Are these reviews randomly rotated? Because I came to this page today to see a comment from a Brit talking about how terrible this show is compared to his precious British version. Well while their opinion is just as valid as mine, it bugged me to see such a one sided opinion, so here is my opinion to hopefully give the other side of the story.
I love this show. It is loosely based on the UK Office, but I just don't see the point in comparing the two. Who do you prefer more, your mother or your father? Your brother or your sister? Daytime or night time? Sleeping or sex? Being punched in the arm, or punched in the leg? At some point, you have to just grow out of this comparing nonsense. It's completely pointless and worthless.
The two shows are so different, and I like to think that I love both equally. The UK Office is an absolute classic. I will always love it and rate it as a very special show. Like a perfectly formed but tiny package. It starts, it sets up the classic "story", it entertains you a LOT along the way, and then it hits you with the absolute classic finale. Perfect. It was very funny, but it was also a very dark humour in my opinion. I could imagine any one of those people committing suicide, and just generally it was dark. For example, Ricky Gervais sitting in the little roadside café... in the context of that particular episode.. wow. That is depressing stuff.
The US Office is not like that at all. It's a much brighter, US comedy. And unlike the UK office which is only about dozen episodes, the US Office is now in it's fifth season, each one being packed with content. So amongst them all, there may be one or two episodes that are just OK rather than great, but there are so many of them, and generally the standard is so very high, that it makes this a really special show. Also, none of the characters are really the same as the UK version. The boss is a kind of semi-translation, and some of the other characters are similar to the British version, but they are different people, individuals, and the story of the entire show is different. So to me at least, the show is completely different...
As for the standard of the show itself, to stop this going on too long, I'll try to summarise this part as best I can. It is the best written comedy on TV, and it is my favourite show of any type. I watch Prison Break, Peep Show, Two and a half men, South Park, Scrubs, etc.. and they are all just something to keep an eye on while I'm cooking my dinner. But for me, The Office (US) is a league above them all, and it's something I really look forward to each week. The writing is top class, and all the actors are great, with an extremely special actor leading the way. Basically, I love this show, even although I'm a Brit, and I would hate to think of anyone being scared off watching it before they gave it a chance.
P.S. Personally, it took me a little while to get hooked. The first season (which is very short) was good, but not great, in my opinion. But the second season was fantastic, and I've been hooked ever since. I don't give a 9 to things unless it's something really special.
I love this show. It is loosely based on the UK Office, but I just don't see the point in comparing the two. Who do you prefer more, your mother or your father? Your brother or your sister? Daytime or night time? Sleeping or sex? Being punched in the arm, or punched in the leg? At some point, you have to just grow out of this comparing nonsense. It's completely pointless and worthless.
The two shows are so different, and I like to think that I love both equally. The UK Office is an absolute classic. I will always love it and rate it as a very special show. Like a perfectly formed but tiny package. It starts, it sets up the classic "story", it entertains you a LOT along the way, and then it hits you with the absolute classic finale. Perfect. It was very funny, but it was also a very dark humour in my opinion. I could imagine any one of those people committing suicide, and just generally it was dark. For example, Ricky Gervais sitting in the little roadside café... in the context of that particular episode.. wow. That is depressing stuff.
The US Office is not like that at all. It's a much brighter, US comedy. And unlike the UK office which is only about dozen episodes, the US Office is now in it's fifth season, each one being packed with content. So amongst them all, there may be one or two episodes that are just OK rather than great, but there are so many of them, and generally the standard is so very high, that it makes this a really special show. Also, none of the characters are really the same as the UK version. The boss is a kind of semi-translation, and some of the other characters are similar to the British version, but they are different people, individuals, and the story of the entire show is different. So to me at least, the show is completely different...
As for the standard of the show itself, to stop this going on too long, I'll try to summarise this part as best I can. It is the best written comedy on TV, and it is my favourite show of any type. I watch Prison Break, Peep Show, Two and a half men, South Park, Scrubs, etc.. and they are all just something to keep an eye on while I'm cooking my dinner. But for me, The Office (US) is a league above them all, and it's something I really look forward to each week. The writing is top class, and all the actors are great, with an extremely special actor leading the way. Basically, I love this show, even although I'm a Brit, and I would hate to think of anyone being scared off watching it before they gave it a chance.
P.S. Personally, it took me a little while to get hooked. The first season (which is very short) was good, but not great, in my opinion. But the second season was fantastic, and I've been hooked ever since. I don't give a 9 to things unless it's something really special.