The Office - Season Two Reviews

• Hilarious, emotional, absurd, sweet -- and great on DVD

  
  By A3U2REB8VQ6RHY on 2006-09-18
  For new potential fans of "The Office," the DVD set of the break-out second season is a must-see. Start recording the third season now (premieres Sept. 21) and save those episodes, but don't watch them until you've watched the complete second season.
  
  For devotees like myself, the DVD set is a just reward for loyal viewing. The show came into its own this year. I had watched fitfully until the stretch of episodes starting with "The Injury," "The Secret," and "The Carpet" hooked me for good. I am now going back to watch the whole season again and the shows hold up very well upon repeated viewing.
  
  Strengths of the season: Steve Carell gets the award for Most Improved Characterization. It took about a dozen episodes (starting with 6 in the first season) for the show to settle on a tone for Carell's incompetent boss. For a while I wasn't sure what to make of him, which kept me from getting attached to the show. But this season he evolved from a mean jerk to a clueless, lonely man who really just wants everybody to be his friend. While the Michael Scott character still has plenty of totally inappropriate behavior and tons of cringe-worthy moments, his core of pathos and vulnerability humanizes him. I am even rooting for him to find love with Carol or Jan. As we saw this season, the fumbling results will surely be funny.
  
  Now that Carell provides a solid anchor for the cast, the rest of the supporting actors can truly come into their own. From Rainn Wilson's complete dedication to the serious idiocy of office suck-up Dwight Schrute, to the smaller roles of wild-card Creed and eternally suffering temp Ryan, the ensemble has truly gelled.
  
  And of course the slow-motion unfolding of Jim & Pam's romance provided the heart of the show throughout the season. Just about anyone over the age of 30 has been either Jim, Pam, or Roy at sometime in their life, and the bittersweet agony of the whole journey provided the summer's biggest cliffhanger. In my online poll to find the "Top Mom Crushes," both John Krasinski and Steve Carell have been nominated.
  
  Finally, the DVD extras are truly great. The deleted scenes for each episode range from about 4 to 11 minutes and they are really funny. The discipline of 22 minutes works in the show's favor keep the stories tight, but the extra scenes are a worthy bonus for true fans.
  
  This is a fantastic show, and a great DVD set. Even if you didn't watch the British version of the show (which I could never quite get into) give the American version of "The Office" a chance. What separates "The Office" from any other current "sitcom" is that much of the humor comes from what is left unsaid, rather than having a barrage of lame one-liners hitting viewers over the head. "The Office" is absurd, laugh-out-loud comedy with a heart--and if you are part of a couple, it's appointment TV that you can both love.
  
  

• Laugh Out Loud Funny

  
  By A1EYS0SF2CWUQJ on 2006-07-08
  I look forward to this show on Thursday nights because it always brightens up my week, especially paired with "My Name Is Earl". From what I understand, though critically acclaimed, this show isn't getting the viewership it deserves. I don't know why. It's hilarious! Just watch the Christmas Party and Booze Cruise episodes and you will know what I mean. What a wonderful cast of strange characters and what unusual (and hilarious) predicaments they find themselves in. I don't know what I'd do if I actually worked in an office like this (possibly hang myself), but it sure is fun to watch!
  
  

• An absolutely brilliant Season Two for what could well be the best comedy on TV

  
  By A16QODENBJVUI1 on 2006-09-25
  Warning: Some spoilers
  
  Of all the half-hour comedy shows that I've ever seen, THE OFFICE is the one that I would have thought the least likely to be brilliant. The BBC original version of the show was a thing of genius. Trying to do an American version of it seemed to me to be akin to Andy Warhol doing a remake of Picasso's "Guernica." Watching the show in Season One I was astonished that it was not only not bad, but that it was in fact very good. Amazingly, in Season Two it became something utterly brilliant. Although I was a huge fan of the original show, I have to confess that the American show is every bit as good as the British original. It is the finest American adaptation of a British show since ALL IN THE FAMILY remade TIL DEATH DO US PART.
  
  Two things make this a great show: the writing, which is persistently brilliant (though obviously aided by a great deal of improvisation on the set), and the cast, which is both talented and very deep. Steve Carrell at first was not completely at home in the role, failing to strike the right balance between an utter absurdity and being likable nonetheless. Ricky Gervais managed to get this perfect from the beginning and he was always someone viewers would find to be the world's biggest idiot while nonetheless inwardly rooting for things to work out for him. At first, Carrell was incredibly funny in the role, but he was not someone to feel much sympathy for. But as Season Two went on and some of his own insecurities were revealed, we came to understand that he was more aware of his own basic unlikability than his persistent bluster made clear. By the end of the season he was near perfect in the role and he fully deserved the Golden Globe he won. Nearly as many laughs were generated by his brown-nosing sycophant Dwight, played brilliantly by Rainn Wilson. But the heart of the show in Season Two was the obvious and endearing attraction between Pam (sweetly played by Jenna Fischer), who is engaged to marry a guy who works in the warehouse, and Jim Halpert (winningly played by Jon Krasinski). If the antics of Michael Scott dominated each individual episode, the non-romance between Jim and Pam dominated the season as a whole. The climax of the entire season comes in the final episode, when Jim confesses his love for Pam and they kiss, just before he transfers to the Stamford, Connecticut branch of the company. I have rarely seen so much anticipation over a summer for the start of a new season for a half-hour show as I did this one, with an army of fans of the show wondering how Pam and Jim would pick up in Season Three.
  
  Although THE OFFICE started off fine in its first season, it got better and better throughout Season Two. Because it has already run for more episodes than the British original, it is beginning to exploit one advantage it has over it: the ability to develop more fully minor characters. In the second half of the season especially a number of characters who initially just took up space became known entities, such as Kelly, the Indian girl who is fixated on getting married and immediately having babies on the one hand and doing this with her coworker Ryan on the other. Or Creed, about whom we learn more and more odd details as the season goes along, culminating in the season finale where he informs us that he likes to steal things. (Creed, by the way, is played by Creed Bratton, who was a rock star in the sixties as lead guitarist for the famous group the Grassroots, which had a string of huge hits including "Midnight Confession" and "Let's Live for Today.") As we get to know the various members of the office and pick up on the intricate interplay between the various personalities, the show becomes more and more irresistible.
  
  THE OFFICE follows a trend in the best American television comedy to move away from the situation comedies that has long dominated our comedy. Most shows have been shot in front of a live studio audience, filmed with three or more cameras, performing each scene more than once in order to have alternate takes for the final version. But wonderfully innovative shows like MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE, ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT, and SCRUBS has abandoned the situation comedy format and opted for a more realistic format. Like ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT, THE OFFICE takes on a documentary style, shooting the film on hand held video, which not only gives the show a more spontaneous feel, but avoids the expensive camera and lighting set ups that adds a lot of time to shooting. I think this is a great trend and I personally would love to see the live audience situation comedy disappear entirely.
  
  With the unfortunate demise of ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT (I still haven't recovered from that shock of its disappearance), THE OFFICE becomes the finest and most innovative comedy on American television (its only rival for the title being SCRUBS). There are still a few diehard fans of the BBC series that won't give this one a try. They should. It not only does great honor to the British show, it has become an absolutely wonderful show in its own right.
  
  

• Can't Wait for Season 3

  
  By A9Z5DW6KO8ASM on 2006-08-28
  I'm going to use this review as a forum to say Thank You to NBC for this absolute jewel of a show, and for finally giving your audience intelligent, introspective humor. Thank you to the ingenious writers for finding a style that manages to be engaging and smart while it's being silly. And thank you to every single one of these fantastic actors, who honestly make me believe they're in Scranton, PA, trudging through another day at Dunder-Mifflin as we speak. I didn't discover The Office until about midway through the second season, and I'm so glad I did. It feels so good to have 30 minutes of belly laughs every week at "The Office".
  
  

• Second season pure comedic genius

  
  By AQP1VPK16SVWM on 2006-09-17
  When "The Office" first appeared on NBC the show used many of the basic plots for the brief first season. In comparison to the British inspiration these shows were good but it's clear that the series hadn't found its own voice yet. That can't be said of the glorious, hilarious second season which actually surpasses its inspiration. Steve Carell can sell things with such sincerity and plays the role of Michael so perfectly straight that his deadpan approach fits the series like a glove.
  
  An excellent transfer from Universal "The Office" looks marvelous in this transfer. The show is shot in HD video so there aren't any analog problems that crop up. Audio sounds terrific as well the box says it's 5.1 but it sounded like a 5.0 mix to me although the surround speakers are used well for ambient sound keep in mind this is a dialogue driven show like most sitcoms.
  
  We have bloopers, parodies of the "The More You Know" commercial spots that NBC periodically runs on topics such as not eating black jellybeans, meteors, using the word smell in everyday conversation, taping sex (and forgetting to erase it). "Steve on Steve" faces himself in interview for both "The Office" and "The 40 Year Old Virgin". It's pretty clever. The "Olympic Promos" are pretty funny as well. We also get on 10 episodes featuring a variety of cast and crew. I only had time to listen to a couple of them and both were amusing at the very least. The two I had time to listen to for this review were "Drug Testing" and "Casino Night" two of my favorites from this season (they also happen to be the last two episodes of the season as well). Unfortunately Steve Carell doesn't appear on either one of these commentary tracks (as producer/writer Greg Daniels jokingly notes on "Casino Night" which Carell wrote, "he's too busy working on his movie career". In fact he doesn't appear on any of the tracks as he was in the midst of shooting a film.
  
  Disc three features "The Faces of Scranton" the short film that Michael made for one episode. It's amusing. Back on disc four we have the webisodes are pretty amusing as well but they lack a play all feature so you have to go back to the special features menu to play them individually. It's odd that this was forgotten but a minor annoyance. There are also two hours of deleted scenes throughout the set. Interestingly a couple of cast members write as well as appear in the series which probably accounts for the fact that it found its own creative and comedic voice surpassing the original British series during its second season. The deleted scenes usually follow each episode and can be played individually.
  
  A dry, hilarious sitcom about the misadventures in the workplace, "The Office" came into its own during its second season departing from the British inspiration. The show managed to find its own voice and tone with the appealing writing of Daniels, Carell and cast member B. J. Novak among others. The extras are terrific and, with the exception of some minor issues such as the deleted scenes not being presented in enhanced 16X9 mode (which means they're letterboxed for those who have widescreen TVs) and the lack of a "play all" feature for the webisodes this is a pretty terrific set. The first season only consisted of six episodes so fans of the show will be in heaven with this set. Every one of the episodes from the "The Dundies" to the faux award show to the episode on "Sexual Harassment" to "Casino Night" there are no misfires during season two. This is a gem of a set well worth picking up for fans of the show. I would suggest renting though for those folks who haven't watched the show to see if the dry humor of the series will appeal to you.
  
  
  
  
• "The Office" (US) avoids redundancy
  By A11T8GHGZACHD2 on 2006-08-25
  The second season is where this show seemed to really hit its stride and begin to carve out an identity all its own, apart from the British version. Sure, the basic premise of the UK show remains in place here, including the general characterizations of the four primary characters. However, the real charm of this second season is the expanded familiarity now given to the other office workers.
  
  In many ways, the US version of "The Office" was always going to be at a disadvantage to the UK version because of the time and commercial constraints of the half-hour sitcom format in America, coupled with the stricter broadcast standards that forbid some of the content that the UK version could get away with. But, the US show takes advantage of the greater number of episodes per season, and really uses that extra time to flesh out the rest of the office cast, which is something the UK series simply would not have sufficient time to do. Someone like Kelly, for instance, has now been given distinct personality traits and quirks that distinguish her from the other characters, which would not have been possible with only 6 episodes in a season. It's actually remarkable how much these supporting characters have been developed in so short a time. When you see a quick shot of Merideth taking a sip from a plastic cup at her desk, you know (more or less) what's inside now. When Oscar seems to avoid talking about who it was that gave him a Valentine's Day gift, you know why. Simple little moments are now given extra meaning and comedic potential because of the increased familiarity.
  
  Maybe these are just superficial "characterizations" at this point. But, it has still only been two seasons so far (it's really only been about one and one-third seasons, to be fair). It's obvious, though, that this is the direction the show is headed, and it seems to be working very well.
  
  The main cast, of course, is still the anchor of the show. And, the inter-office romance theme that really only found expression through Tim in the UK version, has now also expanded to include several characters. In fact, by the end of Season Two, all four of the main male characters are in some way involved in a romance with a co-worker. Three of these four relationships are mined for comedic gold (Dwight and Angela are especially golden). But, one of these four relationships serves an entirely different purpose for the show.
  
  Like the UK series, there is intense angst and frustration at the heart of all the comedy. The significance of Pam & Jim (and Dawn & Tim from the UK series) goes beyond mere sexual tension. Their relationship is about overcoming spirit-crushing complacency, both at their job and in their love-lives (or lack thereof, in some cases). It seems like an easy-enough cliche in TV and film for characters to break free of their inhibitions and just "go for it!", but it's never really that simple, and "The Office" doesn't take any shortcuts. There's comfort in routine and familiarity. That comfort can eventually turn into dependency. Even if one person in a relationship is ready to make the leap, it doesn't mean the other is. It took about three attempts in the UK show for Tim & Dawn's lives to finally align in the correct way for them to get together at last. Season Two of the US show ends with a cliffhanger suggesting maybe Jim and Pam have both arrived at the same point. But, I have a suspicion we're in for at least a couple more seasons of suffering before it all works out.
  
  Luckily for me, I happen to find suffering hilarious.
  
  
• Pure Gold
  By A3SWXVBKWZ357G on 2006-07-20
  I started season 2 as not really a fan, 1 was okay, but just something to pass the time. Starting with "The Fire" I realized this is very good and after watching "Christmas Party" I thought this just might be the greatest comedy of all time. Read my season 1 review for my thought on the show itself.
  
  This year had my favorites. The Fire was the first truly great episode, Dwight stole the show. I continued to be amazed by it's humor and Christmas Party had me rolling. I suggest if you want to get into this show, watch that one first. It introduces you to all the characters and it is one of the funniest. Unfortunetly, it is followed by Booze Cruise which is my least favorite but it sets up an important plot point for the rest of the season.
  
  The ones after that, "The Injury" through "Valentine's Day" are also some of the better ones. "Take Your Daughter to Work Day", "Drug Testing", and "Conflict Resolution" are good as well. Then is the 40-minute season finale "Casino Night" which probably overtakes Christmas Party as my favorite. And the last minute is a shocker!
  
  Along with this, there is commentary, deleted scenes, outtakes, and they even add the online webisodes (10 2-minute episodes that can be found online throughout the summer). Any Office fan, wheather you have seen them already or want to start, must get this set. Go! NOW!
  
  
• Howlingly Funny
  By AGJM2EQ2CZPGP on 2006-08-26
  The Office is the best comedy to hit TV since Seinfeld. The concept originated from our British friends version of the Office, which is also quite funny, but I'll take our actors and their chemistry over their version anyday. Well written, well acted and actually makes you think on many levels. Once you get a feel for the characters, and understand their mix you'll find yourself quoting this series often. Meet Kevin the pervert. Discover Jim and Pan (see Dwight's concussion episode) and their friendship. Get irritated by Dwight - the Assitant to the Regional Manager all led by the annoying but pathetically likeable Michael, captain of the paper ship - who is "a friend first and boss second". It was up against some great competition for the Emmy and had a well deserved win!!!
  
  
• Sorry, but my thumbs are still firmly down
  By on 2006-11-17
  I loved the UK Office. I loved the earnest characters, the drab office backdrop and the razor wit of Ricky Gervais. I also enjoy Steve Carrel, but this show has done nothing to grab me. Believe me, I have tried. I've watched all of season one and got one fourth the way through this season. The actors portray their characters so deliberately, not subtly. The jokes seem so forced. I did my best, but Gervais' Office will always be THE Office to me.
  
  Why do we Americans feel the need to remake and repackage everything popular that exists outside of our borders? If you asks me, it does not speak well of us as a nation and makes us come off as very close-minded and self-centered.
  
  
• "Have you ever....pooped a balloon?"
  By ACKOUQRFD5C3Q on 2006-08-07
  The above quote may seem childish in writing but seeing it performed by Rainn Wilson as Dwight K. Schrute is simply comedic gold. While the first season of "The Office" had some very good moments, the second season is when it became the best show on TV. From "The Dundees", where boss and politically incorrect boob Michael Scott butchers songs trying to be a real award show (while failing miserbly at it) to "Casino Night" where, finding out he has two dates for the night, proclaims he's "going to drop a deuce on everyone", "The Office is laugh out loud funny, something you don't get to see much of in todays generic sitcom situations (Two and a Half Men).
  
  The writing and cast are top notch. Steve Carrell (who should win an Emmy as Michael Scott) is the ringleader of the shenanigans. John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer and of course Rainn Wilson are the biggest elements to an ensemble cast that is unmatched on TV today. Highlights of the show include:
  
  "Halloween", with Michael needing to fire someone by the end of the day and the problems he has firing anyone.
  
  "Christmas Party" where the gift exchange goes horribly wrong because of Michael's stupidity (Buying a $300 Ipod for a $25 maximum exchange), then wondering if 15 bottles of vodka is enough to get 20 people drunk. Classic.
  
  "Booze Cruise", another disaster for Michael. Trying to give a motavational speech while doing "the worm" is something to behold.
  
  Along with Michael's falures and embarrassments as well as the office staffs professional and personal lives, we get to see the budding relationship between Pam (Fischer) and Jim (Krasinski), who flirt while knowing there is no way they can be together, since she is engaged to Roy who works in the warehouse. But as we see by the last show, "Casino Night", things may take a different turn for these two.
  
  In the end, "The Office" has the one thing that is missing in many of todays comedies: a heart. When Michael, who's single and has no kids, shows a video of himself as a youngster on a kids show, young Michael proclaims that his wish is to "have a wife, 100 kids and 100 friends, so no one can say no to being my friend". It's hilarious and heartbreaking at the same time.
  
  
• Workplace Shenanigans w/Outstanding DVD Extras
  By A375NHE4L5104B on 2006-11-27
  NBC's The Office deservedly won the Emmy for Best Comedy Series for 2006. This mockumentary presents the everyday goings-on at the Scranton branch of Dunder-Mifflin Paper Company Inc. The interactions that are captured among the employees are hilariously cringe-inducing as Regional Manager Michael Scott, wonderfully portrayed by Steve Carell, pines for EVERYONE'S adoration while attempting to incorporate political correctness and social consciousness into the workplace. One problem: he is clueless to the fact that he basks in ignorance and narrow-mindedness. Strangely enough, he is also warm-hearted and sensitive. See the "Halloween" episode where he struggles with the task of laying off an employee or the "Take Your Daughter To Work Day" episode where it's obvious that he's a natural with kids. The deleted scenes on the DVD set are so outstanding that the producers should have integrated them back into the episodes instead of tagging at the end. They are not to be neglected.
  
  All of the characters (from Corporate Executive Jan Levinson to the warehouse guys) are written and portrayed in multidimensional fashion so viewers are interested in the subplots and background interactions in each episode. It is this specific season that we witness further development of the relationships of Jim & Pam, Dwight & Angela, Ryan & Kelly, Michael & Jan, and Oscar & ??. What does the future hold? Who knows? But it keeps me glued to the tube every Thursday night.
  
  By the way, how in the hell was Rainn Wilson overlooked for his brilliant portrayal of office brown-noser Dwight Schrute by the television Academy for an Emmy nomination for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series?? Anybody?
  
  
• Simply Amazing
  By AE84V0ZB5O3XU on 2006-11-28
  I could simply repeat what everyone has thus far said: amazing show, amazing acting, and completely hilarious. However, what sets the show apart from other hilarious sitcoms (Arrested Development, another drop dead eye-tearingly funny show, comes to mind) is the moments of actual, genuine emotion that slip through all the awkward humor. This show is the absolute king of sucker punching you with heartfelt moments when you least expect them. Everyone talks about Pam and Jim (more on that later), but Steve Carrell's Michael Scott is actually the master at this. Every time you think they are going to push him totally over the edge into cartoon buffonery, he comes back with something you don't expect. The first thing that comes to mind is the "Dundies" episode, where Michael is getting heckled by some frat boy drunks at the Chili's bar. You go from laughing at his ridiculous so called "comedy" to totally feeling crushed for the guy, and kind of guilty for making fun of him in the first place. Of course, what review would be complete without Pam and Jim, everyone's favorite unrequited love. All I'm going to say is this: many viewers have gotten used to anti climactic endings, unanswered questions, and big moments that never come (coughcoughLostcoughcough)....BUT if you haven't seen this season, just stick with it, because the last (and now legendary) "Casino Night" episode has one of the most well-earned (and truly suspenseful) payoffs I've seen in the last 5 years of watching TV.
  
  
• I Don't Get It!
  By A14ESWX6B2WDUG on 2006-12-24
  I think that the BBC version is one of the funniest things that I have ever seen. Clever, witty, outrageously funny....
  
  I saw 3 episodes of the NBC version and didn't even smile. Very boring, unfunny stuff. Maybe it's me, or I just saw 3 unfunny episodes.
  
  The BBC version had to be dumbed down for American audiences, I guess. In doing so, it lost all of its punch.
  
  
  
  
• Amazing shows only deserve amazing box sets!
  By A1KSO56UWS2R7I on 2006-09-20
  SHOW:
  Brilliant Emmy Award winning show. A much different direction than the first season, and very successful. Laugh out loud funny meets wit in this hilarious comedy with excellent writing. The top notch cast not only succeeds at delivering their lines, but adding their own personality with hilarious improv.
  
  DVD:
  Brilliant transfer. Crips, clean, good color balance, great blacks. Looks fantastic on HDTV. TONS!! of deleted scenes (over 2 hours worth) and commentary for each episode. That doesn't include bonus features. Upgraded from 2.0 to Dolby 5.1 Surround Sound this sounds just as good as it looks.
  
  Why are you still reading this review instead of ordering it?
  
  
• Brilliantly Funny And Unforgettably Sad
  By AGSWTH7SP2256 on 2007-05-10
  Like a lot of people, when I heard NBC was going to make an American version of the classic British comedy "The Office", I just hoped it would go away quickly without a lot of fuss (especially after the smoking ruin that was the idiotic attempt with "Coupling", another great British show.) Imagine my surprise when this "The Office" turned out to be great, with some tweaks that make it quintessentially American. The British version, while hilarious, is also unremittingly bleak and cruel, with only the slimmest margin of hope. It would probably be impossible to tune in week after week to an exact replica (there are only around 12 episodes of the original after all, so those office workers got put out of their misery pretty quickly.) The producer of the new series, Greg Daniels, worked on the funny King of the Hill - The Complete First Season and brought that series' compassion, guarded optimism, and skewed humanity with him, and it's a perfect fit here. I'm still a little amazed that a show with such an unusual fake-documentary format, complex characters, and smart writing has turned into a hit. But I was also shocked when "Seinfeld" found its audience, so I should just be grateful.
  
  The excellence of Steve Carell shouldn't be overlooked in our rush to embrace Jim/Pam. In Michael Scott he has created one of television's most remarkable jerks, right up there with Archie Bunker. Ricky Gervais' original boss, David Brent, is his equal in neediness and obnoxiousness, but the crucial difference is that Michael has a conscience and a dim awareness that there are other people in the world. So we see those excruciating scenes when he says something unforgivable, but he knows it (this is really true in the episode "The Fight" on this DVD set, where both Michael and Jim realize they have taken things too far.) We know guys like this; maybe we are guys like this.
  
  This show has the most amazing cast: in Dwight Schrute, Rainn Wilson has created a pop culture icon (and a far more nuanced character than his British counterpart, the hideous Gareth.) John Krasinski is charismatic as Jim, but he also lets us see Jim's callowness and immaturity. And what else can one say about Jenna Fischer, the queen of the nerds, as Pam? She is both glowing and dejected as the mousy receptionist who doesn't realize how wonderful she is. As someone wrote, when she's around Jim "she shines like a Christmas tree." Which makes the season finale, "Casino Night", and the first few episodes of Season 3, all the more crushing. Watching the self-destructiveness of others is always heartbreaking.
  
  Someone once said that life is made up of humiliation and loss, so those are the materials we have to use in order to make something of it. That's a rather desolate assessment, but not entirely untrue, I think. It's a good description of the modus operandi of Season 2 of "The Office" as well. You will laugh hard and get your heart broken at the same time.
  
  
• My favorite Season Two Episodes
  By AHYVOH0D0TYAA on 2006-07-08
  17. Booze Cruise - Jim and Pam's scene on the boat was perfect.
  
  18. The Injury - The scene of Jim, Dwight, and Michael in the mini van was hysterical.
  
  21. Boys and Girls - Love the Jim and Pam scenes. Dwight has some great lines.
  
  28. Casino Night - A perfect ending.
  
  
• NBC'S The Office has a Life of It's Own!
  By A1WSYBL27O2WNP on 2006-09-20
  I am a major fan of the "original" Office from the BBC. When I first heard that NBC had somehow managed to acquire permission to produce an American version, I thought that NBC would destroy the franchise and produce a rolled up version of the show. To their credit, NBC has made a show which has a life of its own and this is hands down the best program on network TV today.
  
  The writers and cast has managed to build upon Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant and the BBC crew had created in the original - a hillarious documentary about working in a place where people just try to get by under the most mundane circumstances. What's so great about this show is that the episodes reflect the modern work environment.
  
  The DVD contains some great bonus features which are additional episodes in themselves. One feature shows the story of the "Accountants" which I thought was a hillarious "whodunnit" bit. The DVDs also contain those fake PSA commercials played by the actors from the show discussing the unusual topics of directions for weddings, cakes, bears, etc.
  
  If you are a fan of the show, you will get a kick of all the extra features on this DVD. If you have never seen this show, hankering to see intelligent comedy and sick of seeing all the perturbations of "Survivor", check out this show...
  
  Keep up the great work and keep those shows rolling!!
  
  
• Hands down the best comedy on TV today
  By A28TW79EMD339Z on 2006-12-01
  ...and well on its way to ranking amongst the best of all time. The Office is a smart (and dry) comedy that offers something different. The cast is all exceptional, particular Raine Wilson and Steve Carell as Dwight and Michael respectively. The cast expertly portrays a parody of office life in a way that leaves you rolling on the floor laughing with each episode.
  
  Unlike Season 1, which was an overpriced single disc with just 6 episodes, this collection represents not only the first full season of the show, but also the episodes where it begins to hit its stride. And unlike so many of the box sets out there, the bonus features on this one are actually worth watching, especially the deleted scenes that accompany each episode (about 5 extra minutes on each episode!). No watered down content in these -- the deleted scenes are just as funny as any of the jokes in the episode.
  
  My one beef actually goes back to the special features. I wish that there was a way to watch the full extended version of an episode with the extra scenes included so that you could see them in their full context. The added jokes ring well as long as you watch the deleted scenes immediately after watching the corresponding episode, but it's not the kind of thing where you can sit back and just watch all the deleted scenes for an evening. They lose some of their impact as standalone segments.
  
  
• Controversial opinion: Season 2 has surpassed the UK version
  By A8IFUTWVCSY1W on 2006-08-19
  I know I'll probably get stoned to death by british people for saying that, but it is the truth. I watched and loved the UK Office when it came out and hated the US version during its early episodes (especially the first that was identical to the first UK episode).
  However, as great as the UK office could be, it was very uneven and had some flaws, mainly in casting, that the US version has fixed.
  
  I'd say the US office, during the second season, has a better cast in every role except for David Brent/Micheal Scott, Jim/Tim and Gareth/Dwight. The british Tim gets a slight edge for me, but the other pairs are really pretty equal. Steve Carell is a different boss than David Brent, but in a good way.
  
  This show provided lovers of well-written smart comedy some consolation after the loss of Arrested Development.
  
  Great stuff.
  
  
• Each replay of an episode induces laughter, perhaps even greater laughter than from the initial viewing...
  By A12OTDIWIG841L on 2006-08-23
  What a funny show! I watch reruns without getting sick of it because it is so clever, so intelligent (much like Seinfeld reruns). You pick up more details the more times you watch: strange facial expressions and gestures, characters in the background, odd items on desks, etc. Also, I appreciate the absence of an annoying laugh track. Awkward silences are far superior!
  
  Steve Carrell's character, Michael, is weirdly irritating, immature, and pathetic. He's so desperate for everyone to be his friend that half the time you're annoyed with him - and yet you can't help loving him and feeling sorry for his lack of popularity and unique qualities. I thought it was sad when he found out about Jim's party (Email Surveillance episode), to which he was not invited. And it was almost painful to see how everyone hated him in the acting class; but he was obnoxious and repeated the same antics like a little kid, which would bother most people, I think. Nonetheless, he remains a likeable character.
  
  Uptight Angela is so funny as she tries to hide her relationship with Dwight, and vice versa. I especially loved the Valentine's episode, and also the Casino Finale when Dwight kissed her on the cheek. She "angrily" slaps him, but as she walks away, you see a flicker of a smile before her regular stony expression returns.
  
  Kelly is the typical annoying, gossipy coworker that talks like a boy-crazy teenager and acts as if she's still in high school at times. For example, she asked Jim to ask Ryan if he Liked her. And when Jan came to have a meeting with all female staff, I loved this remark by Kelly:
  
  "I don't want to be one of those soccer moms in a minivan," she begins, as Jan looks on approvingly. "I want to drive an SUV!" Jan is disappointed at that one, of course.
  Also liked Angela's asides about a woman's aspirations in the office. "Jan obviously aspires to be a whore," with a glance to her miniskirt. (These are loose quotes, by the way. I'm not sure if they're perfectly accurate, though I think they're close.)
  
  I see some of my coworkers in these characters, but my office is not nearly as entertaining (however, we accomplish more work because of this). My hope is for this show to continue for many years. As it is, I'm very excited for the third season. I wonder what will become of Pam and Jim...
  
  
• The Office gets the Dundie Award for best comedy series!!!
  By AOY2MKDX0U7OF on 2006-08-30
  What can you say? This show not only has a memeber of the "Frat Pack", Steve Carell playing Micheal Scott and Greg Daniels, who is known for such works as King of the Hill, Simpsons and Seinfeld, as one of their executive producers. You know that this show is going to be a hit for a very longtime.
  
  
• The Most Perfect Season of TV Ever?
  By A24JT2AV8D3LSM on 2006-09-10
  As a huge classic TV fan, I never thought that I would say that a season of a show airing from 2005 to 2006 is the single most perfect season of a TV show ever. But I think the second season of NBC's The Office achieves that. Every single episode of this season made me both laugh hillariously and brought me to the brink of tears. They're all perfectly plotted, scripted, and especially acted. The characters are so well developed, and I can't wait to see how they grow in Season 3, which I doubt will be able to match the sheer brilliance of this season.
  
  
• I don't even watch television.
  By ARR5FCE0KAWF0 on 2006-12-03
  The Office is the single most well written TV sitcom that I have ever experienced. I've only enjoyed certain shows, such as Seinfeld and Family Guy, but this is absolutely amazing. This is a show for the intellectuals, the jokes are quickly carried out, giving it that British comedic feel. If you have this one, you're going to need to buy the first one, and most definitely the third season when it comes out. As I said in the title, I don't even watch television, and this my friends is the most amazing DVD set to come into light to this very day.
  
  Dwight Shrute is coming to the Steamtown Mall in Scranton in mid-December!
  
  
  
  
• Might seem like exaggerated praise,,,
  By A1AISPOIIHTHXX on 2007-04-03
  I have to be honest: many shows people consider "the funniest show on TV" I just don't find funny at all. Friends after awhile just got stale and I never got the appeal of Everybody Loves Raymond. The Office came around since I was looking to get into a new show and you hear so much about it, you just kind of figure you'd check into it. Even starting the show on the 2nd season still made it accessible and there's plenty to like about the show. From the writing to the comedy to the moments of drama, it's great to see a show that rarely has an outright bomb.
  
  The show centers on the workers/drones who work at Dunder-Mifflin, a paper sales company. The manager is Michael Scott, a rude and inconsiderate boss who has so much ignorance that he's unaware of the fact nobody seems to find him funny or a competent boss. His assistant is Dwight Schrute, an incredible oddball who is a suck-up, nerd and genuine weirdo all in one. Then we have cutie receptionist Pam, relatable everyman Jim, cold Angela and many others as they deal with the boredom and weirdness that can happen in the office.
  
  Of course, what makes the show work so well, besides the comedy, is the realism. Shot documentary-style, the show tends to accurately portray the different types of characters you're bound to run into (although I am glad to say I never met a real-life Dwight). I even have my own version of Pam, the girl you're just obviously meant to be with but circumstances prevents you from stepping in. Another big plus is the cast never seems to have a useless character and they end up contributing something to the place, even if they're boring and humorless (Toby) shrill and annoying (Kelly), the office just would seem to bland had they not been around.
  
  It's hard to gauge how the show would work if you already watched the episodes but rarely do you get complete misfires. While there's some highlights including practically any prank Jim pulls on Dwight or the Christmas Party episode or the heartbreak Michael gets during "Bring Your Daughter to Work Day", each episode feels a part of a whole rather than having it be hit-and-miss throughout the season. Of course, the big arc is the Jim and Pam romance, or rather the lack thereof since you rarely see a more perfect couple on TV and yet they're not together since she's engaged to the insensitive Roy (who oddly has a real-life counterpart to my very own Pam as well). There's some biggies in the season including a doozy I'm not spoiling.
  
  With commentaries, bloopers, and many other extras, not only is it a hilarious and even a touching season but it's got plenty of extras to check out afterwards. I'd very much recommend this show if you're not watching it already. Oh and just because people say the British version is better is not reason enough to completely ignore this.
  
  
• Great DVDs! Can watch them over and over!
  By A1S0CR5010JZSF on 2007-04-11
  Great season of the office. Would recommend it to anyone that loves dry comedy.
  
  
• Otherwise it's just malfeasance for malfeasance's sake.
  By A1GSR7RGCG1QYZ on 2007-04-13
  Typically whenever I see an American remake of anything that British hands have touched, I cringe. I don't just cringe, I yell, followed by a yelp, and then I begin to spasm. It isn't a pretty sight, so after viewing the BBC masterpiece "The Office" with David Brent helming the office that anyone that has ever worked for the corporate world has endured time and time again, I was extremely nervous about this American version that was going to invade our weekly lineup. Could any cast successfully do what Gervais so originally did? Would/Could it translate to non-intelligent American viewers? My thought was no, but thankfully Gervais stuck with it, brought aboard the amazingly gifted Carell to lead this eerily real office into the American living room. Within the first several episodes of the sporadic first season, I was hooked, but it was this second season that transformed me into a true fan.
  
  Michael Scott, a name now synonymous with images of any office boss, is the head of Dunder Mifflin's Scranton office, whose passion is for humor and friendship, not necessarily the best interest of the office. What makes Scott the quintessential boss is that he is decent at his job, but is only there due to the elusive "grandfather" clause, demonstrated in any corporate environment when the least qualified gets the job due mainly in part to his dedication to the company - not necessarily their quality of workmanship. Scott is not the smartest in the office, and the hijinks ensue due to the fact that those coworkers around him are not afraid to exploit the opportunity at any given moment. In fact, what makes this show work is not just Carell's character, but those surrounding him on a daily basis. The one weakness that the BBC "Office" had trouble with is exactly what makes this program stand out. The BBC version focused directly on Brent, and not quite taking him out of his office element or allowing us to see what laid behind those unreinforced walls. In the series by NBC, we have such a humanistic view of the office. There are those that we care about, there are those that we laugh at, there are those we feel sympathy towards, and there are those that we just simply relate to. It was the drama of the office this second season that transformed me into a fan. The relationship between Dwight and Jim, thus the relationship between Jim and Pam, as well as the spawning diabolical relationship between the Temp and Kelly (of which I am constantly laughing).
  
  I don't want to go so far as to say that I am a "fanboy" of this series, honestly, I still like the BBC the best, but this American version continues to make me laugh after several viewings. The characters are so strong, detailed, and each individually their own person. That is odd to hear, but I believe one could create a whole series around each character and still have a great program. Obviously, Dwight Schrute has become a stand out character, but it is because of the genuinely strong writing style, the Christopher Guest style of mockumentary, and the "edge-of-your-couch" nervousness that each episode brings that each character is allowed to shine. I like the layout of the series as well. There are genuine heart-felt moments being uprooted between Scott and his "ladies", Jim and Pam, as well as the inner office connection between Schrute and ___________ (insert your guess here). As audience members, we get more from this series than we did with the short-lived three season BBC version. I know these characters better, I laugh at the absurdities mainly because I have experienced the same in Corporate America. I laugh because it's true.
  
  Personal favorite episodes from the season:
  
  "Bring your Daughter to Work Day"
  "Casino Night"
  "Boys and Girls"
  "Drug Testing"
  "The Injury" (can I look at a George Foreman the same?)
  
  Overall, I have to suggest this series to everyone out there. I am not going to drool over the box because with each season the creators of this show walk a fine line. They could utterly destroy the foundation by elongating the series too much or by forgetting the BBC roots OR even get caught up in the hype surrounding the characters - but for now, I am happy. Gervais hasn't sold out in my eyes, he has brought a crisp, original, intelligent new program for the American audiences, and it surprises me that we have grasped it openly. Now, if we could only get more people to watch and enjoy "Curb your Enthusiasm", the war would be ours!
  
  Grade: ***** out of *****
  
  
• The Office is a masterpiece!!!
  By A1554IQNGEZSKX on 2006-06-30
  The Office is one of the funniest shows on TV today. It's humor is just perfect. When I ordered the first season I was dissapointed that there were only 6 episodes. It is very nice to see a lot more episodes on the second season.
  
  
• SWEET
  By on 2006-07-04
  Finally season two has come out, with great episodes like "The Dundies", "OFfice Olympics" and "Drug Testing". This as got to be the most hilariously awkward show on television, Steve Carrell does and absolutley fantastic job as Michael, Dwight the office suck-up is great too. Lots of Laughs, great show for a fantastic price
  
  
• "this is an environment of welcoming, and you should just get the hell out of here".....
  By A3PDYRRLMS1UAL on 2006-09-13
  Those who have not jumped aboard the Office bandwagon yet, or are hardliners of the original (and classic) BBC series & refuse to watch on principle, these 22 episodes should certainly make you a long-term fan. For those who have been watching since the beginning & need more, you'll soak up the hours of deleted scenes (mostly as solid as the aired footage), bloopers, PSAs & promos, and commentaries on 10 episodes. If that's not enough, the recent "webisodes" are included as well. For the price tag, you'll get more than your money's worth on this DVD set....here's hoping Season 3 keeps up the momentum.
  
  
• DVD box set definitely worth the price
  By AA3B2XAGMI0RE on 2006-09-17
  Not only is this show one of the funniest and well-written shows on television, the Season 2 box set has lots of extras that make it worth buying. I know that sometimes it seems like buying TV shows might not be worth it because they will eventually be re-run or go into syndication, but this DVD set only adds to the enjoyment of the world of Dunder-Mifflin. All of the webepisodes are there, the fake PSAs, and the commentaries. But the best part has to be the deleted scenes, which not only add to the back story on the show (the Tobey-Jim connection, the Jim wedding date toast), but are just as funny as the material that makes the show. My students love this show, my parents love this show, and after checking out most of the Season 2 DVD, I am even more excited to see the Season 3 premiere than I was after that fantastically executed casino night!
  
  

• The Office - Season One
• The Office - Season Three
• The Office: Season Four
• 30 Rock - Season 1
• The Office - The Complete Collection BBC Edition (First And Second Series Plus Special)