Loved the original version, tried to start this multiple times but never made it through a couple of episodes. Its terrible. The UK version is funny when its awkard but the US version is awkward when its meant to be funny.
Do people who like this also like the US version of the inbetweeners?
I have never seen the inbetweeners.
In my opinion, the first season of the U.S. version of The Office is not very strong. The first couple of episodes especially because to me it seemed like they were trying to make it too much like the UK version and the humor doesn't come off the same way. Once the show started being its own thing at the end of season 1 and stopped trying to be like the UK version it became good.
Other people may have different opinions! :)
"Your petty vengeance fetish will have to do withOUT Mr. Groin!"
The first episode is the same as that of the UK series. Almost word for word. Though Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant did write both, with a little help from Greg Daniels for the US series. The point of the first season was to introduce the viewers to the characters, their relationships, and the office environment. Once that was done it was time for the show proper to begin with season 2.
Correct.
You can completely discount the first season since it's only six episodes; the whole show ran for over 200. You can start watching at season two and not miss out on a thing. The show still makes perfect sense: it's an eclectic bunch of office workers with a cringe-inducing boss. What's not to get?
More to the point, the UK and US versions are actually quite different shows albeit with the same basic premise. For me it's not a question of which is better since they are so different.
Beyond the superficial, Brent and Scott are worlds apart. As befits such a long show, Scott's character has more depth resulting in a triumphant outcome despite his buffoonery and occasional meanness, whereas Brent's is a sharp, sustained dose of almost irredeemable nastiness mixed with pathos. The second Christmas Special suggests a better future for Brent, but only as a parting thought.
The key to both shows was the romance of Jim/Pam and Tim/Dawn. Neither show can't be imagined without those relationships; indeed they sustain the narratives for long stretches.
I've never seen the UK version yet (it's on my to-do list) but I can imagine it being a weird experience trying to watch Season 1 of the US version after seeing the UK version. As others have said, it doesn't find its own voice until Season 2. So I would try the first few episodes of Season 2 to get the best idea of the style of the show.
You might still not like it but personally I find The Office one of the best shows I've ever seen. It has my type of humor and great characters and also heart. Some of the later seasons descend into mediocrity especially after Steve Carell leaves (although there are some individual great episodes and arcs after that) but I still find them pretty decent because I already got attached to the characters. But your mileage may vary.
I actually prefer this series to the UK series, basically because Ricky Gervais is painful to watch. Everyone else is great.
shareDavid Brent was supposed to be painful to watch, that was the whole point. It's not called a cringe comedy for nothing. Michael was a sanitised version, not for the better either.
I agree with OP, and also with this statement:
"I actually prefer this series to the UK series, basically because Ricky Gervais is painful to watch."
Michael Scott (Steven) is a hilarious pleasure to watch, almost every second of him.
Ricky has a nasty repulsion about him, that just makes me want to go as far from him as possible. The character is also incredibly nasty, selfish and socially completely blind, and not in a funny way.
Michael has a charming ignorance-based innocence, but Ricky's character is just an evil, clueless, pathetic moron, and not in an entertaining or funny way. Ricky doesn't have a sympathetic screen presence or charisma that Steve brings with him every time.
The UK version is 'OK', it feels a bit more 'realistic', so the immersion can be deeper in some way - and the Dwight-equivalent (I am so bad with names) is hilarious, and almost as fun to watch as Michael Scott (both blur out a LOT of political incorrectness that other characters would be scared to approach).
Other than that, it's just not that deep or charming, and of course it doesn't have as many episodes, so not as much variety, and the US version just happens to have all kinds of things that I like, that are absent from the UK version.
You should keep watching it you obviously have the free time on your hands
shareI liked the U.S. version until it became the boss saying something un-PC and everyone just stoically staring at him. When they started doing that, it wasn't funny anymore.
shareBecause its awesome
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