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 Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2007 11:07 pm
 The Office (UK) (US)
If you love The Office in any or all of its forms then join me in singing praise, quoting, and overall fangeeking about one of the most interesting and ingenious shows on both UK and US airwaves within the past 7 years.
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Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2007 11:55 pm
I just watched the US one. Parts are funny, but overall, the timing tends to be off on their jokes and just doesn't hold so well.
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Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2007 2:17 am
How far did you watch? Season 1 is meh but in Season 2 the show stopped trying to be the "American Office" and became its own show. The American show doesn't have as quick dialog, it focuses more on people pausing then the UK show.
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Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2007 12:26 pm
Here is my personal analysis on the two "versions" of The Office.
UK Office Pros:
- Well, it's the original. All the other Office shows (the American, Canadian, German, and French) have to live up to the UK's extremely well crafted awkward situations and dialog. The UK Office gets automatic 'points' for the idea and basis of the show alone. Without its structural frame work, the US Office would even exist (obviously).
- What makes the show so brilliant is Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant uncompromising goal to make David Brent completely unlikable. Sure, we all love to watch him interact with others, put his own foot in his mouth, twist the socially awkward norm into oblivion- but as a viewer you know if Brent where a real person you would hate him. Where the US show makes Micheal Scott a baboon, he is overall a good guy who you grow to care for; someone you'd like to see 'win' every once in a while. With Brent you only want to see him fail- and you're completely OK with that. Brent is a character that would not be, and was not, given a chance on American television and is “too much” for many US (and UK) viewers to handle. He is also five times more cringe worthy and hilarious.
UK Cons:
- Because the UK series is so short and its focus was primarily on a constant bombardment of minor and major jokes, character development took a back burner. We know a lot of quarks and bits of the characters presented within the show but no characters are particularly endearing as they are repeatedly amusing. Because of such the relationship between Dawn and Tim, while very clever and sqwee worthy, is not as fleshed out as it could have been as the characters themselves are not fleshed out. Dawn is, over all, entirely dull and simply follows Tim like a puppy- although the situation is played as though Tim is the puppy, this is not the case. Tim is the power player within the on screen relationship and Dawn is but a relationship prospect for him and very little more as a character or a woman. Dawn, as all the female characters, lack any real personality beyond a few quirks and one line jokes; which does not stop the UK version from being completely triumphant but it is an aspect of the show that is a bit of let down for being so seemingly character/person oriented.
US Office Pros:
- Character development, and loads of it. The US characters reveal themselves to be what any extensively observed group of people would; far too human. Lives beyond the their work place, lives that carry into their work place, lives that intertwine because of and no thanks to their work place unfold in front of viewers. This handful of well defined characters also allow for callback jokes, tender moments, and genuine hilarity through understanding the characters inner lives and thoughts better then the UK show ever cared to dabble. Pam and Jim's relationship is much more balanced with Pam holding as much screen time, presence, and individual personality as Jim.
US Cons:
- The US show is very much a 'toned down' version of the UK one. Being aired on NBC, a basic cable channel, the show cannot be as explicit (or rather as straight forward) in its dialog, situations, and awkwardness. Everything is just a little bit more mellow in the US Office and while that is not necessarily 'bad' it is a somewhat difficult hurtle to get over when comparing it to/having watched the UK show. The entire first season (which is only 12 episodes long) of the US show isn't all together too impressive because it spends its time relaying altered UK jokes that are watered down too much in their presentation and delivery.
Overall I personally enjoy both series although if I had to pick one I'd pick the original UK Office- but if you're a fan of the original don't instantly assume the American show 'fails'. If you ever decide to pick the US show up, I suggest skipping the first season if you've seen the UK series. The US's first season is in no way necessary viewing for the second season and it will just disappoint/annoy you when UK jokes get used. Instead jump right into season two and observe the evolution of the US show into its own amusing entity.
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Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2007 12:42 pm
Yeah, I've only seen the first season all the way through. I've watch more recent ones now, and it is pretty funny. Like last week about what's his name beating the computer.
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Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2007 4:05 pm
Wizzle Yeah, I've only seen the first season all the way through. I've watch more recent ones now, and it is pretty funny. Like last week about what's his name beating the computer.
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Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2007 5:05 pm
I freakin' love The Office!
Strangely, though, I've tried to watch the UK edition and I didn't like it as much. I don't quite know why, because I usually like the original edition (except for the screen versions of Pride and Prejudice, but that's not the point). I know you well enough, Red Scully, that you're not dissing the US version, but I don't like it when people say stuff in comments on YouTube that the US version sucks, or something like that. Honestly!
Maybe the reason I didn't like it was the whole thing you said about character development. While, from what I saw, the UK characters were snarkier and funnier, they had less development. For example, I absolutely ADORE Pam, probably because she's somewhat like me (introvert and pretty quiet, but also an art person). The fact that Dawn didn't get as much devolopment, along with all the other characters, I thought, I just didn't like.
Still, the American version rocks. Love it!
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Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2007 5:53 pm
writerserenyty I freakin' love The Office! Strangely, though, I've tried to watch the UK edition and I didn't like it as much. I don't quite know why, because I usually like the original edition (except for the screen versions of Pride and Prejudice, but that's not the point). I know you well enough, Red Scully, that you're not dissing the US version, but I don't like it when people say stuff in comments on YouTube that the US version sucks, or something like that. Honestly!
I really hate it on YouTube when people argue in The Office posts of either show too, its so stupid. Just like what you like, you don't have to fight over which show is better! domokun writerserenyty Maybe the reason I didn't like it was the whole thing you said about character development. While, from what I saw, the UK characters were snarkier and funnier, they had less development. For example, I absolutely ADORE Pam, probably because she's somewhat like me (introvert and pretty quiet, but also an art person). The fact that Dawn didn't get as much devolopment, along with all the other characters, I thought, I just didn't like. Still, the American version rocks. Love it!
On the flip side of that though, with people having feelings for the characters the writers find some things taboo- while in the British series because all the characters where surface level majority of the time the audience never came to feel a sense of 'ownership' and anything was fare game for a laugh.
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Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2007 10:53 pm
I bought season 3 of the US one, working backwards with those ones. hah.
I'm in love with Dwight, and my favorite part ever is when dresses up and acts like Dwight. It's our new thing to say.
Jim: [dressed up as Dwight] Question: What kind of bear is best?
Dwight: That's a ridiculous question.
Jim: False. Black bear.
Dwight: That's debatable. There are basically two schools of thought...
Jim: Fact: Bears eat beets. Bears. Beets. Battlestar Galactica.
Dwight: Bears do not...what is going on? WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! [pause] Well, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, so I thank you.
[Jim pulls out a bobblehead from the briefcase and puts it on his desk]
Dwight: Identity theft is not a joke, Jim! Millions of families suffer every year!
Jim: Michael!
Dwight: Oh, that's funny. Michael!
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Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2007 1:08 am
I love when Jim dresses up as Dwight! That was one of my favorite parts too! I really love the complain box episode though where they go through a whole bunch of past pranks Jim played on Dwight and it goes back and forth between these seemingly ridiculous complaints by Dwight to Jim explaining how he got Dwight to hit himself, etc. xd
I don't remember if that's the third season or the second...
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Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2007 5:52 pm
It's in the third season. I love the one too. My favorite prank is the phone one. It's freakin' great!
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Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2007 7:39 pm
Wizzle It's in the third season. I love the one too. My favorite prank is the phone one. It's freakin' great!
AND OMG I LOVE CREED! "www.creedthoughts.gov.www/creedthoughts - check it out."
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Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2007 9:56 pm
Red Scully Wizzle It's in the third season. I love the one too. My favorite prank is the phone one. It's freakin' great!
AND OMG I LOVE CREED! "www.creedthoughts.gov.www/creedthoughts - check it out." Yeah... his so creeepily odd.
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Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2007 10:27 pm
Wizzle Red Scully Wizzle It's in the third season. I love the one too. My favorite prank is the phone one. It's freakin' great!
AND OMG I LOVE CREED! "www.creedthoughts.gov.www/creedthoughts - check it out." Yeah... his so creeepily odd.
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Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2007 9:15 pm
Red Scully Wizzle Red Scully Wizzle It's in the third season. I love the one too. My favorite prank is the phone one. It's freakin' great!
AND OMG I LOVE CREED! "www.creedthoughts.gov.www/creedthoughts - check it out." Yeah... his so creeepily odd. I can see that. hahaha.
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