MovieChat Forums > The Office (2003) Discussion > Reasons why this was better than US vers...

Reasons why this was better than US version.

posted 11 years ago by Degree7
9 replies | jump to latest

I understand that the two series are very different in their approach to comedy, but I definitely think the Steve Carrel version lost a lot in translation. What made this series funny was because it was set in England, which is a horribly bleak, dreary, and downright depressing place. The humour stemmed from people rubbing up against each other in an office environment, and people trying to escape their futures of working at a paper office in Slough. The comedy was more relatable because it explored these characters who were pathetic failures in life, trying to navigate social and work situations without embarassing themselves, and failing miserably.

THAT's what made it funny.

The US version definitely wasn't bad, but it wasn't as dark or as realistic.

Apples and oranges I guess.

Limit of the Willing Suspension of Disbelief: directly proportional to its awesomeness.

[–] mackay254 11 years ago

I never watched the US version but, I've heard it's very good. British people could relate to The Office. The 'American' Office spoke to Americans, I suppose.

From what I've seen of American TV, they don't seem to have ordinary-looking people. They all look beautiful or, have a bad haircut.

The Office was realistic, hysterical agony. The American Office sounds like a comedy programme.

[–] Degree7 11 years ago

Yes, the US one was basically your run of the mill network sitcom, set in an office. It's not that different from most other shows like "Always Sunny in Philadelphia" or "Parks and Recreation".

Even after 10 years, I still have yet to find a show as simultaneously funny and cruel as the original Office. Any show that can make me visibly wince in sympathy for its characters earns my eternal fandom I actually warmed up to the American version after a while, and it definitely improved once they stopped copying the UK version after the first few seasons. However, it lacked the dramatic heft of the original series, as well as being a remake. It simply could never be as good!

Limit of the Willing Suspension of Disbelief: directly proportional to its awesomeness.

[–] TVShowsOverMovies 10 years ago

Always Sunny >>>> both versions of The Office. There is most certainly a difference.

[–] 10 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Degree7 9 years ago

It's a lot harder to fire someone in the UK compared to in the States, but it's beside the point.

The original Office was more realistic and down to earth in its characters and situations, except for perhaps the Holiday special, which was meant to give us a happy ending. But for the most part, it really cut into the drudgery of everyday living, and how our opportunities and ambitions can pass us by when we're too complacent. The U.K. Version just has more verisimilitude.

~ I'm a 21st century man and I don't wanna be here.

[–] furiousG33 8 years ago

The thing is, we actually HAVE documentaries like this in England, usually about airports or call centres. When I first saw this on tv I assumed it was a documentary about offices, it took half an episode to realise it's a comedy but that's the genius of it - it's so realistic! I know a Gareth, I know a Keith, I know a Trudy, I know an Oliver and at times I feel like a Tim... Everyone is so relatable, the subtlety behind each joke prevents them from becoming charicatures but makes it all the more funny, it's so cleverly crafted.

The US office was fun, but it was a sitcom with added talking heads and occasional acknowledgement of the camera by the actors who exaggerated every situation to make things funny. It could in no way be mistaken for a documentary and even if it could, shows like that don't exist in America. Documentaries over there are dubbed with dramatic voice overs and flashy graphics. It's obvious from the start that you are watching a comedy.

[–] roland-rockerfella 8 years ago

Simply because British do comedy far better than Americans.

[–] starvb083 8 years ago

I drove through Slough for the first time in about ten years yesterday and it reminded me just how bleak and dreary the place is although it's unfair to pin that label on the whole of England.
I wish more viewers of The Office could visit Slough - it would help to make you understand why most of the characters are how they are, just trudging in to work each day and simply going through the motions until 5pm.

[–] HelveticaFont 8 years ago

The US version was also presented as a comedy with some known actors.

The BBC presented The Office with no promotion and no known actors, it was shown as if it was another BBC2 docu-soap.