The Office Complete Series DVD Set
The Main Cast
Ricky Gervais .... David Brent
Martin Freeman .... Tim Canterbury
Mackenzie Crook .... Gareth Keenan
Lucy Davis .... Dawn Tinsley
The Premise
The story of an office that faces closure when the company decides to downsize its branches. A documentary film crew follow staff and the manager David Brent as they continue their daily lives, though it's never explicitly stated why they're being filmed.
The Good
The characters are completely believable in their own arenas. David is a horrible idiot half the time, Tim is hopeless most of the time, Gareth is creepy all the time, & Dawn is pining for something better most of the time. I believed in the characters & the actor's portrayals of them. So very convincing.
The Bad
Because David Brent is such a horribly unlikable character, the series takes a LOT of settling in. Good thing it's only 12 episodes & two 45 minute specials then. It's very British humour, which can be a good thing occasionally, but it takes patience.
The Fucking Awesome
David Brent's reaction to the woman he thought was his blind date at the Christmas Party. Fucking Awesome indeed. Other than that, nothing really stands out in the whole of the series, save the actors completely buying into their characters lives.
The Verdict
Overall, after watching all 12 eps & the special, I felt like my time wasn't wasted. If it had been just the first six eps, I would've felt a bit ripped off, as this is a series that takes a LOT of getting used to. & what is it with British TV shows & their horribly short episodic runs? Fawlty Towers was only twelve episodes too. I don't understand why The Office is so universally acclaimed & beloved. It must be a British thing. Clarify Twisted Youth. Recommended if you have patience.