They were just using his confidence to accentuate his subsequent fall from grace, which we all knew would be coming along very soon after. 
Peep Show - Series 6 Page 15
Quote: Aaron @ September 19 2009, 2:52 PM BSTThat annoyed me. I've never heard anyone in this country use the insult 'douchebag'..
Really? Although very rarely, that insult does get used in this country sometimes. Usually in a very self-aware way, much like how Mark used it. But I'm sure some people, especially younger kids, use it seriously, probably picking it up from American TV shows or shows such as Bo Selecta.
I enjoyed this episode. The second half was much better than the first. It's great how they shook things up straight away by stripping away what has been, quite consistently, the centre point for most storylines...the JLB offices. It really forces these characters to move on and that is what you want from a new series.
The mini-protest in the office at the end was great. Gerard tipping over the computer monitor with a look of childish glee on his face. Jez ripping his shirt off. And of course the fire extinguisher scene.
Quote: Aaron @ September 19 2009, 2:52 PM BSTThat annoyed me. I've never heard anyone in this country use the insult 'douchebag', and Mark doesn't strike me as the kind of character who'd be immersed enough in American popular culture in order to pick it up.
I think he was just so carried away trying to be 'cool' and the leader of JLB Survivors that he thought of the coolest, most biting insult he could think of.
Another thing I've noticed in at least 2 these later episodes is a really clunky and unsubtle use of exposition.
Epiosde 5 of series 5 (the Christian music festival ep) begins with Jez saying
"Aw man! Record company meeting - finally!"
...and in the first episode of this new 6th series, Mark says near the beginning
"I don't want to pay you for domestic chores. That's why I'm abusing my management position to get you challenging work at JLB"
That sort of dialogue makes me cringe slightly because it is so obviously done for the sake of exposition and the old episodes managed to avoid doing that.
And Mark referring to Russell Brand and 'lovely Andrew Sachs' sounded so shoe-horned in to me and it seemed like it was just a way of showing how 'up to date' the show is - like when that first new episode of 'The Royle Family' made references to Noel Edmonds & 'Deal or No Deal' and the new 'Doctor Who' series.
I think it was a good opener however clearly it is becoming broader and broader and basically a different sitcom to the one in the first two series. That in a way was similar to The Office in that each word was pefectly chosen and there were quite a lot of nice poetic statements, and it wasn't particularly trying hard to be funny. However, clearly as they are stretching it out for several series it couldn't go on like that forever as Bain and Armstrong have probably run out of all the ideas they had when they first created Peep Show.
I have little evidence to support this, but for some reason it feels like a modern day On The Buses.
Quote: Ronnie Anderson @ September 19 2009, 7:10 PM BSTit wasn't particularly trying hard to be funny.
That is spot on - a perfect way to describe series 1 and 2. It was written and acted and filmed in such a way that made it seem like a fly-on-the wall documentary that you could (scarily) relate to and you found your own things funny about particular lines and situations the characters got in depending on whether you experienced them or not.
This show wasn't meant to get as mainstream as it has done.
Frankly all this nostalgia for the past is nonsense. Sorry, but it has developed as any sitcom/show must if it is to prolong its longevity. For what it's worth the show became consistently brilliant from series 3 onwards.
I agree that it had to develop the way it has in order to be long running. I think most people will agree that all five series have been of a high standard though I guess it is personal perference which era was best- I personally think the first two series were amazingly origianl whereas the last three despite being funny have become quite 'sitcomy'.
Hmmm - Bain and Armstrong have always said it's a traditional sitcom in an original format. The fact that people are only just realising that by series 6 is a tribute to the writing. Still the best thing on TV at the moment. Maybe more shows should have two writers.
I enjoyed the first episode until I read this thread but now I hate it and all it stands for.
Surely his new found confidence came from his promotion which was quickly squashed? I do agree on the exposition though.
Also am I the only person who thinks David Mitchell's eyes look a bit like the guy's looking out of the car in the anti drugs adverts? For legal reasons I'm not suggesting anything other than he has lovely big brown eyes.
Quote: Tim Walker @ September 20 2009, 2:41 AM BSTFrankly all this nostalgia for the past is nonsense. Sorry, but it has developed as any sitcom/show must if it is to prolong its longevity.
Yep.
Quote: Jane P @ September 20 2009, 12:02 PM BSTSurely his new found confidence came from his promotion which was quickly squashed?
Yep.
Try writing a 23 and a half-minute script which tells a complete story, without a single line of exposition. Trust me, it's virtually impossible. All one can do is keep them to an absolute minimum and try not to make them glaring. Which Sam & Jesse achieve, in my view. If you're watching any programme as a writer, as opposed to just watching it as a fan wanting to be entertained, you will always find something to complain about.
There was far more exposition in Fawlty Towers, Partridge and just about any other revered sitcom I can think of.
Quote: Tim Walker @ September 20 2009, 12:15 PM BSTTry writing a 23 and a half-minute script which tells a complete story, without a single line of exposition. Trust me, it's virtually impossible. All one can do is keep them to an absolute minimum and try not to make them glaring. Which Sam & Jesse achieve, in my view. If you're watching any programme as a writer, as opposed to just watching it as a fan wanting to be entertained, you will always find something to complain about.
There was far more exposition in Fawlty Towers, Partridge and just about any other revered sitcom I can think of.
I agree. It's very hard to do that.
Jez starting work at JLB and having his own office area reminded me too much of that series 2 episode where he gets a job in an office, working for Toni, and ends up having an affair with her whilst being married to Nancy. They really are starting to go over old ground now, like they did with the '£20 note/Queen' gag.
Quote: Jane P @ September 20 2009, 12:02 PM BSTAlso am I the only person who thinks David Mitchell's eyes look a bit like the guy's looking out of the car in the anti drugs adverts? For legal reasons I'm not suggesting anything other than he has lovely big brown eyes.
Ha!
The first time I watched I was convinced he was wearing some weird contacts for comedy purposes.