I'm Leaving A Tenner And A Note.

[rionaleonhart]

Oh, my goodness, the episode of Peep Show in which Mark pretends to be a university student genuinely breaks my heart. There's none of the nightmarish humiliation of most episodes; it's just sad. Mark has everything he wants - a degree he's good at and interested in, a girl who likes him - and he can't keep it, because it's all based on a lie. Oh, Mark. (It's episode four of the second series; you can watch it here on 4oD, if you're in the UK. Other links: here on YouTube (also UK-only, and you'll need an account for age verification), and here on Hulu (US-only). It's about twenty-five minutes long.)

I love Mark Corrigan. I can't think of any fictional character to whom I can relate more, and isn't that frightening? Fortunately, I don't have quite so much repressed anger, or a Jeremy to lead me into horrific situations. Less fortunately, I'd probably be a rubbish loan manager.

Er, in case anyone unfamiliar with Peep Show clicks on the above link and finds themselves confused by the unusual filming: every shot in Peep Show is filmed from the perspective of a character. You can hear the thoughts of the main characters, Mark and Jeremy, in voice-over. Which is ingenious, really, because an incredibly socially awkward character like Mark can work only when you can see inside his head. (Also, be warned that the humour is very much not to everyone's taste, although the above episode shouldn't be too embarrassment-squicky.)

I've also rewatched episode four of series one (4oD, or here on YouTube, or here on Hulu if you're in the US), the episode in which Alan Johnson inspires a massive sexuality crisis in Mark, and I have come to the conclusion that I am totally not a bad person for writing Mark/Jeremy fanfiction. That episode is clearly all about their love. Mark can never be happy unless he leaves Jeremy, and he can never leave Jeremy because their love, if awful and life-destroying, is too powerful for him to escape. (The scene in the sushi bar actually makes me 'awww' aloud. 'If I keep smiling, maybe he won't... leave.')

It's almost enough to make me want to write more Peep Show fanfiction.

I shouldn't write more Peep Show fanfiction. (Although Mark and Jeremy are, I have discovered, extremely fun to write.)

Comments

[bubbles-san.livejournal.com]

Now see, the first time she mentioned "Mark and Jeremy" I thought she meant Mark Owen and Jeremy Clarkson and that... was a very strange thought indeed. (I realized almost immediately that I was off by a bit, but, you know, once seen can't unsee.)

[dracothelizard.livejournal.com]

That's the thought I had when Riona wrote about a dream a couple of days ago where Peep Show Mark and Jeremy snogged and Mark was horrified, and I went 'well, of course Owen would be horrified, it's Clarkson.'

I do vote Jeremy Clarkson/Peep Show Jeremy now, mostly because it'll scare Peep Show!Mark half to death.

[amy-wolf.livejournal.com]

I thought that as well. I nearly said something, but I wasn't sure if Riona would have any idea of who Mark Owen is.

[dracothelizard.livejournal.com]

Now I think that all interpretations of Mark/Jeremy are just completely horrifiying to Mark, be it Peep Show Mark/Peep Show Jeremy, Peep Show Mark/Jeremy Clarkson, Mark Owen/Peep Show Jeremy or Mark Owen/Jeremy Clarkson.

Maybe it's something about the name Jeremy.

[amy-wolf.livejournal.com]

And Mark Owen does not seem like he'd enjoy being involved with Peep Show Jeremy, either.

[dracothelizard.livejournal.com]

I think Mark Owen should just get involved with Peep Show Mark and then leave the two Jeremys with each other.