Peep Show rewatch

[Gregory Torso]

Just finished the first series (because fuck the rules). The last one, Funeral, not great but I really laughed at the reading from Scorpio Patrol ("as Squarehead fired off a round of monkeypuzzler, I looked down at the towelhead I'd just slotted") and the end with Enya was great. I'm enjoying the original theme tune too, it sounds like the damp turning cogs inside a weirdo bloke's head, never really liked that blah "i'm not sick but i'm not well" flatpack guitar cark.

[remedial_gash]

Just finished the first series (because fuck the rules). The last one, Funeral, not great but I really laughed at the reading from Scorpio Patrol ("as Squarehead fired off a round of monkeypuzzler, I looked down at the towelhead I'd just slotted") and the end with Enya was great. I'm enjoying the original theme tune too, it sounds like the damp turning cogs inside a weirdo bloke's head, never really liked that blah "i'm not sick but i'm not well" flatpack guitar cark.

If we're doing 'fuck the rules' big Suze mentions auditioning twice to Mark and it's two different play versions of 'crash' - the first time it's the one 'with the blackies and whities' and the second time where 'they get off on car accidents'.

[paruses]

Unfortunately had a lot of time at the airport but fortunately I had downloaded S1 onto the phone via Netflix. Thanks Netflix!

Funeral is a bit disappointing laughs-wise but kicks the story along nicely. It's more in keeping with Mark being thwarted because he's a neurotic mess rather than David Mitchell off a panel show / Flanderised  version of Mark.

I really enjoyed the bowling one again. Love how disappointing Jez's conquest of Toni is. That is really funny with man-Tony milling about the flat.

You lot keep saying you know the series backwards but for some reason Peep Show never sticks in my mind despite the fact that I am impressed to the point of being in awe of the writing. I am probably going to have to do my own rewatch of eps 3-6 again and make notes.

On the Jeff front - Mark Steele on RHLSTP said he plays a game of "Wanker or Cunt". I think Jeff falls into the former and Mark (certainly after S1) into the latter category. For my own categorsation I would say that if a mutual friend told me what each had done then for Jeff I would generally say "oh, he is a bit of a twat isn't he?" but for Mark it would be "Jesus, what's wrong with him?"

I have had two cups of coffee this morning which is unheard of and am buzzing a bit. Sorry if this isn't very useful.

[New Jack]

So the ending of the bowling episode

Technically Mark goes off to have a wank after overhearing Jez having sex

Jeremy is his One!

[Ferris]

Catching up on this, going past the one where he's in love maybe with Johnson. Tremendous.

"There are basically 2 energies in the universe - stress, and relaxation."

Mark growing a moustache.

Jez making a "welcome home Marky C" banner.

Lovely stuff. Not buying this revisionist "Jeff is nice" bullshit, he diddled Mark out of a lift to the train station in this ep.

[Lemming]

I'M 85% SURE I'M STRAIGHT

That line is one for the small moments in comedy that make you laugh way more than intended thread, it's absolutely gutbusting to me for some reason. Maybe it's the shitty Johnson moustache he's grown when he says it.

[paruses]

Jez making a "welcome home Marky C" banner.

Yes! I have noticed that in every watching but this time I really noticed it and it made me laugh a lot. It's so detailed and yet allowed to stand on its own as the joke. Perfect.

I really need to make notes on these as I am shit at remembering what I want to discuss.

Lovely stuff. Not buying this revisionist "Jeff is nice" bullshit, he diddled Mark out of a lift to the train station in this ep.

Well, you say that but Sophie has an explanation for it and it's not Jeff actively doing Mark out of the lift but taking Mark's place and enjoying getting one over on his love rival and annoying colleague. It was Sophie not considering that Mark should have first refusal of the space that's out of order.

Also - it's deliberate from the makers to show the unpleasant walk but in-world why doesn't Mark walk on the pavement on the other side of the road? That's always bugged me.

We only get to see snippets of JLB life; I imagine Mark is a pain in the arse to work with with his snide, humourless, officious manner. I can't blame someone like Jeff taking pleasure in seeing him inconvenienced. When Mark crashes Johnson's car Jeff just sort of enjoys the schadenfreude of it rather than grassing Mark up which he could have done.

Mark watching the gay porn from Mr. Patel is great (even his quick synopsis of where he bought it. Much better than him having to go to a sex shop and all that. Beautifully mundane).

[Ferris]

Well Jeff wouldn't need to grass him up as Mark is literally the only suspect. He revels in Mark's misery which is a bit much, even if it's the "office weirdo".

(The perfunctory way Jez says "I'm sorry Mark I can't live with these lies any more" before grassing Mark up always makes me chuckle.)

I thought Sophie's excuse was a bit shit, but more inconsiderate than actively unpleasant. She didn't think about Mark at all, the situation washed over her, she cared enough to apologize to Mark later but didn't really plan anything to stop it occurring. Someone left early so they could have given Mark his lift anyway (I think? Don't recall the exact reason why anspace freed up). There's a lot of blame to go round, is what I'm getting at.

[paruses]

I do like Jez's face / scrambling generally when something he thought would be a pretty cool, laid back win doesn't go his way. The panic when Johnson just doesn't care is great.

Do you think the writer's are setting Sophie up to be as self absorbed as the other characters in S1 or that they didn't plan that far ahead?

Hang on - the wheelchair is in the back with Jeff and the whole point was that there was no space for Mark as it was the wheelchair user and her friend who needed a lift. The whole thing is falling apart.

[Ferris]

Yeah but the friend (Colin?) left early, freeing a seat up for the Jeff-ster.

Who gleefully took it and smiled and whooped at Mark as he went past, the bastard.

[New Jack]

I don't think in a reversed position Mark would go, Ah, I'd love a ride, but Jeff was first - I opt to trudge home in the rain. Who among us would? Jeff is many things, but radio rental he is not!

Can call that bit a stalemate I s'pose. Sophie's always at the centre of this!

[Ferris]

Ahhh, but that is assuming we take Sophie's shit explanation at face value (why did the other lad suddenly decide to leave early? When was this known? Why was Mark not informed?).

Eh? Ehh??

[New Jack]

That would still make her, at best, thoughtless, and maybe even a liar!

Hmm, I'm starting to sound like Darryl. That's one for Jeff... A racist didn't like him. (The moral of that episode is weird... Racists can be good mates?)

[paruses]

Yeah but the friend (Colin?) left early, freeing a seat up for the Jeff-ster.

Who gleefully took it and smiled and whooped at Mark as he went past, the bastard.

Ah, but (I am holding my finger in the air), isn't the reason that Mark can't have the lift is because she has to have Colin* to help her. Sophie does that annoying face that suggest it has to be Colin but doesn't say why. I assume it's because the two are an unspoken item.

So it's Colin and Sophie who cause Mark misery but Jeff draws the fire because he gleefully makes Mark aware of it (that grinning face squashed in with the wheelchair is really funny when the car goes by). I can't blame him for taking the lift - it's exactly the kind of thing that would happen to me with people just sorting themselves out and not thinking about any one else (me being Mark in this case).

*let's just call him that

[New Jack]

Sophie: Er, Mark - I just wanted to say about the lift.
- 8:15 sharp? Yeah.
I forgot about Debbie's wheelchair.
- Yeah?
I think it'll take quite a bit of room. Dave's helping her so I said to him I mean, I could help.
- Yeah Yeah, sure.
It's just Dave's been, you know...

'Dave's the saint.
Nothing must unseat Dave
..
Sophie: I've been meaning to say, about the other day, back from the hotel - Because, in the end, Dave had to go early. Then I knocked on your door and Jess said you'd gone. So that's what happened, in case you were wondering.

----

Is this a typo from where I copied it or does she implicate Jess, an entirely different third party? As it looks, Jeff isn't to blame. He merely took an available seat! And passing Mark and laughing, well, just friendly banter, careful not to misconstrue his actions as knowing. He simply took advantage of a rival's misfortune. What a guy!

Maybe the anti Jeff conspirators will suggest Jeff donned women's clothes and Jess is his female alter ego...

Nb. I'll call this a stalemate again if it turns out that was a typo and JEFF said Mark left already. Although it would be quite funny.. What a cheeky prankster!

[paruses]

Ah, well if Mark had already set off what was Jeff to do?

This whole thing to throw shade on Jeff is looking like Dave's fault - not even Sophie's.

[New Jack]

free the Liverpool one

[vainsharpdad]

Is this a typo from where I copied it or does she implicate Jess, an entirely different third party?

Jez

[mrpupkin]

Yeah surely in a show with regular characters called Jez and Jeff you wouldn't introduce an unseen character called Jess for one throwaway line. That's just asking for trouble.

[New Jack]

Jess does ring a bell though. Maybe my Jeff Bias is clouding my judgement for once?! I'll watch it when I'm home later. It's some JBL colleague, certainly not Jez who wasn't there. I seem to remember that scene hammering home how outside the work group Mark was.

Nobody else in that car stuck up for him. Nice bunch.

[QDRPHNC]

Well Jeff wouldn't need to grass him up as Mark is literally the only suspect. He revels in Mark's misery which is a bit much, even if it's the "office weirdo".

I don't see it as Jeff revelling in it, I think he's reacting with shock and nervous laughter.

I'm on board with the Good Jeff thing, Mark is probably an absolute pain in the arse to deal with.

[paruses]

It is a typo I am sure since Jeff and Mark were sharing a room.

That's never seemed realistic to me as someone who's worked for similar companies - I know it's a minor point but it reminds me of someone on here whose friend described The Office as "about an office; written by people who have never worked in an office".

[QDRPHNC]

Jeff strikes me as more of a Lad than a bully - he doles out obnoxious banter without realizing how it comes across to a person like the anxiety-ridden, hyper self-aware Mark. Those few times where Jeff has crossed the line (the headbutt) is when Mark has intentionally taunted him.

Yeah surely in a show with regular characters called Jez and Jeff you wouldn't introduce an unseen character called Jess for one throwaway line. That's just asking for trouble.

They do have two Simons, which always struck me as an odd choice.

[paruses]

I don't see it as Jeff revelling in it, I think he's reacting with shock and nervous laughter.

I'm on board with the Good Jeff thing, Mark is probably an absolute pain in the arse to deal with.

Yes that's how I saw it.

Jeff aside - what do you think Mark would be like to work with? I don't think he would be the office weirdo - as I understand the word - more just an absolute pain. He would be friendly enough but very unhelpful if you needed something from him. He's definitely the kind of person you would try your best to avoid having to ask for assistance. And yet it would flip entirely the other way if he needed help.

I do a different job but he's the archetypal DBA in the world of IT.

[St_Eddie]

All this pro-Jeff talk is interesting but ultimetely bollocks.  The man's an arsehole of the highest order.

...Hmm, I'm starting to sound like Darryl. That's one for Jeff... A racist didn't like him. (The moral of that episode is weird... Racists can be good mates?)

Peep Show is many things but a lesson in morality it is not.

[vainsharpdad]

The bit in the Lazer Bowl where Jeff mimes shagging to wind up Mark when Sophie isn't looking - he's a twat.

[New Jack]

The bit in the Lazer Bowl where Jeff mimes shagging to wind up Mark when Sophie isn't looking - he's a twat.

There is no evidence for such intentions. I also think Mark is responsible for his own reactions, and he's on a date with another woman, so clearly comes off badly here.

Jeff asks Mark for change for the condom machine earlier, he's clearly just excited he's getting it on with the love of his life. You call it nasty, I call it continuity! Shame on Jeff I suppose, for enjoying himself? *shakes head slowly, sadly, for ages*

The world doesn't revolve around Mark! I have no issue believing Jeff would use sex as a standard conversational gambit with another man. You may not find that to your taste, Jeff-deniers, but it is surely an accurate reflection of how some men interact.

Jeff paying for the bowling-with-shopping debacle neatly overlooked, too.

Don't take the blue pill, folks. Don't even touch the red pill. Take the Jeff pill.

[Andy147]

Sophie: I've been meaning to say, about the other day, back from the hotel - Because, in the end, Dave had to go early. Then I knocked on your door and Jess said you'd gone. So that's what happened, in case you were wondering.

----

Is this a typo from where I copied it or does she implicate Jess, an entirely different third party?

It's "Jeff" in the book of scripts.

[dr beat]

Jeff doesn't seem that competitive or ambitious when it comes to his career.  He comes across as the type of person who's just happy to do the 9 to 5 for the money.  There's the episode in series 6 when Mark tries to take on the German JLB bosses who make everyone redundant, and Jeff's seemingly happy to be part of the gang and let Mark take the lead.

[vainsharpdad]

There is no evidence for such intentions. I also think Mark is responsible for his own reactions, and he's on a date with another woman, so clearly comes off badly here.

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3i3llm @23:51

Don't get me wrong - Mark is a dick. But Jeff's definitely being a massive twat there - he knows Mark likes Sophie, and that he has won (so far).