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Why I love The Office...
This page is for you (not me, I’ve done enough), the fans, to say just why you love the show, what makes it special for you, or perhaps just to tell the world that you think Gervais and Merchant have done something really really good. Even the idea for this page wasn’t mine, so it really is all yours!
If you have something you wish to add, then please post something on the forum, and I’ll make sure it goes up.
What you lot have said:
I recently saw the Christmas specials of The Office, and as everybody above has mentioned, the ending was surprisingly touching, not nearly as venomous or blood curdling as the previous seasons had been. I commented to my friend Kevin, “My, that was a surprisingly happy ending to an otherwise ghoulishly black-humored series.” “Yeah,” Kevin agreed, “But doesn’t it feel like they actually *earned* the happy ending?” Absolutely.
Chris
The Ricky Gervais segments were always the funniest on the 11 O’clock show. I first saw him putting nurses down, and calling Iain Lee a cross between a stick insect and Hugh Laurie, and knew that this guy is a comedic genius. It’s the way he says things, sarcastic and brutal which is brilliant, and exactly my type of humour. Then came ‘Meet Ricky Gervais’. Again, what a
show! Where's the DVD? Gervais was so funny on this show, from his monolgues at the start to the interviews and ‘gameshows’ at the end. Awesome. Then I saw the office (the first time round) on the BBC and never looked back. All the characters were perfectly cast, from Tim to Finchy. It's been oversaid, but it's true to life. I’ve never worked in an office, but I know people
that are like the people on the show. Especially Finchy, naming no names of course. Gervais and Merchant are right to stop making this show. Even though I want (And British comedy needs!) more episodes, it would be to much of a risk. I’m sure anything that Gervais and Merchant do in the future will be great too. Bring it on.
Chris (a different one)
Well, I used to think The Office was funny. Very, very funny. Series One and Two are the most frequently played in my DVD collection, and for good reason. It’s fantastic.
I love the mundanity of the situation the characters find themselves in; everyone knows one person who, amongst a small community, believes themselves to be the most clever, the funniest, and the most enlightening. Brent is that. Tiny, tiny details in acting; Brent suddenly becoming interested in documents just given to him by Dawn, after his ‘joke’ firing of her, Gareth's peaceful expression behind Brent playing ‘Paris Nights’, Tim’s awkwardness after Lee had hurled him into the wall having caught him dancing with Dawn. So close to life, it’s almost unbelievable.
So yeah, I used to think it was funny.
Tonight, the Christmas special concluded, and television has never touched me so much, ever before. I now believe there is so much more to The Office, beneath the surface, whether Gervais and Merchant meant it or not. After what must have been years of bum-licking to Chris Finch, Brent decides to end it. “Why don't you fuck off?” That left me stunned, and delighted. David Brent, absolute berk, matures to become his own man. He hit it off with a woman...a REAL woman! And the writing is so perfect, Neil Godwin is turned into a villain, so subtly. At the end of the second series, there was no sympathy towards Brent, only mirth. Tonight, however, Brent is the victim, and everyone is touched by his innocence. As for Dawn and Tim...I was left, absolutely literally, open-mouthed. I couldn’t believe it. I might have cried, if I wasn't so rigidly repressed. So much drama, in what is dismissed as a mockumentary. Tonight, I think The Office became much more than a comedy. It became art.
Matt
What can I say, brilliant brilliant brilliant. I agree with everything ‘Matt’ has said, and more.
Loved Gareth’s power-trip, and how his replacement manages to be even more irritating to poor Tim. Loved that just as you thought David’s blind dates would inevitably end in disaster, fate decides that the poor man's had enough bad luck. How easy it would have been for Gervais and Merchant to milk Brent’s failed romances for as many cheap laughs as possible, how much more satisfying to see him rescued from the very edge of despair at the last minute. The image of him sat alone on the night of the party, gradually coming to believe his date won’t turn up, then the joy as she mouths “call me” from the taxi.
But most of all, Dawn and Tim. There was no reason on earth why a television program such as this - a sitcom, for God’s sake - should contain, amongst the funny dances and embarrassing speeches, a romance so believable, so profound and so perfect. I’m not ashamed to admit I *did* cry as Dawn opened her present in the back of the taxi - then again out of sheer relief as she turns up back at the party. Of course, looking back, it seems like it could really have ended no other way, but as British sitcom viewers we are conditioned to expect the worst. Another cliffhanger, another unresolved ending, another series. Not for the Office though - the colleagues at Wernham Hogg got their Happy Ever After, and so did we.
Chris Pople
There is a mix of emotions when watching the program. One minute you’re laughing at stupid antics, the next pointing at the screen and shouting “we’ve got bloke like that in our office”, and the next, squinting through your fingers, actually feeling embarrassed at the inept social skills of David Brent.
Mark
Whatever it is, “The Office” is unique and unusual otherwise there wouldn’t be so much arguing about it!
Don’t look now, but it has already achieved cult status! That is remarkable for a tv show that has only been available to US viewers for a few months.
Whether anyone likes it or not, there is no question that it is carefully crafted and put together. It is probably one of the most well thought out TV shows to come along in along time. Perhaps only the funniest British tv comedy show of all time, “Fawlty Towers” (voted consistently as one of the funniest British tv shows by the British public) was as carefully put together. That alone makes “The Office” special.
In fact it is really very difficult to categorize “The Office” because it so unlike anything else that has been shown on American TV. The only other thing I have seen that created such a strong impression on has been the work of Dennis Potter, especially his “Pennies from Heaven” (the TV show, not the movie) and, of course, “The Singing Detective” the single greatest television program of all-time, period.
Like the work of Dennis Potter, Ricky Gervais, with a little (actually a lot) of help from his friends has produced a remarkably brilliant show. But what exactly is it? I dunno, you just have to see it for yourself. Like “The Singing Detective”, you have to watch over and over again until it starts working its magic.
When I heard about Ricky Gervais and “The Office” I wondered what the fuss was about. When I saw for it the first time early this year on BBCA, I really wondered what the fuss was about. “What is this thing?” I thought. “I don't see anything here, this is boring, let me change the channel.” So I did, like a lot of other people.
But when the BBCA started its marathon run of “The Office” last week, then I started to “get into it” and then I started to “get it.” Now it has really gotten under my skin and inside of my head, and I love it! “The Office” has to be seen to be believed and appreciated.
To put it bluntly, watching “The Office” is a bit like having sex. The first time you don’t know what you are doing and it’s not that great and rather disappointing instead and you don't know what the fuss was about and not sure you will ever really enjoy it. But then the second time, and the third, and things get a bit interesting and you appreciate it and enjoy it more. That is, for want of a better metaphor, what “The Office” is like.
You have to watch a few times till you understand it and what it is. But don’t ask me to explain it, because I can’t. Don’t ask me what it is, because I don’t know and I’m not sure and really don’t care. All I know is that, like sex, I like it a lot because it really is that fun.
And if you still don't like it, well, what can I say, “The Office” is not for everyone. Besides, not everyone likes sex either.
Josef, over at the BBCAmerica forums
“You can just watch The Office and by the end of it your sides and lungs will be hurting so much from laughing so hard and that is true comedy. It is very rare to find a comedy that will do that week in week out. The Tim, Gareth and Dawn triangle is quite simply the funniest thing to grace television screens! David’s obviously hilarious but it’s the people around him who just turn this comedy from fantastic to out of this world!!”
Timmi
“I think the office is fantastic because if you ask someone “Did you see the office last night?” before you know it you are both semi-hysterical talking about the episode in great detail, with tears rolling down your face. That's good comedy!”
Eve Howarth
I love the office because its the first ever comedy of its kind and the writers, Ricky and Stephen are genius's! my fave character is Gareth cus hes just so so funny, ive met Mackenzie Crook and hes very down 2 earth and looks nothing like Gareth in real life! hes a gr8 actor! so is Martin! its just FAB!! bring it back for series 3!! Pleeeeease!
JULES xxx
It’s just so funny, because of the script and how it’s written. When I first saw it I thought it was a real documentary, not realising what was going on. This was when it was on the re-runs on PlayUK (sky digital) I immediately bunged a tape in knowing full well that my brother and girlfriend would appreciate what magic is unfolding on the screen before me.
I thought that the program was all ad lib and off the cuff but after watching the DVD, you have to credit Stephen and Ricky for their seamless scripts.
It’s just so different from the other crap comedy on the telly, its real. It’s hard to pick a favourite character, they’re all just perfect in their own way. I tell people about the program and they say “oh I can’t watch that it makes me cringe and it’s embarrassing” it annoys me because yes it is, and its all these things thats why it’s so brilliant! I find myself now looking for the next thing with Ricky and Stephen and I’m now tuning into Xfm on a Saturday afternoon. Hearing Ricky’s laugh, can’t help but laugh along yourself even if it ain’t funny.
Well I’ve rambled on, not sure if it makes much sense, but it’s difficult to some up why the Office is loved so much, characters? Scripts? Cast? Setting?
It all just fits and it’s all just...
by Abbeck
The Office. Sitcom. Well no. Drama well, er.. no. Okay the show has elements of these but combines them in such away that the show comes into its own. Superbly scripted and just as good acting makes this the best comedy for years. The characters are so life like and realistic its unreal. The show has surely created two of the best British comedy characters (David and Gareth) and as far as the show go, nothing comes close as its way above Blackadder, Fawlty Towers and Alan Partridge.
Dan
The office is the best comedy program I have ever watched, I always find myself watching the 1st series on DVD to the early hours of the morning.
Ricky and Stephen are comic geniuses.
Alex