One of the most popular sitcoms to come out the UK in the early 2000s, Peep Show has received global recognition for its sharp wit, hilariously flawed characters, and the painfully cringeworthy scenarios it places them in.
Written by comedy legends Jesse Armstrong and Sam Bain and starring the perfectly cast Robert Webb and David Mitchell, Peep Show ran for nine seasons, finally coming to a fitting end in 2015. Unlike most comedies of its kind, however, Peep Show managed to stay consistently hilarious throughout, and here are the 10 best episodes according to IMDb.
10 Handyman (8.5)
In this hilarious season four episode of Peep Show, Jeremy happens to bump into "The Orgazoid," one of his all-time favorite musicians, who offers him a job as his assistant. Naturally, Jeremy is eager to accept, but he later discovers the less-than-savory extent of the "favors" he’s expected to carry out.
Meanwhile, Mark attends his high school reunion. To his amazement, one of his old bullies’ wives takes an interest in him. In classic Peep Show fashion, the two plotlines intersect in the most embarrassing way possible when Mark takes his date back to The Orgazoid’s house.
9 Quantocking (8.5)
One thing that separates Peep Show from other sitcoms of its ilk is its refusal to sugar coat relationships. It was always clear that Mark and Sophie would never work, but the show had us along for the ride nonetheless. It’s in “Quantocking," though, that it becomes most apparent.
In the episode, Mark takes Sophie to a nice hotel in the Quantocks only for Jeremy to crash the party with a cold-turkey Super Hans. While Mark planned on proposing to Sophie during their trip, he eventually decides it’s a bad idea. Mark’s revelation is quickly undercut when he discovers that Sophie has found the ring and accepts his proposal. In typical British fashion, Mark agrees to marry Sophie out of sheer awkwardness.
8 The Test (8.6)
“The Test” sees Mark and Jeremy take a paternity test to determine who’s really the father of Sophie’s child. It may sound like the plot of a daytime soap opera, but Peep Show naturally finds a way to wring as much comedy out of the situation as possible.
Meanwhile, both Mark and Jeremy are trying to impress their respective crushes, Mark going on a date with on-again-off-again romantic interest Dobby, and Jeremy attempting to woo his Russian drug dealer Elena. As you’d expect, neither go exactly to plan.
7 Dance Class (8.6)
While the jokes on Peep Show are usually aimed squarely at Mark and Jeremy themselves, “Dance Class” highlights the awkwardness of the “rainbow rhythms” dance class they’re forced to attend with their prospective lovers before the couples retire to a romantic summer house.
The episode is full to the brim with classic moments, from Jeremy and Mark’s forced kiss to Mark’s unbearably embarrassing serenade on the lake, making “Dance Class” one of most hilarious, joke-dense episodes of Peep Show’s earlier seasons.
6 Shrroming (8.6)
As the episode’s title may suggest, “Shrooming” sees Jeremy hold a magic mushroom party at the flat—only for his plans to be derailed by Mark’s presence after he suddenly falls ill. Some of the episode’s funniest moments include Jeremy "poisoning" Mark with Lemsip to get him out of the way, the duo "commanding" a carpenter to fix the bathroom door immediately, and Mark’s "explosive" finale.
“Shrooming” is another one of Peep Show’s very best episodes, with its set-up jokes working just as well as the finale they all build towards.
5 University Challenge (8.6)
“University Challenge” follows Mark and Jeremy as they travel back to their old university, with Mark hoping to pursue like-minded student April while Jeremy follows the band "Executioner’s Bong." Things quickly go awry, of course, as Mark enrolls in one of April’s classes, pretending to be a student himself.
Between Mark’s awkward interactions with Professor Alistair MacLeish (Peter Capaldi) and Superhans’ criminal antics, the episode’s strong core is complemented by a brilliant cast of supporting characters, making “University Challenge” one of the most memorable entries in the show’s second season.
4 Sophie's Parents (8.7)
The first episode of Peep Show’s stellar fourth season, “Sophie’s Parents” sees Mark and Jeremy visit his in-laws-to-be in their remote countryside home, following the engagement of Mark and Sophie.
From Mark’s bird-shooting incident to Jeremy’s affair with Sophie’s married mother to Mark and Jeremy’s reluctant arson, the episode is absolutely packed with hysterical moments, classic quotes and cringe-worthy scenarios. The real kicker, though, is Mark deciding he’ll stay with Sophie despite not loving her, simply because her parents gifted them a house in the countryside. In short, “Sophie’s Parents” is classic Peep Show.
3 Seasonal Beatings (8.9)
“Seasonal Beatings” is easily one of the most painful episodes of Peep Show ever produced—in the best possible way, of course. The episode is set during Christmas, as Mark’s parents Dan and Pam come for dinner, with Dobby and Super Hans unexpectedly joining the festivities.
Highlights include Mark’s unwarranted turkey-based tirade at Jeremy and Mark’s constant bickering with his father, but the episode’s most memorable moment comes when Dan tells Mark to "put a muzzle on his woman." When Mark fails to defend Dobby, the awkwardness is truly palpable. Fortunately, Mark later redeems himself by standing up to his father, labeling the day "Christmark" as a result.
2 Holiday (9.0)
Even by Peep Show’s standards, “Holiday” is widely considered the most out-there episode of the entire show. While most episodes build to a handful of awkward moments but nothing too high stakes, “Holiday” takes things to a whole new level.
Taking place during Mark’s stag weekend, the episode sees Jeremy and Mark get involved with a pair of sisters. After accidentally running over their beloved dog however, the duo goes to great lengths to hide their crime, even resorting to a makeshift cremation which they play off as a barbecue to the sisters. As if things weren’t bad enough, Mark and Jeremy are then forced to eat the dog’s charred remains to keep up their lie.
1 Wedding (9.3)
The quintessential Peep Show episode, “Wedding” opens with Mark marching towards his doom as he prepares to marry Sophie. It’s both hilarious and pathetic to witness Mark’s increasingly desperate attempts to get out of the wedding, going as far as stepping in front of a car.
On top of that, Super Hans vomits into his top hat, and Mark eventually even hides on the church balcony. As if things weren’t bad enough, Mark’s cowardice is revealed when Jeremy wets himself on the balcony, which proceeds to leak through the floorboards onto the guests below. All in all, it’s one of the funniest half-hours of television you’ll ever see.
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