Season 3, Episode 2: "Sectioning"

"He was running around with his cock out, saying it was on fire!"

Mark and Jez get their friend sectioned.

- This is one of the more depressing episodes, and I tend to avoid it whenever I want to casually watch a Peep Show. It also only has one plotline (with a bit of Mark/Sophie stuff off to the side) and gets a tad boring. That said, a boring Peep Show is better than anything else, bar none.

- We’re introduced here to Canadian Mary, from Mark and Jez’ days at Dartie. This is, so far as I recall, one of the show’s two references to Canada; the second comes in season six, when Gail (Elena’s fiancée) is said to have family in Quebec.

- Super Hans mentions that he once ran a pub.

- Mark can’t even enjoy a day at the carnival with his girlfriend. As Jez says to him later in the episode, “Mark, do you have to live quite so relentlessly in the real world?”

- Barbara at JLB is mentioned once again.

- Super Hans mentions his disdain for “logos in the foam” again, as he did in his very first appearance.

- It’s implied that Mark and Mary have hooked up; to be specific, that’s how Jez remembers it and, when pressed, Mark dodges the issue.

- Super Hans’ proposed name for the pub, “Free the Paedos,” is one of the show’s funnier bits.

- The El Dude Brothers horn makes an appearance.

- This is the first mention of Mark and Jez’ friend Pedge – one of those sitcom characters who is mentioned but never seen. In this episode, we discover that he works at HMV.

- It’s said that Pedge also knows Mary – implying, perhaps, that he went to Dartie with Mark and Jez. If that’s the case – and if I’m remembering my later episodes correctly – it may be that Mark and Jez met Super Hans through Pedge (I get the impression later that Pedge and Super Hans are good friends, but I might be making that up).

- A “European Bob” is mentioned, but, unlike Pedge, I don’t think we ever hear of him again. One gets the sense that Mark has met all his friends through Jez, given how strange they are.

- Super Hans really shines in this one; he has a stake in the proceedings and actively gets involved. He’s a good character to have in the background doing funny things, but it’s also nice to have him come to the forefront now and again.

- It’s implied that Sophie might have slept with someone in Bristol. Later on (I think!) she tells Jez that she’s only been with four guys. Up to now, we have Jeff, Mark, possibly the Bristol guy and then, presumably, whoever the first guy is.

Mark gets barred from Free the Paedos

Quotes:
- Mark: I’m just a normal, functioning member of the human race, and there’s no way anybody can prove otherwise.

- Super Hans: I’m really particular about the kind of establishment I run, though. It needs to make a political statement; a very strong political statement.
Jez: Does it? Are you sure? Because I really don’t think it does – if it’s a pub.

- Super Hans: “People like Coldplay and voting for the Nazis; you can’t trust people.” – not a statement I’d disagree with.

- Jez to Mark: “You’re loving this, aren’t you?” – a phrase that pops up occasionally, said by either one of them.

- Super Hans, making out as though Mark is insane: “He thinks there’s a pigeon in Catalonia who’s in control of his legs!”

UK Stuff:
- NHS Direct: Via Wikipedia, a “health advice and information service” over the telephone, presumably not unlike our Telehealth Ontario. This is pretty clear from the episode itself, of course.

- Sectioning: A UK term which, clearly, means to be institutionalized involuntarily. A good word, that one. I keep meaning to use it in everyday life, but always forget.

War References:
- Again, none. Very bizarre. Super Hans does mention Nazis generally, though.