If you watch television, there is a good chance that have seen The Office. The Office portrays the daily lives of the employes of the fictitious Dunder Mifflin Paper Company, which is located in Scranton, Pennsylvania. The television show has been adapted from the British drama sharing the same name. The British version of the show became very popular, and has also been adapted for German, French, and French Canadian audiences.
I was first introduced to the UK version of The Office, and really enjoyed what the show had to offer. It was funny and unique; the concept of office humor paired with entertaining characters made for many hilarious situations. However, when the US version made its debut, I refused to watch the show based on principle, declaring it to a poor spin-off before I even gave it a chance. Since then, I have become very interested in what I what I previously rejected, and have torn through the first three seasons in record time. These are my thoughts on both the UK and US versions of The Office, and how I feel that they match up to each other.
The Characters
Characters are what make a comedy. Both the UK and US versions are based on the same four main characters: a boss (David Brent/Michael Scott), a secretary (Dawn Tinsley/Pam Beesly), and two paper salesman (Tim Canterbury/Jim Halpert and Gareth Keenan/Dwight Schrute.) The gist of the series has to do with the incompetence and silliness of David/Michael as a manager, the harassment of gullible salesman Gareth/Dwight by fellow salesman Tim/Jim who also has an ever-evolving love relationship with the engaged (but not to him) secretary Dawn/Pam. These four characters are the main focus in both series.
Though the four aforementioned characters are virtually the same in both editions of The Office, I think that supporting characters are what begins to set the US version apart from its UK predecessor. Other than these four main characters, The Office UK doesn’t offer much depth. The US adaption, however, has a strong set of distinct co-workers, representing a diverse ethnic and cultural background. The assorted group of characters really makes for interesting and varied story lines, which I have come to love.
Most of the supporting characters in the US adaption are based on a UK counterpart, but few of these characters reach their potential on the East side of the Atlantic. Besides the better use of characters in the US edition, I think the actual actors are more talented when compared to the UK version, and also have better chemistry together.
The Story Line
Another vital aspect of any drama is the story line (or in the case of Seinfeld, the lack of one.) The majority of the episodes in The Office deal with unrelated issues, except for a few constant themes of downsizing and ongoing relationships between some of the characters.
The first season of the The Office US is a copy of the first season in the UK, so there aren’t an abundance of differences to point out. However, throughout the second and third seasons of US version, it is evident that the writing and plots are far superior in comparison with the UK counterpart.
To be fair, the UK version only had two seasons with six episodes each (and two Christmas specials), and therefore was unable to develop characters as well, but overall I felt that the US writers did a better job of creating complex and interesting plots in every episode. The US edition does a wonderful job of developing both characters and relationships, a must for an ongoing series, and because of this I give the writers credit.
Final Thoughts
Overall, I think that the US version of The Office is a better television show then the UK original. However, I really do enjoy them both, and highly recommend watching either series if you have not already. I am pretty picky when it comes to watching television shows, but the The Office is definitely one that I have grown to love.
So, if you have seen The Office, what do you think about it? If you are lucky enough to have seen both versions, which one do you like more? Do you have any favorite (or favourite) characters (mine is Kevin from the US version, by the way)? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Never seen the show but have heard its funny as hell. One of these days I’ll start watching it when I get the time. Benefit of the internet. can watch whatever show from whatever season, any time I want. :)
said Sour Swinger at 11:12 pm on Monday, March 24
Good article, I have never seen the UK version, and I probably never will. Especially after hearing from several people, including you, that the US version is better. I shrugged off watching the Office at first, because so many people were in love with it, but then I finally watch a couple episodes and loved it. Michael Scott is my favorite hands down. He is just too hilarious every episode to not like. Kevin is very funny as well. Good article.
said Luke at 12:23 am on Tuesday, March 25
Luke,
I know how you felt at first. I’m usually hesitant to watch something if it’s all everyone talks about. I’m glad that you’re enjoying it now, though. Also, Michael Scott is definitely hilarious.
said Nathaniel Buck at 9:24 am on Tuesday, March 25
Great article young man. I watched the US version first and then the UK. Even though I enjoy British humor the characters just didnt live up to the US’s characters… thank you Hollywood.
said AJ at 10:29 am on Tuesday, March 25
i love the office, along with everyone else. i remember asking you if you watched it, but you said only the UK version. haha imglad to see you are down with the US one now. Jim is my favorite.
said Faith at 10:38 am on Tuesday, March 25
I guess I am the only one who is going to defend the UK version as the superior series. Before reading the rest please realize I love both series, I just believe the UK series is better. One of the reasons that the UK version is superior is the quality of each episode. The Office US is extremely predictable, and relies on Family Guy style random humor for a lot of its laughs. There are a ton of throwaway episodes that have no more than one or two laughs.
In contrast every single episode of the UK version is gold. It also is the only series to have “Free Love Freeway.” The series is consistently funny and at the same time does an excellent job of making you care about the characters without using blatantly obvious “dramatic moments.” The final special of The Office UK is one of the most heart-warming and yet hilarious pieces of television history. The key is that UK version plays on subtlety, but being the stubbornly idiotic country we are, the US version has to cater to the lowest common denominator.
I will concede that the side characters are better in the US version. My favorite character by far is Creed. The problem is that the US version took an original, creative series and turned it into another American-molded sitcom. Michael says/believes something stupid, Pam and Jim interact tentatively, and Dwight acts like the uptight nerd everyone knows in real life…end of episode.
Gone is the subtlety of the UK version, where looks at the camera convey comedy on levels I cannot begin to appreciate enough. This is why my favorite moments of the US series are where they still use this style. In the end, like every other piece of popular entertainment in our country, The Office US is just another sell-out…but like the lemming I am I’ll still watch it.
said Justin Cady at 4:57 pm on Tuesday, March 25
Justin,
I do love the subtly of the UK version. This is one thing that I sometimes miss in the US version. However, I am definitely not someone who likes many American comedies (besides this show, the only other American comedy I can tolerate is Seinfeld), so I wouldn’t say that the Office just another sell-out; it still stays true to its roots, even if it’s adapted for an American audience.
I disagree with your statement that every episode of The Office UK is gold. There are definitely some episodes with a small amount of laughs to be had. There are many slow moments and drawn out scenes in the the UK edition that just aren’t very funny (and no, I wouldn’t categorize them as subtleties.) The US version definitely has these too, but considering that it has almost 8 times as many episodes, this is expected.
So, yes, the UK version has more subtle humor which is definitely something that I enjoy, and only 14 episodes, so it could definitely be argued that the quality of The Office UK is better. I personally like the US version a little bit more due the use of characters and better writing, and the ability for the quality to remain mostly constant after 14 episodes.
said Nathaniel Buck at 6:19 pm on Tuesday, March 25
Noted. At least concede to me that David Brent is more hilarious than Michael Scott.
said Justin Cady at 9:10 pm on Tuesday, March 25
Yes, I think that I like the character of David Brent more than Michael Scott, but they are both hilarious.
said Nathaniel Buck at 9:13 pm on Tuesday, March 25
wow, i never seen the uk version of the office but have to say that the first three season of the office to me is the perfect show. it is the most embarrassingly funny show of all time. i must be one of the american idiots because i think everythin about the show is gold! the characters are so well developed that by the time i was done watchin the 3rd season i was in love wit pam. i will look into the uk version to try and find the “subtly” humor that US office is missing. MIchael Scott is hilarious tho.
said bean at 10:02 pm on Tuesday, March 25
For those of you who know him…Michael Scott is the tv personality of Jaikishin Mahtani
said Inxane at 9:00 am on Wednesday, March 26
After the segment about “Creed Thoughts” I laughed for days.
Also when Jim rolled in as Dwight (and vice versa later) that was absolutely perfect. If I sounded harsh on the US version ignore it…both shows are genius.
said Justin Cady at 7:35 pm on Wednesday, March 26