[PSW] Recession

TV Programme: Peep Show
Season: 6
Episode: 1
Date I watched this episode: 19/09/2009
Time since I last watched this programme: 1 year, 3 months, 13 days.

Here's one of the few programmes that I'm actually up-to-date with in terms of airings, and so I had to watch this season premiere the weekend of its release. I've been suffering without this show, almost compounded by the fact that I knew there weren't any eps out there even if I wanted to watch them. Not that it's even my favourite British comedy - that honor would have to go to Green Wing - but I think the half-hour format gives this one a different style to others I like; it gives a chance to tell a more streamlined story within the episode.

Nevertheless, as streamlined as the stories are, they really have followed the same themes and patterns since season one. It's a testament to the genius of Jesse and Sam that they've managed to keep it interesting and funny for all that time. It's not really about the changing character circumstances either - like the baby now introduced which Mark and Jez have implemented a "policy" not to discuss. Those things are just environmental and create a canvas to paint stories onto.

One of the biggest themes is that Mark gets something really great and then loses it again. This was essentially the pattern of this episode, but on a much larger scale. Here, Mark is shown to get to the top in his business but then come crashing down and "drop about 6 social classes in one day". Actually, I'm a bit disappointed we don't get to see more of Mark in his managerial role; lording it over the others, trying to use his power to intimidate Jeff and seduce Dobby. Especially as he isn't really suited to the role - as evidenced when he fails to take control of the situation when people think there is a fire alarm.

It really was a big shock to me that Mark had got made redundant. It was that classic deception and misdirection which I don't actually expect from this show; it had lulled me into such a false sense of security. Mark's change in behaviour was almost immediately apparent, and the avenues for character development are now many. I'm quite surprised at Mark for taking Steffan's deal. But then he loses that money again, and the respect of his fellow JLB survivors, so this pattern is almost repeated 3 times in one episode.

There were a few old faces in this episode. Aside from the mandatory combination of Jeremy and Mark, we also saw Sophie, Dobby, Johnson and Hans. It's good to see them all again after so many months. Johnson's uncomprising spirit, Dobby's geeky humour, Hans's dry wit and Sophie's discomfort are all unchanged. It's not surprising, but the baby certainly does change things between the central characters though. Mark and Jez almost look like an old married couple when confronting Sophie about the alcohol, and they will certainly be doing a lot more baby-type scenes together from now on, even if it's against their will.

This was very much Mark's episode - showing how he handled his redundancy and his ongoing pursuit of Dobby (I thought the fact that he had a spreadsheet of her coffee break times was very apt). Mark pursued the rebel streak inside him which clearly took a big effort. He looked lost most of the time, and resorted to his defense mechanism of making obscure analogies to the situation.

Jeremy didn't feature too much, though his parasitic nature was apparent throughout, even trying to sponge off Mark's grief. He seemed like a periphary just added to the pack to make up the numbers - which is exactly what was intended, I think. Jeremy's desire is just to have a good time and let his hair down, but I think he is starting to grow up a bit more in recent times.

Altogether a good and explosive start to the season, which is totally appropriate for a 6-episode season. Time will tell if we'll get any originality in there, or have to make do with pretending we haven't seen all this before.