The Office - Dunder Mifflin Infinity

[DoctorDodge]

I think what really makes it work is the way its done. It's funny, but considering what we got with the first 2 series and even for the first xmas special, as Brent continued to sink lower and lower just for fame, a happy ending was the last thing that could be expected. But I think it was handled with just the right amount of care to make it truly fit and not seem like a cop-out, as it so very, very easily could have done.

And you know last night how I was planning to rewatch those specials next week? Yeah, being reminded of how awesome they were has forced me to make a change of plan!

[DoctorDodge]

Watched the xmas special again on monday, still SO good! Definitely one of the greatest finales to a tv series ever!

Btw, just to get some discussion going: has anyone here not seen the original version, yet? Any plans to see it at all? And fans of the US version who saw it second, how'd you rate it? Fans of the original who saw the US version later, what were your thoughts?

Here's a link to the first ep for convenience, anyway:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7UrvGg65Lw

[fernandito]

I saw a few ep's of the original ... didn't really like it to be honest. Gervais is great as usual, but I wasn't feeling the rest of the supporting cast. Gervais can't carry the show by himself.

The US cast is much, much better for my money. All of them have managed to crack me up at some point throughout the series.

[Heather19]

Agreed. I watched a few episodes but couldn't get into it. The US cast is great. They all work so well together, and they all have their little quirks.

[DoctorDodge]

See, I have the exact opposite view. To me, the original actors are much, much more subtle. Particularly the romance between Tim and Dawn. I like Jim and Pam, but with the supporting cast of the original, it's always clear that they're aware that there's a camera on them. That's why I greatly prefer the original. The remake is a nice little sitcom with some memorable characters, but you can't really watch the original in such a way. It's a lot darker than that. It's the kind of show that walks the fine line between comedy and tragedy, at times. My recommendation: watch it again, but avoid thinking of it as a sitcom.

[fernandito]

Well, I wasn't really looking for subtle, or tragic ... I started watching it on netflix because I was on the market for something balls out funny. And I actually like the 'I know I'm on camera' aspect, a lot of Jim and Michael's style of comedy is contingent on there being an audience, and that suits me just fine.

[DoctorDodge]

That's exactly why I'm suggesting to watch it again. You go in expecting something obviously balls out funny, then you're unprepared for it. Like Blade Runner: first time I watched it, I really didn't like it, as I was expecting something full of action and fast paced. I mean for fuck's sake, the clue's in the fucking name: Blade Runner! So I was dissapointed I didn't get that. Of course now, it's easily one of my favourite scifi films. The original Office, I do find hilarious at a lot of moments, but it does go for total realism. For the longest time, no one watched it, because they thought it was a real documentary.

As for the remake, the characters only seem to acknowledge the camera at select moments, and mostly at comedic ones. Not 100% of the time, like the original. Remember: it's as much as what characters don't say as much as what they do say. Try and watch it differently, not as a balls-out comedy, and you may enjoy it more.

[fernandito]

I have little to no desire to go back to it, to be honest. Too many quality shows on the waiting deck. Unless you want me to replace Who with The Office? then we'll talk

[DoctorDodge]

Come on: it's hardly like you're watching either! Speaking of which: I'm still waiting for your reviews on another favourite of mine!

[fernandito]

I think I just answered your question in the other thread haha.

[DoctorDodge]

One reason why The Office (original) is one of the best tv shows ever:

[Brice]

Okay, I haven't given the show a fair chance, but based on that video it's just not doing anything for me.

[DoctorDodge]

Well, maybe it does need to be taken in context, but it's a spot on parody of how, whenever someone thinks they're "famous" because they appeared in some kind of documentary, they ALWAYS do a shit cover of a classic song, and it ALWAYS fails to make an impression in the charts. It's just so perfectly done. That's another thing the original has over the remake: eventually getting round to exploring what being filmed and watched by a number of viewers has on the characters. With the remake, it's 8 years now, and we're still supposed to believe it's a documentary no one watches?

Oh, and Brice? Start watching the original now.

[Brice]

But...then you'd be deprived of my presence.

[DoctorDodge]

It's 14 eps mate, altogether. We won't be deprived for long.

[Brice]

Yes, but I know how painful even one second without me is for y'all.

[DoctorDodge]

Yes, but if you did watch it, I could be persuaded to give Carnivale another go and watch the second season.

[Brice]

Well, I just watched the first ep so get busy then.

[DoctorDodge]

Excellent! I'll look for it straight away! Hopefully, I'll like the 2nd season more than the first.

[Heather19]

Well, I just watched the first ep so get busy then.

Excellent! I'll look for it straight away! Hopefully, I'll like the 2nd season more than the first.

[Brice]

Honestly, I'm not really sure what I think of it. I'll definitely have to watch more. I wasn't exactly expecting a sitcom, but it's sort of strange.

[DoctorDodge]

Honestly, I'm not really sure what I think of it. I'll definitely have to watch more. I wasn't exactly expecting a sitcom, but it's sort of strange.

Not knowing what to think isn't too bad. Just makes it easier to accept it as something unique rather than something it's not or doesn't really try to be, as is often the case.

[Jean]

I have watched the first ep

I liked the idea and the actors, loved the dialog, and hated the rest. Don't know how long I will be able to look at this kind of picture; was brutally reminded of why I generally don't watch TV.

[DoctorDodge]

Oh, really Jean? That's a shame. Felt certain you would've enjoyed it, both as a fan of British comedy and how subtle and multilayered it is.

[Brice]

To me it just has this weird intended/unintended? voyeuristic/uncomfortable/claustrophobic feel to it. I mean I think it's partly intentional, but I think it also picked up some of that unintentionally that the makers never really originally intended. It's a very weird little show.