Rating: 
Summary: Rent It First
Review: Count me among those who thought Series One is among the best, or maybe the very best comedy ever made. Compared to it Series Two is quite a let down, although perhaps still better than most other series. This series starts with the characters introduced in the first series and takes them nowhere. While the intergration of the Swindon office is promising in the first two episodes, the novelty wears off and for the most part we end up with a cruder repetition of the first series. Gervais was right to cut off the show after 12 episodes. Don't buy this based on the brillance of the first series; rent it first to make sure it's your cup of tea.
Rating: 
Summary: Very sophisticated
Review: Forget Friends. This is humor for the thinking man or woman. No slap-stick, no canned laughter. This is British humor at its best. Those that can not figure out the punch lines had better leave this on the shelf. Congnito, ergo, sum, I wish American humor would grow up to be like this.
Rating:
Summary: Brilliant! Still Better Than Friends!
Review: There's no laugh track. The humour here is subtle at times, and it makes you think. The actors' expressiveness fills the awkward silences to great effect. Many real issues and themes about life, politics of sexuality, gender and of course, politics of work environments, are embedded within the plotlines, anecdotes and jokes. It's refreshing to watch a show this funny, where the structure and writing feel real, and do not insult the viewer's intelligence. Unfortunately, there are only two seasons in this series. From personal experience working in several urban offices, I think there's enough people with stories and situations out there, that the writers could have found more material and created one more strong season. On the other hand, the writers do a fabulous job with maintaining the integrity of the show. They develop the stories and reveal the characters within the series in a seemingly natural progression. The story of David Brent becomes particularly juicy by season's end. Yes, it's not always making you laugh to form a queue by the lavatory. However, the humour is always smart and so unbelievable that it's completely believable. Ever Brilliant. When is the series finale coming out already?! It should be included with the second series, yeah?
Rating:
Summary: Hold those horses...
Review: before thinking that series (season) 2 ends on a downer, it's really not all that much doom and gloom. Keep your eyes peeled for the Christmas Special because it should put a smile on all those disappointed faces. David Brent is still....well SAD, in his own way but you'll see that he's getting on with his life, and people who were unhappy to see David loosing the plot in the last episodes will see that all is not lost.... "Know your limitations and be content with them. Too much ambition results in promotion to a job you can't do".
Rating:
Summary: Please don't make me redundant
Review: I don't understand the negative reviews for this second season. I perhaps have a different outlook on the whole thing than most people, as I saw the second season first... I've never seen anything like it, and if I had to pick one season over the other, I'd go with the this one. This is comedy that makes you squirm in your seat and laugh simply because you're feeling so uncomfortable. That's unique. It may be darker and more insidious, but that's a good thing. I get so sick of 'harmless' fun comedies. I think people get used to television shows where the characters remain stagnant archetypes and never change, but I thought the ending of this season was brilliant. It seems that we expect all TV show comedies to be regularly funny and never serious or sad, but we don't require the same "consistency" from our comedy movies. Frankly, I'm sick of tv, and its shows like this that make me briefly consider reconnecting my cable... until I realize that the show is now over and practically everything else on TV is a reality show gimic with flashy cutting to distract you from how moronic its concept is. I won't plead for another season, because I think it ended perfectly and if their heart's not in it then it should be discontinued... But I will eagerly wait for anything else Gervais and company come out with.
Rating:
Summary: Worse than Series 1, and therefore better!
Review: Series 1 of The Office was incredibly good, and in fact it contains my all-time favorite episode. Series 2, however, takes the dominant comic element of Series 1 (that is to say, intense comic discomfort) and ramps it up exponentially. Consequently, Series 2 is sometimes unbearable to watch, but is simulatenously hilarious. I'm not sure I've ever been so viscerally affected by a comedy. The Office is not for everyone, but if you enjoyed the first series, then prepare to be thoroughly entertained, tickled, pained, and yes, exhausted, by the second and final series of this true comic masterpiece.
Rating:
Summary: A brilliant dark comedy
Review: This is very much darker than the first series. In fact, at least with American sensibilities, it seems far more like a drama. What's remarkable is Ricky Gervais' brilliant performance--he proves to be quite a fine actor. This 2nd series is all about David Brent's complete breakdown and Gervais plays that with such a fine exactness that you really feel sorry for David even if he has brought it on himself. All the other actors are exceptionally good too--Martin Freeman's Tim is especially a heartbreaker. There are some good laughs throughout, but don't look for the often contrived American sit-com happy ending here.
Rating:
Summary: Do you know who my favorite actor is? Mr. Sydney Poitier
Review: You know, I usually don't write reviews. However, I felt season 2 was getting a bad rap in reviews and felt i should jump in. it is intersting to see that opinion of which series was better often differs depending on which side of the Atlantic you live. Maybe it's because i just got done watching it, but I prefer the second season. While I loved the first, i think the second resonated more emotionally with me (while being hilarious). Plus, Garreth has so many awesome lines. You'll laugh, you'll wince (you'll laugh while you're wincing) which is pretty much the highest compliment I can give to any comedy. that being said, the second season is noticiably darker. There are no MGM endings to be found here. And (spoiler) I really did want to see Tim and Dawn wind up together. It was painful to see David's reality come crashing in on him. so maybe it's not for the faint of heart. I heard recently they're making an american version of the office. why? Overall, the office is one of my all time favorite shows. Right up there with Freeks and Geeks, Six Feet Under, Seinfeld, Curb your Enthusiasm and Mystery Science Theater 3000. I give it my highest recommendation.
Rating: 
Summary: Season 2 better than Season 1
Review: I liked the 1st season of The Office enough that I purchased the 2nd season. Let me tell you, I was very surprised. Season 2 was even more cutting edge with more off-color humor. The Office is seriously a hysterical show; you just need to pick up on that kind of humor. If you find blatant sick jokes and offensive lines funny, then you'll really enjoy this show. In addition I found that there was more of a "dramatic" element to the show, if that makes any sense here. All the side stories were further explored, and basically the last episode in this season left me wanting more. I can't wait till season 3 comes out just to see what happens where it left off. Cheers.
Rating:
Summary: This DVD is bigger than a breadbin, and fits in your mouth.
Review: For all you lot that don't think the second series is as good as the first, consider this: If you were cornered in an alley by Chinese Mafia and didn't know kung fu -- which of course I do so it doesn't apply to me -- this DVD could be used as a weapon. Thrown correctly, aimed at the throat, Series Two could conceivably take down four or five men before its edges were dulled. Also, if you're a lady, you could use Series Two as a sexual aid, because that bloke Gareth is dead sexy, if I do say so myself. And I'm not a poof.
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