Give the US version of The Office a fair shot

so keep your pants on.

I don’t know anyone who’s watched the entire running of the UK version and ended up preferring the US one. Upon thorough data collection, I’m sure I could survey enough people to scientifically prove that it’s impossible to actually think, after viewing both series, that the US version is even equal to it’s UK predecessor.

That said, it wasn’t a total waste of my time. I smiled enough, had a few hearty scoffs, but I don’t remember laughing, really. And I hate being strung along. Give me a story in the time it’s supposed to be told. Don’t just run a series for as long as you could possibly thinly spread it over time. I don’t care how much McDonald’s and Axe are paying you for ad time.

Bottom line: this series is alright if you’re ruling based solely on US pop entertainment value.

It’s no Strangers With Candy or Arrested Development, but, I knew that going into it. Ah well, at least Jim was pretty, and that’s what it’s all about in the end, no?

(They need a “whatever” rating for completed goals…)

Right now, the most disappointing and almost infuriating thing about the US version, for me (and Bill agrees) is the way they stitched together that whole Michael & Jan thing. In the UK version, Michael’s immediate superior was a woman, like Jan. Yes. All good so far. But she was strong, reasonable, realistic, and saw Michael for the jackass that he was without sleeping with him for no reason whatsoever. What you see in the US version, it’s the same outrageous bullshit you see on every other American sitcom: an attractive, likable, and/or empowered woman paired up with a slob, a chauvinist, a loser, or all three and more. Someone very flawed. It’s all over. The Honeymooners. King of Queens. Family Guy. American Dad. The Flintstones. The Simpsons (Look how many of them are cartoons). Scrubs. Cheers. Bewitched. I could go on. You look at the screen, wincing and cringing and go “No, Jan! Why??” And it makes no sense, except against the backdrop of American entertainment.

Honestly. Rosanne is looking good.

I’m still watching though. The show makes me laugh, I just hate that what I’m cringing at in this version is a sexist flaw in writing, whereas in the UK version, it would be a sexist flaw in a character.

...Seriously though. This shit is infuriating. Michael’s only superior, and she’s a woman who sleeps with him…

I miss me some goddamn Arrested Development, I’ll tell you that.

I’ve reviewed seasons one and two. Not bad. Not bad. I’m into season three now and it’s becoming increasingly obvious that the backbone of the story is the whole Pam & Jim thing, which I think is a cheap backbone to have. It’s the only strong link from episode to episode I can find. Other themes, such as the threat of downsizing and that ongoing thing with Michael and Jan, well, they’re not really all that interesting, not enough to make or keep fans. In the UK version, my viewership was contingent upon hilarious or intensely awkward situation after hilarious or intensely awkward situation. The Dawn & Tim thing was an extra side-story that the audience became invested in over time. It was by no means fuel. I feel as though that makes a significant difference. I’ve ended up shaking my head at the credits a few times now, complaining to my boyfriend and fellow review panelist that the episodes are too “watery”.

Don’t get me wrong. I want this show to be good. I do. Because then I get to laugh. But I simply feel that this version of The Office simply can’t “go there” in terms of scratching that horrible itch the UK version could. Situations in the UK version were more realistic and therefore more insulting and vice versa. Michael Scott is hell of unappealing, yes, but he’s no David Brent. You hate David Brent. He’s very much a realistic asshole of a boss, and his lackey, Gareth Keenan is all too believable. Michael Scott is simply a caricature of some watered down, would-be deluded, narcissistic sociopath we may have had to put up with at some point in our lives, but likely not in management. Seriously, that guy would have been fired eons ago, rendering the character invalid. I do appreciate the overall translated relationship of the boss/lackey co-dependent enabling. But the UK version was far, far more believable and therefore annoying and vice versa.

I know it seems I’m scrutinizing this a bit too much, but as a person who has had to put up with assholes, the corporate office workplace, and assholes in the corporate office workplace, I feel I’m licensed—nay, obligated to do so.

Anyway, I’m still going to watch the rest of the episodes, and I’m happy to do so (I really feel as though I’m coming off as completely trashing the US version).

After having seen a couple handfuls of random episodes from different seasons, I’ve started to work my way through the US version of The Office in order to give it the same fair shot I’d given the UK version since it’s available for instant viewing on Netflix.

It’s a very good show. Very good. In fact, it’s so good, I fail to understand how it’s become so successful. However, I am still not at all convinced it’s touched the greatness that was the UK version. If there were some sort of competition, and the UK version had placed first, I would expect the US version to be somewhere around 3rd or 4th. Granted, I haven’t seen the entire US series yet so there’s still room for improvement.

I’ve just gotten into the second season. There’ll be inevitable repeat viewings, but I’ll sit through them for the full effect.

I mean, you can understand my doubt, no? American broadcasting has a knack for butchering entertainment from other countries, especially British comedy. The result is my very “I’ll believe it when I bloody well see it” attitude.

Critique to follow.