For a long time I had no desire to watch the Office. Zip. For one, it was a show based on awkward, humiliating humor and irritating characters. Two, it was yet another American rip off of British brilliance. Three, it was based in an office and I was on a vibrantly green college campus.
But then, I got a job in an office. With a cubicle. And office politics, funny coworkers, vacation requests and recession shuffling. So I started watching because now it applied to my life, the humor was mocking things I dealt with everyday and allowing me to see a new funny light on the complex shenanigans of office interaction. And like other shows that seem acrid and biting from the outside, it turns out the Office has a heart. Even the worst of bosses can have a bit of humanity in them (ie Michael). Or love can flourish in a stifling & stale environment (Jim & Pam).
But it's really the side characters that get me. Dwight and Angela- omg they are so brilliantly funny. Its the cast dynamics that make this show. Dare I say, it's sort of like Friends that way. You tune in to watch the interpersonal dynamics, to watch Ross lose his Rachel again and again, to see everyone dependably not change. That's one of the best parts of comedy as opposed to drama- the static, reliable world that becomes like an old friend.
I still skip some parts when the show goes over the top. That's what Netflix is for!
