The Office (The Office - Series 1 (DVD))

Member Name: Whizz11

Product:	The Office - Series 1 (DVD)
Date:	28/10/09 (51 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Brilliantly funny, great characters

Disadvantages: None

The Office has to be one of the funniest sitcoms of recent times. Any one who has ever worked in an office environment can relate I think to the situations the actors find themselves in and probably have a similar story of their own as well. I think this is one of the reasons why it is so funny and became so successful.

The Office I think was different because it approached the sitcom genre in an interesting way by having the format of a documentary. The office in question was that of Wernham Hogg Paper Company based in Slough, Berkshire. They had a camera crew in the office that basically filmed their every day lives in the office and all the drama and relationships that come with that. Like I've said, even though the show was made in the form of a documentary the show was fictional and scripted. It was interesting though because the camera crew often did individual interviews with the staff members also and asked them about things that were happening in the office. I found the comedy to be very witty, deadpan and intelligent and much better than some in your face, make you laugh because someone slapped someone comedy. It was a nice refreshing change from the laughter reel type comedy we were used to.

The Office debuted on British television on BBC Two on 9 July 2001. It was created, written, and directed by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant. Ricky Gervais plays the boss at the office, David Brent and for me is the star of the show. I have watched some of his office comedy, namely Extras and parts of his stand up shows and I have to say that they are no way near as funny as he is in the office. It's definitely the part that made him. He did so well because I think David Brent is one of those managers that you just don't get. He can act like your best friend and then do something so unbelieveably embarrassing, racist, sexist and against all company policies that you just have to stop and stare to actually believe he could do something so ridiculous. I think all of us have had a manager like that and again this is something else that makes the show so funny.

Brent's assistant manager, Gareth acts like his comedy duo. They have an interesting relationship. Gareth is the butt of a lot of people's jokes and they really don't respect his authority. He thinks way more of himself than he should really and definitely thinks that he should be running the office instead. Gareth is also a Lieutenant in the Territorial Army and tries to use this knowledge in the workplace much to everyone's mickey taking delight. In one of the episodes in Season 1 Tim takes Gareth's stapler and puts it in jelly much to Gareth's distress. Then follows a few different scenes about tricks to do with the stapler which is very funny.

Sometimes nothing really happens, the comedy and the content is quite slow and I think some people may find this frustrating but that is the downfall I think with any documentary style show.

I think the best storyline in Season 1 and really sort of the only re-occurring storyline in this season is the relationship between Dawn and Tim. Dawn is a bored receptionist with not a very nice boyfriend/fiancee. We see the boyfriend now and again but he is not that nice to her. Tim is one of the sales representatives and is well liked in the office. He has had a crush on Dawn for a very long time but doesn't act on it partly because of the boyfriend and partly because he is a bit shy and fearful of rejection I think but they have plenty of chemistry between them. You always see them having deep conversations or friendly chats, mucking about with each other and stolen glances now and again. It's really quite sweet and heartwarming and anyone who has ever had an office romance can relate I think (I met my husband in our office and there was plenty of flirting which always made work fun!!)

Another favourite episode of mine is the staff pub quiz night which coincides with Tim's 30th birthday. Of course, the quiz does not go smoothly and there is a lot riding on it as David Brent has won for the last six years.

A night on the town for the guys in the office also makes for compelling viewing. David Brent, Tim, Gareth and Brent's mate Chris Finch all decide to go to Chasers for the night to cheer Tim up as he has decided he is going to quit because he is bored with his life and the Dawn situation. It's "Wonderbras get in free" night so you can imagine what kind of time the guys all have!!

The episode list from the DVD of Season 1 is as follows:

* Episode 1 - David Brent learns that his branch of the paper merchants might be closed down. But he promises his staff that under his regime there will be no redundancies.
* Episode 2 - Donna arrives on work experience. But her first day at work is dominated by a dirty picture of her boss that's been e-mailed around the office.
* Episode 3 - It's Tim's birthday. But it's also the annual quiz night. Will Brent and Finchy be able to beat the young pretenders Tim & Ricky?
* Episode 4 - Rowan, a management consultant, has come to Wernham Hogg to give the staff a special training day.
* Episode 5 - Even though some of the staff may be made redundant, Brent decides to take on a new secretary. Naturally, he chooses the prettiest woman.
* Episode 6 - It's judgment day on whether the office is to be downsized.

The DVD was released on October 14th 2002 and includes 2 discs and lasts for approximately 176 minutes.

Summary: The Office - Season 1