I didn't get it at first, either. I didn't understand the UK-version, either. To me, it was just humorless, boring stuff where stupid people do stupid things.
So I had to watch it over and over again, in an attempt to 'get it', and had it in the background sometimes while doing other things.
I don't remember exactly when it 'clicked', but suddenly I realized - hey, that was funny! I chuckled. I started realizing the 'tone' and the hidden, subtle humor suddenly appeared!
Where I thought there was no humor at all, was actually just me not seeing or understanding it, because I didn't know the characters well enough, I didn't know the mindsets and the social dynamics well enough, and I didn't notice the subtle details that make it actually hilarious.
Now I really enjoy this show, and it brings me into a good mood every time I watch it. Michael Scott is especially fun, because he's a completely UNIQUE character.
He is not just a dumbo, like Homer Simpson. He's not some evil mastermind. He's TRYING to be 'politically correct', but he does it with such innocense, that he can actually get through to the TRUTH, sort of 'innocently and accidentally', like an old man using slurs because that's the way they spoke in his youth. If your grandpa uses a slightly 'outdated' term, you forgive him, because he doesn't, and can't expected to know better.
Michael Scott gets away with being really truthful when it comes to things people in his position (or on TV anyway) would never be allowed to say. The whole feminist stuff, female-male dynamics, hypocrisy of politically-correct stuff, etc. He can address and attack them all, while having the best intentions. He means no harm, so you can't really get angry at him.. it's an interesting thing to watch.
Sure, there are idiotic episodes, annoying people (Andy is the most annoying thing I have ever seen anywhere, even the actor is annoying in this show, but perhaps he's just a great actor), but in the end, it's a funny show.
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avortac4 (3746)
3 years ago
I also think TV shows aren't really about 'style' - they're either good or not.
This is a good show, and if you adjust yourself and give it a chance, you might actually start liking it and get into it. It does demand a lot of the viewer, though, it's not 'easy watching', you have to sometimes be in a special mood, understand the characters and motivations, be able to look past certain things, and so on.
You will be rewarded going through that, though, because this seeming mud pile is actually hiding inside it a golden nugget. If you just walk by easily, you will never see it.
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liscarkat (18600)
2 years ago
"If your grandpa uses a slightly 'outdated' term, you forgive him, because he doesn't, and can't expected to know better."
Current terms aren't necessarily any "better" than "outdated" terms. Negro used to be considered the genteel, PC term to use. Now it's not, but how does translating it from Spanish to English improve anything? Over time, we just pass through euphemism after euphemism after euphemism without increasing our enlightenment in any way. It's just silly.
As far as grandpa is concerned, he knows the difference, you can bet on it. But he sometimes uses terminology that predates you because 1) it's perfectly good and there's no reason not to, and 2) because he knows it bugs you, and he enjoys that. I'm grandpa-age, and believe me, triggering woke twits who think they've learned all there is to know in their twenty-some years on earth is one of the pleasures of life.
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