In honor of Dunder-Mifflin closing its doors on May 16, I decided to rewatch the whole series. Most people know I've seen the whole series about four or so times, so it's not like I have forgotten anything. I really just want to get good and depressed before the finale, it seems.
Season one is super short-- six episodes-- so it didn't take very long to finish. The beauty of season one is that The Office (as a whole) didn't really know what it was yet. All the actors were still settling into their characters, and the writers were still trying to figure out how to make this specific type of humor connect with an audience.
The treasure that is Michael Scott really hits you in the face in these episodes. The writers force this character on you so that you feel like you're going through a cheese grater. It's just this nails-on-a-chalkboard sensation, which I'm sure drove away some viewers. He's just so offensive and brash and ignorant. This intensity really allows you to connect with the rest of the characters, though, because they agree. Steve Carell left no crevices for human emotion and understanding to sneak in. One amazing example that stands out to me out of eight years is Michael fake-firing Pam in the pilot. It's so awkward and makes me want to look away every time I watch it. "Diversity Day" tackles some outrageous ignorance and intense rudeness in the second episode of the show. No time to waste! There's no room for "Well, he did that because he's lonely" excuses here. We only got six episodes to build a character, so the man's just an idiot.
That hair!
The Jim faces originate here! I always wonder if he showed off his faces to the producers in his audition, because they're pure gold. Jim is this everyman character that everyone can understand. His longing for Pam is palpable from the very first episode. They have this relationship that I think everyone can understand and appreciate. They're together everyday in the midst of all these wackos, so they're bound to form a bond. When Roy comes in, my heart sinks every time. Do you choose what's safe or what's new? I know exactly what she should do in episode two, but (spoiler alert) they make me work for it.
Dwight Schrute is one of the best characters in television. Biased? Maybe. Rainn Wilson is brilliant. He provides the perfect foil for Jim and gives Michael the supportive audience he needs to keep acting like the fool he is. The first sounds we even hear from Dwight are him singing "Little Drummer Boy" at his desk. He's just so darn quirky! And hilarious! "The Alliance" gives such a good look at what we're getting ourselves into with this character. And the jello in the pilot! It's just all so good.
Dunder Mifflin Paper Company gives a great background for the characters, because I don't know one person who wants to hear more about their actual jobs. Shows like 24 and Alias could entertain with or without interesting characters, but The Office has to work at it. The documentary style makes it interesting, as well, because the characters get to narrate their own stories. We get to hear Michael's deluded self-perception straight from his mouth. The documentary crew digs deeper into the real stories we want to hear about. Not paper.
Starting season two now.
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