The original vs. its American remake
Which is better and why?
Which is better and why?
The Office (UK) vs. The Office (US)
- Thread starter Joe Washington
- Start date
Rii
Rear Admiral
What about all the other versions? 
I've only seen the UK version. Irritatingly, it's only the US version that's available on DVD here at reasonable prices. I haven't bothered as yet to check out the US version as outside The Simpsons I've yet to see an American sitcom that I like.
I've only seen the UK version. Irritatingly, it's only the US version that's available on DVD here at reasonable prices. I haven't bothered as yet to check out the US version as outside The Simpsons I've yet to see an American sitcom that I like.
I think The Office (US vs. UK) is one of the rare cross-Atlantic series in which your favorite one is typically going to be the one that you saw first.
I saw the US Office before I ever saw the UK Office, and I prefer the US Office. The UK Office just didn't seem "right" to me, even though it was the original upon which the US version was based. I liked seeing how the different characters matched up version for version, but overall I prefer the US version.
I saw the US Office before I ever saw the UK Office, and I prefer the US Office. The UK Office just didn't seem "right" to me, even though it was the original upon which the US version was based. I liked seeing how the different characters matched up version for version, but overall I prefer the US version.
I think they're both good for different reasons. They go in different directions, and end up pretty distinct from each other. I think the comedy in the US show is broader, which allows it to appeal to a wider audience. But the UK original exceeds it in that "uncomfortable" zone where it's almost painful to watch what these characters are doing.
Tough.
The US version is definitely funnier but it's more of a sitcom with people breaking the fourth wall. The people don't seem real but from "Hollywood-land", not that's its a bad thing but it takes you more out of reality but is more entertaining.
As for the UK version it feels like a doco and not a sitcom. The people seem more real and it is more uncomfortable than funny, which further cements it in reality. It has an ending as well, which makes a difference.
I enjoy both and given I saw the UK version first I have a higher respect for it than the US version. I also watch them for different reasons. I watch the US more for the comedy, while I watch the UK version for the emotional journey you travel with the characters. So I don't see one as better than the other, for me they are different beasts and I enjoy them both for different reasons.
The US version is definitely funnier but it's more of a sitcom with people breaking the fourth wall. The people don't seem real but from "Hollywood-land", not that's its a bad thing but it takes you more out of reality but is more entertaining.
As for the UK version it feels like a doco and not a sitcom. The people seem more real and it is more uncomfortable than funny, which further cements it in reality. It has an ending as well, which makes a difference.
I enjoy both and given I saw the UK version first I have a higher respect for it than the US version. I also watch them for different reasons. I watch the US more for the comedy, while I watch the UK version for the emotional journey you travel with the characters. So I don't see one as better than the other, for me they are different beasts and I enjoy them both for different reasons.
I think this sums up my feelings on the shows as well. I like to watch the US Office when I'm looking for a laugh, and while I like the characters none of them feel 'real'. While on the other hand I feel like I could walk into an office and actually find a Tim, Dawn or heaven forbid David Brent. The UK Office took the documentary style and really ran with it, even going so far as to have the characters disconnect the mike during a particularly emotional conversation.
Most of the time, especially in the most recent seasons, the characters on the US Office don't even act as if there IS a camera around anymore. It's changed into more of a regular dramedy type show than a faux-documentary and perhaps that's why some people don't like the more recent seasons as they did the older ones.
Personally I did watch the UK Office first, back in 2006, and then caught the first season of the US on DVD. I think I was turned off the US Office at first because it was such a paint by numbers copy of the original. Once I started watching the second season and the show began its own stories I liked it better, but for different reasons than the UK version.
The Office still isn't necessarily appointment TV for me (9:00 on Thursdays is a busy TV time after all) but I do make sure I catch it on Hulu or NBC later.
I agree here.
I only managed to watch 5-6 episodes of the UK version before I quit. It just seemed odd, and it made me uncomfortable. The US version has awkward moments that make me uncomfortable, too, but they do it in a funny way ("The Dinner Party" is a good example of this).
I've been watching the UK version over the last few days since Hulu added it. Overall, I don't much like it. I don't like how crass a lot of the humor is. That's a problem I have with the US show too, but the UK version just goes overboard with it. David Brent is so much worse than Michael Scott. I want to set "Finchy" on fire. The ONE improvement I see is Gareth over Dwight, and that's just because Gareth is a realistic character & Dwight is not. Well, & Tim's relentless pranks on Gareth are amusing.
But yeah, I like the US version much better.
But yeah, I like the US version much better.
This.
Checkmate
Commodore
They're both interesting in their own way. Neither is really "better" than the other since one is only based upon the other. As others have said, the US version is a sitcom where the UK one is more of the typical British dry, straight-faced kind of awkwardness.
The only thing I really found odd was how much John Krasinski is parroting Martin Freeman performance. In pretty much every way, right down to his mannerisms and speech patterns. Not even Keith and Kevin are that much alike. Not sure if I'm impressed or disappointed by it, either. Leaning towards disappointed.
The only thing I really found odd was how much John Krasinski is parroting Martin Freeman performance. In pretty much every way, right down to his mannerisms and speech patterns. Not even Keith and Kevin are that much alike. Not sure if I'm impressed or disappointed by it, either. Leaning towards disappointed.
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