#9: Sophie's Parents - My Top 10 Peep Show Episodes

[@markythompson]

The happy birthday scene is absolutely brilliant. The music, the dancing, the singing, Sophie's chlidish glee while walking down the stairs in her crown, jez and marks discomfort and awkwardness. Absolutely brilliant 30 seconds of comedy with no real dialogue.

[@Maesterful]

Happy birthday Mark

[@RNS_Aurelius]

Jamie's over excited shaking during the singing is the cherry on top.

[@A5H_01]

Honestly, I love it. It's the exact "cringey" middle class birthday tradition you'd see. "HaPpY bIrThDaY, hApPy BiRtHdAy"

[@ElStink4K]

Super depressing on rewatch lol

[@harv7998]

We miss you Andrew! Hope you come back to finish this series of videos some day

[@mark9294]

Yes!

[@reubs]

I'm so glad this channel exists thank you Mr Andrew

[@f_jtm]

Broo great Simpson's hit and run content, slip a Peep Show reference into the next episode 👀

[@SteRDLK]

Possibly the best lines: "I heard you snoring, but you're not asleep"; "no just practising, I was showing Jeremy some techniques" And of course "I'm a firestarter a twisted firestarter".

[@oliverholmes-gunning5372]

Honestly the whole episode is filled with some of the best lines of the show- "suck mummy's finger?", I AM James Bond", "Ram-a-Dan"...

[@joepoolman94]

We want the rest of this series!

[@AM19925]

what i love about this one is how much they managed to pack in without sacrificing pacing. it feels like a lot happens but it comes together really well i agree with your point that part of the appeal of this episode (and s4 in general) is that it's not a one off thing they can escape at the end, but part of the larger situation which is the looming dread of his marriage to Sophie and how inescapable that feels for him. it makes me wish they had done more with Mark's son later on, cos i feel like they could have done something similar there

[@vorebiz]

Agree with everything here except your last point! Introducing a baby is sitcom poison, and can be a sign of desperation. Even Father ted memed about this in their Christmas special. I was worried when PS did this with Mark but really glad and frankly relieved that the writers decided to put this aspect of the show way away on the backburners in series 7 to 9. One look at Only Fools and Horses shows you what introducing babies and toddlers and putting them front and centre can do to a sitcom... the less Baby Ian the better. Unironically, one of the few things the latter series got right was in almost ignoring him.

[@davidz3879]

@@vorebiz Yes, it's difficult to do baby/toddler storylines in sitcoms.

[@SinnermanStudios]

The bit with the snoring practicing is probably my biggest LOL moment in the whole series 🤣

[@db8444]

He may be a homophobe but he's no badger baiter

[@billybear2333]

Love these videos, the part where mark says "you're back at the house, banging the mum!" is one of my favorite bits in the whole show

[@scarredk0]

That is not a good impression!

[@8OutOf10Hacks]

"I am James Bond"

[@KrenzyHD]

Defo in my top 3 episodes, the bedroom scene with Mark, Sophie's mum and Jez is probably one of my favourite scenes in the whole show

[@geese5061]

This episode always makes me think of my first girlfriend, she was really middle class and I didn’t realise just how much until I went away with her family to their grandparents massive country house. Being from a much poorer background I felt like an alien in a different world, it was about as uncomfortable as this episode only worse cos I was living it.

[@bobsbigboy_]

Thats upper class my friend

[@oliverholmes-gunning5372]

Did you at least get your hands on Nana's cottage?

[@alicesmith8134]

Try some of the Boris resignation jam

[@SirBoberus]

Try some of the Truss resignation jam

[@clashpanda120]

Like your Venetian Snares profile picture

[@mackenzieroberts1]

come to daddy

[@BFMV271]

I totally agree. This one is top five for me. Ian is by far one of my favourite characters.

[@aeternitasromae]

One small bit of in-universe trivia we can glean (if this isnt already mentioned) is that the episode is set in the South of England. Mark says the 'coin' that Ian heard was Saxon, and he's too much of a history nerd to be imprecise about that

[@davidz3879]

Guildford is mentioned by Sophie.

[@ghostdukevladamir5101]

​@@davidz3879 I always assumed they lived near Harpenden, because of Sophie's Harpenden Harpenden Harpenden mug

[@josephstrings7413]

When u making number 8?

[@williamm.1608]

On behalf of the community, thank you for giving us something to fall asleep to that isn’t just peep show itself, for the umpteenth time.

[@tylerfoster4157]

I read the description from your Extras video, where you said that you wouldn’t be finishing this top 10 series. Just wanted to say thanks for the two episodes you did manage to publish before stopping as they are both brilliant. Would there be any chance you would still release the rest of your top 10 purely in list form?

[@DoubleDowner]

This episode has one of the scenes that made me howl with laughter, memorably. Jeremy is in the bed and Mark looked back at him knowing he bonked Sophie‘s mum, it broke me Come to think of it when Jeremy says “it’s all ancient history now” on the coach in another episode I had the same reaction

[@BriggsA]

You're not James Bond

[@merrymermaid]

@@BriggsAI am James Bond

[@steven5232]

I hope you can make videos for the rest of your list. These videos are great and your analysis makes me think about so much I've never previously realised.

[@NukerOfFace]

Rip this series.

[@benwatson6432]

I'd love to watch number 8, chance would be a fine thing, a fine thing indeed

[@bigc181]

Complete your list, Andrew. More content!

[@kieranwhite6647]

One of my favourite episodes and an introduction to Ian, one of my favourite characters

[@domposty]

Season 4 was the best season for me, fair play to them

[@matthewmaguire71]

Hey pal, love your channel. Just wondering why you have stopped making new videos?

[@quagmire4469]

What happened to this series?

[@oliverholmes-gunning5372]

I'd be very curious to see what your picks for 8-1 are, because honestly for me Sophie's Parents stands firmly at no. 1. It's the one I always tell anyone I'm recommending the show to to check out first to get a taste for the overall vibe of the series... It's not just that it has some of the best lines and scenarios, it also has some of the best subtle visual gags and non-verbal expression moments, as well as some of the best minor characters (Peep Show is never a slouch at characterisation, but there's something about the little intricacies of Sophie's family both as individuals and as a dynamic that seems a cut above even the usual excellent writing). It's one of the most perfect sitcom episodes ever filmed in the history of TV imo, if not THE most perfect.

[@JakTheLad]

This is outrageous

[@kiyahicks356]

Yesss peep show love it, finished the bonus features series yesterday absolutely class cheers mate

[@Danoplaysgames]

I hope you complete this one day, love the videos !

[@jamesatkinsonja]

Love this episode. 3:48 I do like how Mark has a David Brent style beard he hates and is dreading getting married to someone he doesn't love when David Mitchell now has a full beard and is happily married with a daughter. Sometimes real life is where you get the happy ending! 10:55 Very good point. Using another classic show as an example, even a character like Victor Meldrew was allowed to be a winner sometimes [like saving the residents of the care home in 'Heart of Darkness'] which makes sure he's not constantly down trodden and has some light in his and Margaret's life or when the Steptoe's are on the same side and have a collective success [like in 'Oh what a beautiful Mourning'] rather than being constantly at odds.

[@edwartvonfectonia4362]

Ian (isn't his name Ian?) is a pretty good character in the Peep Show universe I would say. And the scene with snapping the head of a bird gets me everytime.

[@MutatedDuck]

I'm breaking down your wall of silence, Ian!

[@BenjaminSoutnose]

Where have you gone Andrew??????

[@50DollarWig]

Yes, I do like it. Why does this line make me bust out laughing every time?

[@OliverDobbs]

When you said that Super Hans had “two lines” at the start of the episode I thought you meant something else…

[@mamebiramdiouf3256]

The head on the beer joke might be my favourite in all the series.

[@mtiice]

Ive been waiting for number 8 for sooooooooo long 😢😢😢😢😢😢

[@Gordon.Pinkerton]

Oh God, I'm a firestarter! A twisted firestarter!

[@alxwlsh]

Hello Andrew :) I've been watching an old sitcom recently with Robert Webb in it called The Smoking Room, just thought it would be a good video idea for you, Thanks Alex

[@antoniacunningham471]

Fantastic little gem of a show, great dialogue and very well casted

[@oliverholmes-gunning5372]

Jesus I completely forgot about that! Remember watching it years ago... it was one of those early noughties underrated gems that completely fell off the radar, a bit like Ideal with Johnny Vegas.

[@cartmanofsp]

Whats the best bit of metal you’ve ever detected

[@davidz3879]

It's a great start to the best PS series. Every ep of s4 is great.

[@rorz999]

No way have you only left one comment for once!? Well done, this is progress!

[@davidz3879]

@@rorz999 I wrote my second comment on here within a minute of writing my first. Or are you not counting reply comments as comments?

[@rorz999]

@@davidz3879 not counting replies. Replies are fine

[@JM16446]

Pretty incredible how they made the best season of Peep Show and a movie in the same year.

[@dizzyandwasted]

Magical musical breakup hospital

[@PurpleHumunkuliWithCheesePlez]

Yo hey andrew i dont know if u knew but if u didnt i thought u would like to know u can watch sophies dad get murked by a hemeroid mouthed alien in the first min of a doctor who episode? Its series 4 ep 3 n its funnas af, Also u can watch allan johnson get murked too by a dalek in series one? That ones even funnier cuz he proper acts like johnson for all his screen time even he death rattle could be a johnsonism

[@charlesandhisworld]

Happy birthday happy birthday

[@Hazza1495]

Love all your content! Hoping for more, someday!

[@Maesterful]

I am James Bond 😎

[@eadweard.]

Penny is pretty mint tbf.

[@davidz3879]

Do you mean for her age, or do you rank her highly among female PS characters?

[@eadweard.]

@@davidz3879Neither. She's just fit. But I think in retrospect it's more that she's hot, as well as simply physically attractive. There are many of the latter in PS (namely Big Suze) but they're all gormless, mental or both. I can't think of any who are actually hot.

[@davidz3879]

@@eadweard. How about April? She's of above average looks & isn't gormless or mental.

[@eadweard.]

@@davidz3879 April not gormless, really?? Plus she's perhaps the least sexual entity in the entire show,. perhaps with the exception of Barney.

[@davidz3879]

@@eadweard. She's a historian, has a university degree & is a college lecturer. She's clearly intelligent & well-educated.

[@BrendanTregear]

I wonder how Sophie would react to learning of her mother's affair with Jeremy? Also, in a later episode when Mark is looking good an excuse to call it off, her could have used that information

[@davidz3879]

A one-off, not an affair. Why does Penny have a positive view of Mark, to the extent that she's in favour of the marriage?

[@RenegadeShepard69]

@@davidz3879 David Z the legend is here. True, It's a bit underdeveloped just why Penny would support that marriage. But the thing is, Penny doesn't really care much about her marriage to Ian being loveless and dry, maybe she thinks Sophie could always turn out like her and cheat if she regrets it later? like it's not a big deal, she is not ashamed of her failed marriage, probably thinks a nice cottage, wealth and comfort are all there is about it and Mark seems like a right Ian type.

[@davidz3879]

@@RenegadeShepard69 If Penny sees Mark as similar to Ian, her being in favour of the marriage makes even less sense. She wouldn't want her daughter to also be in an unhappy marriage.

[@jamesgolightly5320]

#8 pls

[@bobsbigboy_]

continue the series mate

[@IllusoryMaze]

I do notice that missing mirror every time as well.

[@tifhoffman3018]

Yessss finally this felt like it took ages to come out. Cheers And 👍

[@5HADOWS]

where is number 8?! and the rest ???

[@thomasjohnson8391]

First appearance of the chapman family

[@kriddz]

it's got a bit of a head on it

[@Microtonal_Cats]

Barn burning worked, but seemed so out of place, I had to check to see if Michael Bay was guest director.

[@ritchyfox]

Sophie doesn't appear often because she doesn't really have to in series 4. It's about Mark#s struggle about what he really wants, he likes the idea of Sophie and the idea of getting married, but not the reality.

[@jamesatkinsonja]

Olivia Colman has always been a very busy actress so availability was probably an issue even in the early series despite her loyalty to Mitchell + Webb [series 8 is the only one Sophie is absent completely due to Broadchurch much to Colman's regret] but as you say it fits into Mark's character [also him being paranoid when Sophie is in Bristol in series 3].

[@number_1_edward771]

On shrooms while watching this wish I had a coffee outlet

[@msthang5366]

My SHOW

[@me99826]

Would be no harm mentioning the elements that didnt work for you too, as in why it is at number 9 rather than number 1! Its a great ep but i dont think Barney or whatever his name is works tbh, is he supposed to be odd or mental? The performance doesnt really work tbh. I have a feeling you agree.

[@davidz3879]

Yes, Jamie's one-off appearance doesn't really add anything. He's only onscreen for a few minutes & serves only to admire & annoy Jez.

[@RenegadeShepard69]

Yeah if he had been the second actor - who ended up being a different character - instead it would've been better.

[@jontybregazzi6949]

Where is the other 8 💔

[@noka79]

It's an OK episode

[@MarkCorrigan.]

I don’t know if this is a true Peep show Mystery but Ian Chapman admits to being a homophobe in S4 ep1, yet in S6 E5 when Gale and Elena get engaged, he’s just standing there carelessly watching them kiss without any agitation or disgust, it’s also weird how Jeremy says in his head ‘Where have all the homophobes gone?’ When he was the one to say Ian was a homophobe in the first place, I always never understood why they added Ian admitting to being a homophobe if he wouldn’t actually wince at homosexual actions. But yeah that’s just a theory, a peep show theory…

[@pigknickers2975]

You got British London in on that?

[@MarkCorrigan.]

@@pigknickers2975 2 grand… why?

[@LiterallyMark1]

What I want to know is the music in the clothes shop

[@mossryder]

Bummer.

[@davidz3879]

We never find out if Penny is cheating on Ian with Dan.

[@SteRDLK]

Yeah we do, do you not remember the scene where the hidden cameras show them banging?

[@edmundblackaddercoc8522]

The only thing about PS is the anti white sentiments. It's like they are having a crack on several episodes.what's that about?

[@cameronspalding9792]

First one here!!

[@jasewildheart]

Your videos are great but I'd do less of the quoting of the show .

[@bobsbigboy_]

FINISH THIS SERIES FFS!!!!!