Are You Being Served? Season 3 Episode 3 Up Captain Peacock
- March 13, 1975
- 29 min
-
7.7 (218)
In the third season of the classic British sitcom, Are You Being Served?, the zany staff of the fictional Grace Brothers department store continue to serve up hilarity and hijinks. In episode three, titled "Up Captain Peacock," the focus is on the store's suave and dapper floorwalker, Captain Stephen Peacock.
Peacock, played by Frank Thornton, is a stickler for rules, always impeccably dressed, and never without his captain's hat. He's a bit of a ladies' man, too, always flirting with the store's female customers and staff. But in "Up Captain Peacock," he finds himself in an unfamiliar position: he's under scrutiny from the store's management, who are considering promoting him to a more senior position.
Throughout the episode, the staff at Grace Brothers comment on Peacock's rumored promotion. Mrs. Slocombe, the laid-back assistant in the store's ladies' department, is skeptical that Peacock is capable of handling more responsibility. "I don't think Captain Peacock's cut out for management," she tells her colleague, Miss Brahms.
But Peacock is determined to prove them wrong. He sets about ingratiating himself with the management team, doing everything he can to show off his skills and make himself indispensable. He starts dressing even more impeccably than usual, polishing his captain's hat until it gleams, and speaking in a more formal and authoritative tone.
Meanwhile, the rest of the staff are starting to feel the effects of Peacock's ambition. He's becoming increasingly demanding, issuing orders and instructions as if he's already been promoted. His colleagues chafe at his newfound sense of authority, and start to plot against him.
Their opportunity comes when Peacock is put in charge of the store's annual charity drive. He decides to auction off some valuable luxury products to raise money, but when the items are stolen, he's left holding the bag. The rest of the staff see this as the perfect opportunity to undermine Peacock's bid for a promotion.
In the end, Peacock's dream of promotion is dashed, but he remains undeterred. He's determined to work even harder and prove himself to the management team, no matter what it takes. The episode ends with him donning his captain's hat once again and striding off into the store, ready to face whatever challenges come his way.
"Up Captain Peacock" is a classic Are You Being Served? episode, full of the show's trademark blend of physical comedy, witty one-liners, and colorful characters. Peacock's character is a great foil for the more laid-back Slocombe and the irreverent Miss Brahms, and the episode's central conflict - whether or not Peacock is cut out for a promotion - is both amusing and relatable. Fans of the show will appreciate the episode's offbeat sense of humor, as well as its sharp commentary on workplace dynamics and office politics. All in all, "Up Captain Peacock" is a solid entry in the hilarious and beloved Are You Being Served? canon.