Film & TV The Office (UK) vs. The Office (US)

[S O F I]

The other versions matter not.

Which one is better?

 

[Cooper]

Uk.

 

[S O F I]

Try not to sound so ethnocentric with your answers, guys, provide a reason.

 

[Glockmatic]

I actually like the US version better. Dwight is the best character on television since George Costanza

 

[goymz]

I like the UK version better.

My take on the US version is that I'm all for it but I'll never watch it. As far as I'm concerned they couldn't have chosen a better person to play David Brent. My main dislike with the US version is that the UK essence of the Gareth character is completely lost and I don't want to re-watch an altered version of something I've already seen hundreds of times before.

I'm completely cool for it being adapted (translated?) for a US audience but to me I feel the real subtlety seen in the UK version is lost. But then again, I understand that adaptations are necessary otherwise there wouldn't be US, French and however many other versions there are out there.

 

[k69atie]

I don't like the UK one so i am guessing i won't like the US one either.

 

[Illuminattile]

UK, hands down. I like the US version, but it doesn't have the subtlety of the original. A lot of the humour in the original stemmed from how monotonous it was, and how mundane their lives are. There are fewer moments like that in the American version, and it seems a lot more like a traditional sitcom.

As funny as Dwight is, he's a bit over-the-top. Michael can be too, at times.

I think Jim and Pam are both perfect though. And Jenna Fischer is cute as a bug's ear.

 

[Flipmo]

Haven't seen the UK version yet. I'll look into that.

 

[Prize Gotti]

British comedy is soooo much better, americans take it too seriously.

 

[hizzle?]

^^ yeah i like british comedy better too.

Anyways there is a Quebec version too... it's funny as hell, just like the UK and the US version... but i just prefer the UK one, because it's the original and i just like British comedy...

 

[Illuminattile]

I saw some of the Quebec version on YouTube. I don't speak French, but the guy playing David Gervais made me laugh anyway.

There's also a French version, and an "unofficial" German version that the BBC sued and forced to credit Gervais and Merchant as writers.

 

[Eric]

To each his own, I suppose. I often read articles about how the US version is a rare gem in shows that are remakes of a British counterpart. I was listening to an interview with Ricky Gervais just the other day about how much he enjoys the US version.

I really like both. I think the two main differences are the bosses and how on the US version the workers are more reserved with their feelings towards other coworkers and on the UK version it was more outspoken. Some of the ideas on the UK version are brilliant and I hope that the US version will use them some time. I hope that Ricky Gervais will make a guest appearance on the US version. That would be hilarious.

One thing that isn't debatable is the fact that Dwight Schrute is the most hilarious person on either version. Dwight could go down as one of the most funny TV characters ever. He has quotables for days.