Plot
While they’re both waiting to see whose baby Sophie (Colman) is carrying, Mark (Mitchell) is forced to find a new job after JLB closes, and Jez (Webb) falls in love with their new Russian neighbour (Filatova)…
Review
Typically, comedies tend to get less funny as the years go by. It’s just the way things are. But as the blissful exception to the rule, Peep Show defiantly refuses to grow stale, and the sixth series of Sam Bain and Jesse Armstrong’s deservedly BAFTA-winning sitcom is as brilliantly written as ever. Despite a few flat spots during the first couple of episodes, it’s once again littered with so many tiny comic gems that it’ll take more than one viewing to catch them all.
As usual, it’s the lads’ internal thoughts that make the show special. Mark mentally correcting Jez’ grammar, the problems with Microsoft Vista, the dangers of iPod shuffling, The Wire being overrated… the wonderfully-made observations just keep coming. The penultimate episode where the El Dude brothers host a flat party, in particular, is flowing with them. From Mark musing that you only get chicken lasagne at those “pretend pubs at airports” to Jez mentally questioning a girl’s name, from the pair debating how many shirt buttons should be undone (“One is old school, Blair on holiday.”) to Mark’s tangent observation about the perfect place to keep a rented snake, there are plenty of inspired lines.
The occasional dramatic edges prove surprisingly affecting too, as once more David Mitchell’s stuffy drone sees his various dreams undone by, well, himself and Robert Webb’s irresponsible layabout. By now, it goes without saying that Mitchell and Webb are excellent, while supporting players like Matt King’s Super Hans and Isy Suttie’s perfect-for-Mark girl-geek Dobbie are terrific.
Verdict
Refusing to grow stale, series six of Peep Show is as brilliantly written as ever – and arguably the best yet.
