Subtlety?
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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — The Office
Kjayhawks95 — 11 years ago(August 12, 2014 10:41 AM)
I have been reading through this board and it seems like every Brit is convinced that Americans prefer the US version because the comedy is "spoon fed" and that the only reason they don't prefer the British version is because they are not capable of understanding the "subtlety" of the humor. I am an American and I really enjoy both versions but I do prefer US. Since all Americans are so dumb and apparently are not able to grasp the greatness that it is the British version, can someone please give me some specific examples of the "subtle" humor that they don't think a dumb American could possibly comprehend.
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Death_lncarnate — 10 years ago(February 14, 2016 03:07 PM)
I agree with this. I prefer the U.K version but to be honest there is hardly any subtlety in it. People who claim that as an argument generally don't have anything else to use.
"When you do things right, people won't be sure you've done anything at all." -
Death_lncarnate — 10 years ago(February 29, 2016 07:20 AM)
Hahahah classic
always the reply and not an example of this sublime and game changing subtlety. I said i prefer the U.K version, why would I if I didn't get any of it. From your base of argument maybe you're just a bit slow? And the stuff you are picking up on thinking you're so clever in doing so, is actually quite obvious? Thanks for your completely invalid input.
"When you do things right, people won't be sure you've done anything at all." -
SierraG7 — 10 years ago(February 29, 2016 12:29 PM)
I'm not sure if subtlety is the term I'd use - most of the comparisons I've seen made between the two shows points out that the UK version is more realistic. I think that the subtlety probably lies in the realism of the show.
The American show is more like a sitcom, a comedy. It creates situations for us to laugh at and some of it is very funny.
However, the British version is more of a study of the human condition, not a straight out comedy. None of it seems manufactured and the humor is to be found in the ordinary realism of it all. I could relate to many aspects of the UK show and the Staff Training episode, in particular, is absolutely spot-on. The old motivational video that they play, the facilitator/trainer's methods of trying to engage the bored staff, the role-play, the way the staff drift back in dribs and drabs to the training after lunch. None of it is laugh out loud funny but you smile because you recognise it and you're kind of laughing a yourself; it also actually plays true to the documentary style of the show.
When they do the role-play, the back and forth is exactly like I've seen so many times at work training sessions, so Brent trying to one-up the facilitator in that scene, just plays so true and is both shocking and subtly funny with his "I think there was a rape up there."
Another example would be in the "What's an elf scene?"
Watch Brent from 1:33-1:55. The way he looks back and forth between Gareth and the guy he's firing - that kind of studied observation, you won't find it in the US version. Even the fact that it starts out as a scene with two people and then pans to Gareth is a great bit of comedic direction. It's these small things, I think, that adds to the subtle humor. It doesn't come on strong and is not obvious, but it is just so to the point. -
Death_lncarnate — 10 years ago(March 02, 2016 11:52 AM)
Now this i completely agree with. The humor isn't forced in your face but its not impossible to notice, which a lot of posters seem to say. Pretty sure most of the audience catches all the jokes, and i don't think that not understanding it is why they don't like it. Just a different type of humor.
"When you do things right, people won't be sure you've done anything at all." -
H_i_the_2nd — 9 years ago(August 15, 2016 03:51 AM)
Brent has a habit of glancing up women's skirts. The most obvious moment is when he's with Jennifer listening to Finch's voicemail. But there's a couple of other instances I only noticed after watching episodes for the 10th time. He does it with Jennifer in another episode when she crosses her legs, and also does it when he's interviewing his new assistant.
I'm not saying it's
incredibly
subtle, but it's easy to miss.