Peep Show's 'Holiday' Is Possibly TV's Most Uncomfortable Sitcom Episode

Peep Show places viewers directly inside the minds of two dysfunctional, self-centered men: Mark Corrigan and Jeremy “Jez” Usbourne. The series uses point-of-view camera work and hears the characters’ inner thoughts, a technique that sharpens its cringe comedy and dark themes.

Creators Sam Bain and Jesse Armstrong have described the show as examining the “stubborn persistence of human suffering,” and that bleak streak runs through all nine seasons. The fourth-season penultimate episode, “Holiday,” pushes the series’ tone to an extreme.

A stag weekend becomes the backdrop for Mark’s growing doubts about marrying Sophie, while Jez pursues Aurora and accidentally runs over the family dog, Mummy. Attempts to hide the corpse fail: the remains are partially burned and stuffed into a bag, Jez pretends it is turkey and even eats meat from a limb in front of the family, until Aurora finds the dog’s collar and the pair are thrown off the boat.

peep show, holiday, mark corrigan, jeremy usbourne, sam bain, jesse armstrong, cringe comedy, camera work, stag weekend, penultimate episode