Search - The Office - The Complete First And Second Series (BBC Edition) on DVD

Wait for the FULL set of shows

Inspector Gadget | 04/10/2004

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This DVD set only includes the first and second series. They made a further two long episodes for Christmas 2003 that didn't make it to this set. No doubt they'll release a full boxed set sometime down the road and you'll wish you waited.By the way, the two Christmas episodes were brilliant :)"

Brilliantly biting, uncomfortable and hilarious

R. Kim | Los Angeles, CA USA | 07/06/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Set up as a fake documentary/reality tv show, The Office manages to capture humour in a way we've rarely seen before. The branch manager, David Brent, is painfully pathetic in his attempts at being funny to garner popularity. You can just feel the discomfort and awkwardness that everyone around him suffers as a result (as the camera continues to roll following his horrid jokes), and this is part of the show's brilliance - moments that make you cringe and laugh simultaneously.

Each of the main characters are so unique and well executed that there's no sense of dead weight. There are definitely some very poignant moments from time to time, and it's these rare tidbits that make you care about the characters so much. Having found so much to relate to in these stories, these DVDs are hilarious and strangely comforting - I've watched them several times over.

Update: There were two Christmas specials that came out after the conclusion of the second season which wrap up the story quite nicely. They are bundled together with a newer version of this DVD; I would recommend getting that version instead of this one."

Cringeworthy genius

Inspector Gadget | On the trail of Doctor Claw | 05/15/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Set in the bleak, awfully-named industrial town of Slough and the fictional office of the Wernam-Hogg paper merchants, a BBC film crew documents the expressionless workers, ringing phones, copiers churning out clone after clone after clone, pointless meetings and pointless bureaucracy that exist within typical, uninspiring companies.Sadly, the majority of people in Britain work in dull, dead-end office jobs with lives that go nowhere and even the most meager of ambitions going unrealized. Maybe if they had a boss like David Brent their day would be livened up. Not because he's the 'boss/entertainer' he thinks he is, but for the morbid curiosity of watching a desperate, delusional and detestable man slowly crash and burn.The majority of laughs in The Office come from awkward and embarrassing situations. Brent constantly forces his bullheaded and bawdy humor on unwitting staff. At first they appear scared of his ruthlessly imposing presence but towards the end they all ignore him completely. But he never realizes this and resorts to even more tasteless ways of getting attention. He loves the camera and rather than acting `normal' for the purposes of the mockumentary he exaggerates his beastly character to the point of being sickening. He gets what deserves in the end and by this point the audience has lost all sympathy for him.His brutalized and beleaguered staff struggle to get on with their work as Brent's tyranny escalates. Among them we have Tim, an increasingly unhappy man who wishes to escape the monotony and drudgery `ordinary life' brings him. He's long had the confidence crushed out of him but still has more humanity than anyone else.Gareth is Tim's worst enemy. A dorky, 95 pound weakling who boasts of being in the (territorial) Army and is keen to assume more and more power from Brent's failing management. Like Brent, he has no clue about social interaction and behaves strangely among potential friends. Dawn is the receptionist. She is engaged to a controlling, unloving boyfriend who insists she spend her life doing dull work despite the fact that she has higher and happier dreams. She has feelings for Tim, and they are more than mutual. But fear of change and happiness stops her from falling for him.As soon as once branch of Wernam-Hogg incorporates the other it becomes clear how useless Brent is. The new staff are amazed at how such a horrid man has been employed at all, never mind become a boss. Complaints and unfinished work rise and the upper management are forced to take action. Sadly, Brent just won't learn. In the end, his staff have the slightest chance at happiness and escape. Brent however doesn't learn from his mistakes and will probably go on to have an endlessly miserable life. If you work in an office, get out! Among the blackest of humor there is a message; office life is fit for no human being. And Ricky Gervais' dark comedy is filled with thousands of examples of why this is so. It's absolutely classic stuff that is far ahead of dozens of canned laughter sitcoms. This DVD set features all 12 episodes. The are in 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen with Dolby 2.0 sound. The deleted scenes, outtakes and behind the scenes stuff are, for a change, very funny and interesting."

Skip this Edition for the One Including Specials (Plus Eggs)

L. Hawkins | USA | 12/12/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"[No spoilers; Egg info below]

If you're considering purchasing The Office on DVD, this is not the edition to buy. There is a better and more satisfying set available for purchase.

The writers of this award winning mockumentary decided not to tie everything up neatly but preferred to leave most of the issues created over the span of the show's two seasons mostly unresolved. In this way the show is more like life and its imperfect messiness than the typical sitcom which wraps up neatly at the end of each half hour. Although the final episode of the final season is considered one of the funniest, it can also be one if the most painful because of the emotional investment a viewer has given to the characters over the course of two years. Situations certainly come to a head in the final episodes and to avoid any spoilers, I'll just say most of the action comes to an inevitable point. As it would be impossible for even a casual viewer to suspend their disbelief long enough to believe the action in the office could possibly continue on it's present course, the series, after two years, more than 24 international awards including two Golden Globes, and two painfully funny situation filled seasons, ends its two season run in an inevitable crash and burn.

The 'balm of Giliad' for the emotional wounds inflicted upon the viewer from said crash and burn comes in the form of 'The Specials.' The mockumentarians revisit the objects of their office documentary three years after we last left their lives. Most of the questions left in the mind of the viewer are answered or at least visited and closure is available for all. The two-part Special series gives hope that well . . . there's hope. When the season ending makes you want to slit your wrists in despair, the Specials will make you reconsider. In fact, without spoiling anything, some parts will make you cheer.

Basically what you want to buy is "The Office The Complete Series and Specials." It will arrive in a black package rather than the white package found here. If you've already purchased this set, sans Specials, have no fear; The Specials are also available for separate purchase. I linked both "The Office Special" in addition to "The Office - The Complete Collection (First And Second Series Plus Special)" sets above in the "Our Customers' Advice" section for your convenience.

DVD Hidden Features AKA Easter Eggs
Many DVDs these days have hidden extra features to fox and frustrate you for days on end as you try to work out how to activate them. The Office DVDs are no exception. Below you will find out how to access the extras on the series one and series two discs.

Disc 1: Freelove Freeway -- Go to the main menu and when the phone rings amidst the background office noise, hit enter on your remote. Voila! You should be greeted with talented songsmith David Brent performing Freelove Freeway.

Disc 2: Who Cares Wins -- Go to the Slough by John Betjemen scene. Wait for the room to go dark and then hit enter on your remote. You will be rewarded with the full length Peter Purves training video featured in Episode Four

One note -- there are rumors that an American version of The Office is in the works and . . . they are absolutely true! Let's hope they don't muck up the American version as much as Rickey Gervais mucked up his job at the paper company."