When the American version of The Office came out, critics were skeptical it could capture the brilliance of the original British series. Well, that didn't last long. That's what she said. The U.S. Office quickly became its own brilliant show, with its own unique tone, using the longer episode count to flesh out its world of quirky characters.
Since the series ended in 2013, there has been a phenomenon of people rewatching it. Thanks to streaming platforms such as Netflix and Hulu, there are more options for TV shows at our fingertips than ever before. But rather than try something new, many people choose the familiar comfort of Dunder Mifflin. Why are we and The Office such soup snakes? I mean, soulmates?
Pamela Rutledge, director of the Media Psychology Research Center, says there are three reasons why people love The Office more than Dwight loves beets. One, familiarity. When you watch something you recognize, there is a calming trigger effect. Two, humor reduces stress. When you laugh at Michael Scott stepping on the George Foreman grill, you don't feel anxiety. And three, the everyday environment and variety of characters make the show relatable:
"The Office is an ensemble production, which means there are multiple psychological access points and emotional hooks to enter the world," says Pamela. "People can identify with all sorts of situations in the context of office politics and interpersonal relationships."
In the past 60 years, there have been countless sitcoms about the American workplace, featuring empathetic characters. So why does The Office stand out? According to playwright and screenwriter Greg DePaul, it's because they focus "on the small stuff."
"They have entire episodes about otherwise trivial stuff like who took whose office supplies and how employees react during a fire drill," says Greg. "That's a staple of good comedy — observing what's funny around us in the everyday world and highlighting it. The Office does that better than other shows."
Also, Tit balanced comedy and heart, much like Toby balanced his everyday life with being The Scranton Strangler. (Come on, you believe it too.) "The Office just hits the right buttons," says Khal Davenport, a senior editor at Complex. "If you want some absurdist quirky shit, you've got that. If you want bonafide love stories, it has that. If you want heartwarming friendships or just hilarious comedy, they've got you." People laugh at the characters, but still care about them. (Except Toby.)
So, this should explain why you are the way that you are: rewatching the same show over and over, on that wall-mounted extremely tiny plasma TV. But if you ever DECLARE BANKRUPTCY, or are just in the mood for something different, I'd recommend Parks & Recreation (starting at season 2), because it also has that perfect blend of comedy and heart. Also, Newsradio is an underrated 90's workplace sitcom that relatable characters with absurdist humor.
But hey, nothing wrong with another Office rewatch. As Michael Scott would say, "I am running away from my responsibilities. And it feels good."
