been. But it's still sprinkled with that classic irreverent humor and double-crossing, as Super Hans doesn't give Jez the royalties he's owed for a song he made in the 90s, and Jeremy robs Mark's bank to rent a huge office.
Season 7 is so beloved amongst fans because it plays with sitcom tropes and completely flips them on their heads. As is generally the case with most sitcoms when they're running out of steam, one of the characters has a baby. But Peep Show puts a brilliant spin on the trope, as Mark is the father but he has no interest in being a dad and doesn't generally care for the baby either.
There's also the token Christmas episode that most sitcoms have, but again, it's pulled off in a way that only Peep Show can. "Seasonal Beatings" is so painfully awkward, but also one of the very best Peep Show episodes, as Mark introduces Dobby to his parents, but he doesn't want them to know that they're dating.
The whole of season 4 is leading up to Mark and Sophie's wedding, who don't really seem to want to get married in the first place. It makes for some of the most classically awkward Peep Show moments, and that's what fans thrive on.
It leads to Mark reluctantly joining the gym, a horribly-planned stag weekend, and it ends with "The Wedding," which is the ultimate watch-through-your-fingers episode of television. And as with every other season, Season 4 harbors so many depressing truths about life, such as the banality of school reunions and meeting the in-laws.
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