The original post: /r/television by /u/The_Lone_Apple on 2024-05-26 16:16:23.
Having just rewatched the UK Office, I love how the US show eventually found it’s own uniquely American footing. The original show is very much British in feel. There is a distinct resignation in all the characters that tomorrow will at-best be no better than today and probably worse. A British pessimism about life that gives it its feel. The only character that is truly optimistic due to his own ego and arrogance is Gareth. No matter the pranks played on him by Tim, he just shrugs them off and forges ahead. I’ll get to David Brent later.
The US show is utterly American in feel. Every character - no matter how knocked down by life - is optimistic. It’s a pathological optimism that no matter what, everything is OK and will be OK tomorrow if not better. Dwight is clearly the Gareth of this show because of his total ambition in life, but the uniqueness of his character’s life sets him apart. He’s successful in weird disturbing ways - a lot like Kramer in Seinfeld. You’re not quite sure how someone who comes across as possibly delusional has any success at all, but there he is. Gareth is happy doing his job, dreaming of being boss and hanging out at the pub with his pals. Dwight is just Dwight. A pretty unique character in sitcom history.
As for David Brent and Michael Scott - they both come from the same place although we know more about Michael’s sad childhood than anything about David. However, they both have feelings of inadequacy and handle them differently. David is pretty much a bully who thinks he’s the life of the party. Michael is a man-child who got laughs being the class clown and thinks that’s the way he needs to be to make friends. Although the US show had more episodes to give us glimpses of Michael’s humanity - also it’s an American show and they can’t just have him be a cringy villain.
Maybe I went on too long but just some thoughts about both shows. One other thing, it wasn’t until the episode where Holly thinks Kevin is “slow” that I realized the US Office characters are basically adult representations of a grade school class.