Read Julia Raeside's episode five blog
It's a time for reflection this week as we reach the sixth and final episode of series six *pause for pathetic sobs to subside*. Over too soon, as always. And, on reflection, I'm tempted to herald this the best series yet. In fact I will. It was the best series yet.
Ahead of tonight's nail-biting finish (fans of the traditional cliff-hanger will not be disappointed) let's stand back and admire the near perfection of Sam Bain and Jessie Armstrong's (and Simon Blackwell's) work. Never has a series been so packed from floor to ceiling with terrific one-liners. And never has the plight of two such under-confident, overly-pathetic losers been so bloody funny.
As Mark and Jeremy hurtle towards 40 (admittedly they've got a few years yet) their predicament gets more desperate. And as the quality of Big Brother contestants diminishes with each passing year because of their increasing desperation, Peep Show gets funnier for the same reason. This series we've learnt that, no matter what opportunities are thrown in front of our self-sabotaging anti-heroes, they will always find themselves back where they started, sharing a flat in Croydon and secretly believing the rest of the world has access to a happiness that will forever elude them.
Favourite moments of the series? There are too many to list but, of course, I'll have a go. Who can forget the sight of Mark and Dobby pumping fire extinguisher foam at each other? Or the moment the house party reached "maximum Peter" when Mark took a massive hit from a bong? Or the exquisite horror portrayed by Robert Webb (many of you commented on his exemplary work this series) when his dream woman accepted her girlfriend's marriage proposal? Episode five really was off the scale, wasn't it? The plotting, the device of a snake on the loose. Mark puking on the snake. I can't even write coherent sentences about how much I loved that episode.
I think my favourite line of the entire series, mostly due to Webb's delivery, was the moment when Jeremy realised the fire alarm was real and yelped, "Get your elbows in, Mark. It's all gone Backdraft!" What was yours? It's like trying to pick your favourite food, isn't it? It's all so delicious.
And tonight's episode will leave you with an even more dizzying array of tasty morsels. There's even a proper stunt! No spoilers, I promise, but the knee-hugging guffaws coming from my sofa in the last half hour have loosened a few roof tiles and no mistake. Just add together Mark learning to drive, Jeremy's drunken misery at Elena's prospective marriage and Sophie's impending motherhood and you have one heck of a finale.
Drink it in and then come back here to share your thoughts on the mighty season six.
