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Am I the only person who actually liked Neil?

posted 4 years ago by JackalopeCash57 (92)
8 replies | jump to latest

I was reading that the intent and goal was to have the Neil Godwin character be as unlikable as Chris Finch, I did not see it this way at all. When we first meet Neil in the start of season 2, he is quite affable and polite to David; when the staff are all called to assemble in the meeting room, Neil showed David respect for having the chair layout ready for the introduction meeting. Also, when David gives his cringeworthy speech/joke routine, Neil's non-verbal reaction seems to convey that he is a bit puzzled by what David is doing yet still conveys that form of respect towards him. Neil does not start being a prick until after David has disrespected him in a public setting more than once in addition to David not getting his work in order for the office.

The thing that always jumps out at me is the fact that Neil has heard in the past how David is a goof who frankly sucks at being a manager, yet Neil still gives the dude multiple oppurtunities to prove or disprove what he has heard about David from other sources. I liked Neil, definitely seemed like a professional and fair guy all around.

[–] Zinger (2337) 4 years ago

His mask slips in the Christmas special when he and Finchy mock his date's looks.

[–] daveyh (625) a year ago

I always used to take Brent's dislike of Neil to be jealousy because Neil's shown to be seemingly superior to Brent in every way - better looking, better dresser, more naturally funny, seems to have the respect of both branches, better dancer, even has a closer friendship with Finch, more confident and assertive, and certainly better at the job.
I say "used to" because I recently caught a bit of the episode where Brent's about to give his first (and only) motivational speech - when Neil finds out that Dawn will also be finishing early to accompany Brent to this gig, he starts talking about Dawn like she's not there when he's standing right in front of her, saying things like "so she's not needed here then, can we just let her go then". It was unbelievably rude and disrespectful to Dawn, and especially tactless given the redundancies that had recently happened. So actually Neil could be an arrogant d**k sometimes, and I can imagine that if he didn't approve of you (as he didn't of Brent) he would come across as condescending and belittling.

[–] Rocky15 (509) a year ago

They definitely made him more petty and unlikable in the Xmas specials, in the second series he seems like the kind of boss Brent secretly craves to be, well liked by the staff, handsome, athletic etc.

[–] FilmCricket (44) 9 days ago

Maybe Neil just lost patience with David, who has apparently spent the year since his redundancy turning up uninvited at the office and making a nuisance of himself.

[–] Rocky15 (509) 5 days ago

Good point, plus in the office universe the documentary aired for the characters between the second series and the Xmas specials so Neil would have seen all the things Brent said about him behind his back which in turn probably made him dislike Brent immensely.

[–] FilmCricket (44) 4 days ago

True!
Plus Neil no longer has to be professionally courteous to David; even Gareth seems more inclined to speak his mind about certain aspects of David and his behaviour.

[–] BlackMass (1008) a year ago

Bit of a flash douchebag, the kind of guy you'd roll your eyes at IRL, but recognise as a competent leader in the workplace.

[–] AnthonySocksss (577) 4 days ago

David’s branch was actually outperforming Swindon’s, and the company board voted for him to replace Jennifer, until he failed the medical and it went to Neil. People often forget that.

You also notice even from the beginning that Neil was making petty, passive aggressive jibes towards Brent, until it eventually boiled over into him being fired. They disliked each other from the start.