The Office - An American Workplace [US] - Season 2

Not just picking up and running with the themes and characters of the first season, but this goes that bit further, with an off the wall almost manic humour setting it apart. It not only covers the lives of a few characters, but also gives so much needed background on the habbits of the supporting players. Serving as an altogether more sureall, colourful, but human sitcom, the power is in the script. And after a number of repeat viewings I am convinced this maybe one of the most consistantly funny series of any sitcom ever.

The opening Dundies episode is the perfect meaty start, as it draws together all the themes of the show, and gets all the cast in one place for a dramatic conclusion which manages to be strange, blackly funny, but sweet almost in one go. It also highlights a main theme of the show which is that of family, as even though Michael once again puts his employees through hell at this corny awards night, when he shows a more fragile side they band together to support their leader. But the real highlight of the episode is Fischer's ripe performance as she really lets rip, showing great comic timing and humantiy.

Dwight's despration to please Michael is seen in Office Olympics as he tags along when Michael goes to view his a house he might rant, and it becomes clear these two should not be friends, meanwhile the Mifflin staff are entertaining themselfs with some Office sports. The Fire is one of my all time favourites, as the event of an actually fire, spins off into so many funny subplots, as Michael shows himself up again in front of Ryan (the temp who he has man crush on!), and when Dwight feels left out of the loop he lets his emotions out by playing 'Everybody Hunts' in his car, as a game of desert Island leads to a more playful side, not to mention the classic pay off to the episode which will go down as a great cult moment in sitcom history.

Michael's honest, but helpless atempts at being human, and presueing a normal relationship with boss Jan is explored with some havoic results in The Client and Performance Review, the focus on Jim's feelings for Pam, and the way they both feel trapped by their ciramstances in The Fight, Booze Cruise and Boys and Girls espically is very compelling. And the cliff hanger at the end of the closing Casino Night episode is just the perfect way to leave you wanting more, and wondering just what the future might hold.

So to recap, Carell gives a madcap, but deadpan alternative to Brent, Jim and Pam is even more funny and touching than Tim and Dawn, and in Dwight we have an engentic wild card to almost match Kramer out of Seinfeld. Not too mention the depth, and funny moments brought out by the rest of the characters in a string of top notch episodes, with not a bad one amongst them. Perfection!