What's so great about The Office UK?

[Ethros]

It's one of the funniest TV shows I've ever seen, but I can only speak from my perspective. I suppose it does have a certain je ne sais quoi that doesn't translate.

Still, I think Noel Gallagher once put it best-
"Americans just fundamentally do not get it. That is the one thing about Yanks, right? They. Do. Not. Get. It. Whatever it is, they don't f*****g get it."

 

[Too Much Fun]

I'm a classic TV junkie. I generally prefer to watch older TV shows over and over again (about once a year or once every other year, if I can find the time) if I really liked them the first time I watched them. The U.K. version of "The Office" is one of the few shows I have no desire to see ever again after seeing it once. I did like it the first time I saw it, but I don't think it has a lot of re-watch value.

I love the character and performance from Ricky Gervais, but what surprised me about the show was how depressing it was. Too depressing for me to enjoy watching multiple times. I respect how much realism has gone into it (which contributes to how depressing it is), but just because something is original and done well doesn't mean it's fun to watch. I've always been baffled by people who go all elitist about this show and insist it's ten times better than the American version.

I think the first four seasons of the American version are not only just as good as the U.K. version, but better. Notice how I say only the first four. In my opinion, the absolute best thing about the "The Office" U.K. is that Stephen Merchant and Ricky Gervais were smart enough to end it when they wanted to, on their terms, so that it would end up a self-contained story that never 'jumps the shark'. It may not reach the heights that the U.S. version did in its prime seasons, but at least it never hit the lows that the American show has hit in recent seasons. This made the characters better too. The U.K. version of Dwight, for example, never turned into the insufferable caricature Dwight has become, because the series ended before he could.

Another great thing about the series is that it ended so perfectly. The end of the Christmas special was actually uplifting (without seeming like a jarring, sloppy tone shift from the tone previously established in the series) and left the characters in a good place. This was tremendously satisfying after how much hell the characters had been through prior to the finale. The fact that their hell gave more power to the finale almost made that depressing stuff in the rest of the series worth enduring...almost.

 

[RoJoHen]

^I know what you mean. The characters in the US version may seem like a big joke, but I can think of several people in offices I've worked in that match their descriptions frighteningly well. It's a more realistic show than I'd like to believe.

Absolutely. Real people are fucking weird.

 

[Mr. Adventure]

I never got into it either on the couple of attempts I made at watching it and I like a lot of Brit stuff and think Ricky Gervais is really funny. Maybe I should try it again now that I'm more familiar with Ricky.

 

[Bob The Skutter]

I've tried watching The Office a few times and I've never liked it. Don't see what's so good about it. Though to be fair there's only so much of Ricky Gervais I can stand.

 

[MichaelDornFan]

Different countries have different senses of humor... The UK version is British humor, and the US version is American humor.

The only Americans I know who like the British version are the intellectual-wannabe types who are very concerned with making sure everyone thinks they're smart and sophisticated.

 

[DevilEyes]

I love the British version, myself, because it's a very contained, well-written story arc. David and Tim both have a strong start, middle, and end to their stories, and that really appeals to me. The US version I could never get into since it feels far less real. It's just another sitcom where the characters get up to vaguely wacky hijinks every week.

I like US The Office, but UK The Office was a really great show that lasted exactly as long as it should have, and had a perfect ending. But it's not a classic sitcom - there are other British shows that are, but this one wasn't, it was as much drama as it was comedy, and the documentary feel was a big part of the appeal. It really was quite depressing, though - and the funniest parts were also those that made you feel really embarrassed for the characters (David Brent, mostly).

As for the characters, I think the US version did a good job with Michael Scott, he's a good character in his own right even though it was a tough job following up on Ricky Gervais' David Brent. But the biggest difference in the two versions, for me, is that Tim was a much more sympathetic character than Jim, and I cared about him and Dawn a great deal more than I ever did about Jim and Pam; while Dwight is very different from Gareth, a lot more likable but also less convincing and more of a caricature. Gareth was a complete jerk, but he was a very realistic character. Dwight is way too out there. On the other hand, the US version makes up for the (IMO) less compelling central characters with developing many of the supporting characters a lot more than the UK version did (maybe because it lasted shorter).

I'm sure someone else said this already, but I suppose it just depends on your ability to enjoy British humor. The UK version of The Office is about as strong a brand of British comedy as you're going to get. If British comedy is not your thing, or if it tends to be hit/miss with you, then there's a good chance you're not going to dig The Office.

Nothing wrong with that. It sure as hell isn't for everyone.

That's a very broad statement. How many popular UK comedy series have you watched? Have you seen "Only Fools and Horses"? That's a completely different brand of humor than "The Office", and a lot more like a classic character comedy combined with drama. And there are lots of shows which are very much like classic sitcoms, like "Coupling". What about "Allo Allo"? A laugh-out-loud farce, not subtle at all. Then there's the satire of "Blackadder". Then the surrealist humor of "Monty Python's Flying Circus". There is no such thing as "British humor", since there are lots of different types of British humor.

 

[barnaclelapse]

I love the British version, myself, because it's a very contained, well-written story arc. David and Tim both have a strong start, middle, and end to their stories, and that really appeals to me. The US version I could never get into since it feels far less real. It's just another sitcom where the characters get up to vaguely wacky hijinks every week.

I like US The Office, but UK The Office was a really great show that lasted exactly as long as it should have, and had a perfect ending. But it's not a classic sitcom - there are other British shows that are, but this one wasn't, it was as much drama as it was comedy, and the documentary feel was a big part of the appeal. It really was quite depressing, though - and the funniest parts were also those that made you feel really embarrassed for the characters (David Brent, mostly).

As for the characters, I think the US version did a good job with Michael Scott, he's a good character in his own right even though it was a tough job following up on Ricky Gervais' David Brent. But the biggest difference in the two versions, for me, is that Tim was a much more sympathetic character than Jim, and I cared about him and Dawn a great deal more than I ever did about Jim and Pam; while Dwight is very different from Gareth, a lot more likable but also less convincing and more of a caricature. Gareth was a complete jerk, but he was a very realistic character. Dwight is way too out there. On the other hand, the US version makes up for the (IMO) less compelling central characters with developing many of the supporting characters a lot more than the UK version did (maybe because it lasted shorter).

I'm sure someone else said this already, but I suppose it just depends on your ability to enjoy British humor. The UK version of The Office is about as strong a brand of British comedy as you're going to get. If British comedy is not your thing, or if it tends to be hit/miss with you, then there's a good chance you're not going to dig The Office.

Nothing wrong with that. It sure as hell isn't for everyone.

That's a very broad statement. How many popular UK comedy series have you watched? Have you "Only Fools and Horses"? That's a completely different brand of humor than "The Office", and a lot more like a classic character comedy combined with drama. And there are lots of shows which are very much like classic sitcoms, like "Coupling". What about "Allo Allo"? A laugh-out-loud farce, not subtle at all. Then there's the satire of "Blackadder". Then the surrealist humor of "Monty Python's Flying Circus". There is no such thing as "British humor", since there are lots of different types of British humor.

You're absolutely right. I was being broad, and I'm familiar with most of those shows. I guess I was referring to British humor in a very general sense because most people don't look at it as specifically as you do (which of course isn't fair at all to those shows since they are as varied in tone and style as any other country's output of comedy).

 

[Mr Light]

I only saw it once but I recall Tim being an absolute asshole towards Gareth to the point where I didn't like the character. Jim's pranks on Dwight are pretty innocent and the result of Dwight being a dick to him first.

 

[Saxman1]

I am usually a huge fan of Brit TV, but I don't like the show or Ricky Gervais, period. I've also seen the first season of the US version and don't like that either. Here is one huge reason: I worked for and was fired by a clone of the office manager character in real life. He was just as clueless, racist, you name it. He's still there and over a year later I'm still unemployed with an MBA, so no, I don't find it the least bit funny.

Even if I'd been able to land something before he got rid of me, I'd never find the show anything but depressing. Glorifying jerks is not funny. I have a neighbor who thinks it's the funniest thing in the universe and he works for the female version of the office manager character. Then again, he spends a great deal of his waking hours drunk, so that may have something to do with it.

 

[M'rk son of Mogh]

Glorifying jerks is not funny.

They're not glorified. It's called satire. It's not meant to glorify any of the characters.

 

[Canadave]

I am usually a huge fan of Brit TV, but I don't like the show or Ricky Gervais, period. I've also seen the first season of the US version and don't like that either. Here is one huge reason: I worked for and was fired by a clone of the office manager character in real life. He was just as clueless, racist, you name it. He's still there and over a year later I'm still unemployed with an MBA, so no, I don't find it the least bit funny.

Even if I'd been able to land something before he got rid of me, I'd never find the show anything but depressing. Glorifying jerks is not funny. I have a neighbor who thinks it's the funniest thing in the universe and he works for the female version of the office manager character. Then again, he spends a great deal of his waking hours drunk, so that may have something to do with it.

As M'rk said, it doesn't really glorify David, at all. In fact, you're suppose to both dislike him and feel a bit sorry for him at the same time, because he just doesn't realize that everyone he thinks likes him and looks up to him think that he is a jerk. His storyline is actually quite redemptive.

 

[Saxman1]

Glorifying jerks is not funny.

They're not glorified. It's called satire. It's not meant to glorify any of the characters.

I understand what satire is. I just don't like shows about jerks. As I said, I was let go by that type of person in real life and he, too thought everyone loved him. Having been out of work for over a year because of that ass isn't going to make me feel like it's the most hilarious thing in the world. I think I'm just getting too old for sitcoms in general. If I've offended any big fans of the show, sorry.

 

[M'rk son of Mogh]

Glorifying jerks is not funny.

They're not glorified. It's called satire. It's not meant to glorify any of the characters.

I understand what satire is. I just don't like shows about jerks. As I said, I was let go by that type of person in real life and he, too thought everyone loved him. Having been out of work for over a year because of that ass isn't going to make me feel like it's the most hilarious thing in the world. I think I'm just getting too old for sitcoms in general. If I've offended any big fans of the show, sorry.

It would seem your dislike of the show isn't anything the show is doing wrong, then, it just unfortunately hits too close to home. That really is a different (but JUST as valid!!) argument.

It's ironic that a comedy deisigned to make us laugh when we need it most could also be the cause of more negative emotions.

I hope things pick up for you, really and truly!!

 

[The Grim Ghost]

I only saw it once but I recall Tim being an absolute asshole towards Gareth to the point where I didn't like the character. Jim's pranks on Dwight are pretty innocent and the result of Dwight being a dick to him first.

I disagree so much on this. But 1st let me be upfront and say that I prefer the UK version on every possible level.

I found Jim to be much more prickish and bullying than Tim ever was.

That aside, I like the darker aspects of the UK version. It better captures the feeling of working in a soulless office environment and the characters are much more realistic to me.

The US version had to give everything a 'wacky' slant, dumbed everything down and generally just sucked out the parts of the show that made the UK version so unique.

 

[Saxman1]

They're not glorified. It's called satire. It's not meant to glorify any of the characters.

I understand what satire is. I just don't like shows about jerks. As I said, I was let go by that type of person in real life and he, too thought everyone loved him. Having been out of work for over a year because of that ass isn't going to make me feel like it's the most hilarious thing in the world. I think I'm just getting too old for sitcoms in general. If I've offended any big fans of the show, sorry.

It would seem your dislike of the show isn't anything the show is doing wrong, then, it just unfortunately hits too close to home. That really is a different (but JUST as valid!!) argument.

It's ironic that a comedy deisigned to make us laugh when we need it most could also be the cause of more negative emotions.

I hope things pick up for you, really and truly!!

Thanks and for all of you for your patience!

 

[Pemmer Harge]

There is no such thing as "British humor", since there are lots of different types of British humor.

Indeed. As I recall, The Office was fairly unusual when it started. There were other shows that anticipated it - People Like Us for the mockumentary approach, The Royle Family for the naturalistic style - but it still felt very fresh and different from the sort of sitcoms that were around in the '90s.

Anyway, personally I love the show. I do think it's very funny, although a large part of it is "cringe comedy", which British people seem to love. I don't know how well that translates to other countries. In addition, the story of Tim and Dawn and the general pathos surrounding David Brent give it a certain depth that some sitcoms lack.