by EminemBase » Jun 27th, '10, 04:23
^ Well I feel the exact opposite. Gareth feels like a real person where as Dwight feels like a caricature. Not that it's a bad thing for that version it works, it's a different culture so it should be different.
But I don't know how anybody can contest the realism. The original is a master-class in realism. Layered to the brim with subtlety, nuance, naturalism, it's timeless. The US version doesn't feel like a genuine documentary, you can tell it's a show documentary. The original could be mistaken for the real thing.
Also, in respects to the writing as you mentioned, the original again.. It's so beautifully written to sound like real dialogue. They purposely threw out unnatural one liners because life isn't like that. That's what's so bad about a lot of US network sitcoms - Everybody is walking about saying constant one liners, yet nobody but the audience is laughing. And EVERYBODY has to be funny, it's so unnatural.
The original Office was ground breaking because it marked true human realism in comedy on TV. They didn't make everybody hilarious. Instead, the dwelling on bad jokes. It was an exercise in 'cringe comedy'. Making their characters look like idiots, intentionally. So much more satisfying than just hearing a witty line or seeing a zany situation play out.
But you're American so it's expected you would like the US version better. It's your culture. That's the way it should be. But in terms of comedy writing, performing... And every technical aspect, regardless of culture - The original is far far superior I think.