Review of Peep Show: Series 1

Introduction

`Peep Show` is not only innovatively shot and cut (with all dialogue delivered straight down the barrel, and use of point-of-view shots throughout), it`s also frighteningly funny. Erring on the subversive at times, it takes the comedy of embarrassment to uncharted but hilarious extremes.

It features two decidedly unlikely flat mates; Mark (David Mitchell) who is a cherub faced office worker with public-school boy demeanour, and Jeremy (Robert Webb), a deluded work-shy musician who`s insecure, unreliable, and shallow in the extreme.

Written and Produced by Jesse Armstrong and Sam Bain, it mixes the bizarre with the mundane realities of life - a kind of `The Office` meets `Bottom` in concept.

The constant use of point-of-view shots throughout is really unusual and must have been difficult to sustain by the actors as they deliver every line directly to camera. Bar the establishing wide-shots and a few cutaways, it`s exclusively POV throughout (POV was the original name for the show, abandoned as filmic jargon that some of its audience might not have understood).

The humour during the six half-hour episodes of this first series uses toe-curling scenarios that are often so hilariously embarrassing that you`ll squirm in your seat.

For example. Mark is coming out of his rented ex-council flat in Croydon and is surrounded by hooded 10 year olds on their bikes. They mock his smart clothing asking how he gets his shirts so white, and they notice that he`s drinking a can of Coke. `Giz some of your Coke Mister`. He offers them the whole can in a slightly over zealous, nervous way and they immediately start shrieking `Peedy!`.

This is just one of a hundred toe- curling moments that pepper the episodes gathered together on this DVD.

Also worthy of a mention are Sophie (Olivia Colman), Mark`s co-worker (who becomes his manager half way through the series) and the object of his affections, Super Hans (Matt King), Jeremy`s musical cohort who`s a seedy, street-wise low-life, and Toni (Elizabeth Marmur), Mark and Jeremy`s posh next-door neighbour who`s the object of Jeremy`s lust (and Mark`s for a few fleeting moments in episode 1).

Video

Transferred anamorphically in 1.78:1. You can tell from the outset that this has all been shot on inexpensive digital video; possibly mini-DV. This doesn`t particularly detract but digital video does suffer in low-light conditions, and Peep Show is no exception to this general rule. But then the whole thing is like a voyeuristic security camera style shoot, and it works well here.

Audio

There`s a workmanlike stereo track here that rather matches the deceptive `shot on the hoof` feel to the series. The audio is clear, and dialogue warmly recorded on close mic.

Features

There`s an Audio Commentary here on episodes 1 and 6 featuring writers Jesse Armstrong and Sam Bain and actors David Mitchell and Robert Webb, and I must say, after the hilarity of the series it was something of a disappointment. The writers must have been the true wits, though have no projection, and the two actors are flying without the aid of hilarious scripts and plots. In all they come across as a little dull.

In addition each of the central characters has their own section of extras.

Mark`s Extras kick off with a hilarious Video CV, which almost feels real. This includes him doing some indoor putting, followed by the line `Watch your back Tiger Woods!`. It`s all shot as if by Mark himself and the self-conscious pieces to camera are comedy magic. There are also two additional scenes where Mark gets Jeremy and Sophie to read sections of `Scorpion Patrol`for his unwell Father, a tasteless Andy McNabb style war book which is also read at Jeremy`s uncle`s funeral in one of the episodes.

Jeremy`s Extras, kicks off with Jeremy`s Audition Tape for `Big Brother`, which is frighteningly close to what the Producers of that inane show must be looking for (`I`m mad me!`). Also included is his Last Will & Testament, a reference to the last episode on this DVD where he believes he has a fatal disease passed down to him by his uncle. Finally we`re treated to a homemade video to his really awful music track, featured in episodes in the series, called "Outrageous" ("This is outrageous, this is contagious"). All worth a look!

Conclusion

Peep Show is a delightful surprise. Not only does it go to new extremes with its anarchic comedy of embarrassment, but also it`s innovatively shot from the central characters point-of-view. Everything is delivered straight down the barrel of the camera, and even `headcams` are used to get a real sense of the characters most intimate moments (like when Mark finally gets that longed for kiss from workmate Sophie.) Everything is delivered completely deadpan with no laugh track - risky for a comedy this anarchic, this bizarre, this extreme. But it all works magnificently.

Under normal circumstances I watch a DVD just the once before posting a review. This time I watched all the episodes twice (in varying company) and some episodes and moments three times or more. (I played `Marks CV` to colleagues at work for example and they all found it hilarious. All the more so as we`re recruiting at the moment…).

It`s the sort of comedy that, once consumed, will repeat on you for days afterwards. It certainly made me laugh aloud for days after watching these episodes.

In truth, some moments are better than others and the plot occasionally descended into the absurd, but all forgivable if this is what it takes to deliver the really great moments. And there are plenty of those to be found here. Wonderful stuff!