The Office UK - S1E1 'Downsize'
Added 2025-03-04 17:37:27 +0000 UTCComments
Hi guys. You mention you feel like you know Dawn from something else. She is also in the remake of Sabrina as one of the aunts and the Wonder Women films.
Paul Owen
2025-08-26 17:36:51 +0000 UTCMiss it too much so going again... from the beginning.
Static CentreHalf
2025-08-07 19:06:54 +0000 UTCNow you know a few uk comedians and watching your reaction to the office you brought up a good question between the difference in humour. A great way to explain this would be to watch Stephen Fry on US v UK humour. He explainsit extremely accurately
Cameron Long
2025-04-18 19:29:18 +0000 UTCI think it's 50/50 on that one for a lot of people, it's a bit short on laughs and heavy on nuance. It was popular over here but it's not in the class of this and others IMO
Fordy7169
2025-04-14 00:46:27 +0000 UTCIf you like this you would love royale family, absolute classic show
Matthew Loines
2025-04-11 09:21:44 +0000 UTCIf I was Dawn in that "practical joke" scenario, I'd have gone to head office and ended Brent's career right there and then. What the hell was he thinking? That was incredibly cruel. But made for an incredible scene acting wise! So much cringe to come though, if you're ready for it!
Phil Robinson
2025-03-06 20:34:37 +0000 UTCThis is Spinal Office Tap
emu cat
2025-03-06 14:55:59 +0000 UTCAfter finishing this... I had to skip ahead and watch some of the first season again. I won't spoil anything but for those who know, I got to the 4th episode (Training). Classic.
Andy
2025-03-06 12:48:26 +0000 UTCI agree on that, Brent was just a bit of a loser. Finchy... I won't say anything just in case Mike or Jess reads these it might spoil future episodes.
Andy
2025-03-06 12:47:34 +0000 UTCPLEASE PLEASE PLEASE continue this show
Matthew Morley
2025-03-06 02:18:04 +0000 UTCI only have one thing to say. Jim and Pam the greatest love story ever? 😬 It's toxic af 😂 I forgot how much I actually enjoyed the UK office, I refused to watch the US remake until after it was all finished. This is the first time I've watched the UK one since, I have rewatched the US one over and over and over again
Chrono_Punk
2025-03-06 00:56:36 +0000 UTCI love this show. After the first episode, it goes in a very different direction from the US version. However, the final episode of this series (the second ep of the christmas special) is one of the best bits of TV ever crafted.
Mat
2025-03-05 22:30:30 +0000 UTCI’m a Londoner but spent a few years of my childhood and teens living in nearby Windsor. I liked Slough because of the music scene. We went to some great gigs there, including Bowie at Slough College, right next to that roundabout in the opening credits. Got my first job as a newspaper reporter on the Windsor, Slough & Eton Express in 1976.
Thomas
2025-03-05 21:55:17 +0000 UTCSo amazing you guys enjoyed it and appreciated the comedy as this is one of the heights of what British comedy is. Can’t wait for the next reactions!
Ash C
2025-03-05 20:35:59 +0000 UTCI disagree. Brent's not a horrible person, he's just a guy who's desperate to be liked by people. There are absolutely points in the show and the film where you feel for him (I won't go into details so I don't give any spoilers). I'd say an example of an actual horrible person is Finchy.. no redeeming qualities there at all.
Dan G, Leicester
2025-03-05 19:11:03 +0000 UTCThe film life on the road is worth watching
John Coulson
2025-03-05 17:09:29 +0000 UTCI love the Us office and the UK. However I'm really glad they changed their approach on the USA one after the first season. it was trying to be exactly like the UK one and I feel the way they did Michael Scott was great. because you feel for him at times and you want the best for him. But David brent even through the films you never do because he is a horrible person.
steven bell
2025-03-05 16:49:29 +0000 UTCI’ve just found out that Swindon is twinned with Disney World, Florida.
Stefan Tymoshyshyn
2025-03-05 15:52:20 +0000 UTCKeep going after the credits, there’s always a bit more.
Stefan Tymoshyshyn
2025-03-05 15:46:43 +0000 UTCyou guys are gonna love this! i'll be watching this with you all the way through! i'm also from Swindon :P - bit of side info, we also have the worlds most confusing and crazy roundabout...lol...it would blow your guys minds...it's like 10 different roundabouts combined in one...
James West
2025-03-05 15:30:45 +0000 UTCThere are parts of this show that are going to make you cringe inside out, it gets pretty intense
James Aston
2025-03-05 15:15:54 +0000 UTCIt's like going back in time watching this. What you maybe missed is when he said they're like Vic and Bob, but Bob is referring to Bob Mortimer who you now know. Back in the 90s Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer were essentially a double act. Seeing Flat Eric too! That's the yellow monkey looking thing. I assume he made his way over to the US? He was a creation from a French musician but used in the Levi adverts here in the late 90s. Very annoying catchy songs.
Andy
2025-03-05 14:45:26 +0000 UTCDo you ever miss that roundabout in the credits? I do 😼
Divinerights
2025-03-05 14:41:18 +0000 UTCGreat reaction 🤣 Hope thay get round too Ricky Gs Arfter Life .. not seen anyone react too that yet .
Dango247
2025-03-05 14:20:01 +0000 UTCSo many one liners in that episode that I use nearly every day ... 25 years later 😆😆
Michael Fazakerley
2025-03-05 13:46:18 +0000 UTCSlough? My kind of town 😉
Dan G, Leicester
2025-03-05 13:46:15 +0000 UTC😂😂
Caroline
2025-03-05 12:31:29 +0000 UTCSame here.. I’ve lost count how many times I’ve watched it and still gets me every time😂😂 “He went home to get it🎸🤨” haha x
Caroline
2025-03-05 12:31:12 +0000 UTCI was born in Slough. I’ll never shake it off as it’s on my passport obviously 😂
Andy B
2025-03-05 10:12:35 +0000 UTCmid
Grant Rollo
2025-03-05 00:32:52 +0000 UTCJosh (After Work Reactions) and Joel (ItsJPS) have both reacted to The Royle Family too.
Ash Jeffries
2025-03-05 00:16:31 +0000 UTCWell no shit. This is a copy of that, that is a copy of this, don't be pedantic.
Mark McKeown
2025-03-05 00:15:55 +0000 UTCcant be a copy if this one came first
MartelAndQueen
2025-03-05 00:14:49 +0000 UTCI believe this is the only episode that is pretty much a copy of the first episode of the US Office, after that they go their own ways
Mark McKeown
2025-03-04 23:30:24 +0000 UTCThe very first time I watched the office when it first aired I knew nothing about it at all; it actually took me a few minutes to work out it wasn’t a documentary… obviously I was laughing either way then I saw Ricky Gervais who I’d seen some time before the office doing a small piece on a Friday night show (I think) called the 11 o’clock show and he stuck in my mind cos his comedy was brilliant on that as a sort of reporter they go to from the studio
Ianoo23
2025-03-04 22:56:39 +0000 UTCExtras was also genius and quite surreal bringing the a list movie stars into the episodes was absolute gold!
Ianoo23
2025-03-04 22:51:40 +0000 UTCGareth what’s your ultimate fantasy 🤣🤣 love that episode
Ianoo23
2025-03-04 22:49:37 +0000 UTCOh, you're in for a fantastic ride here and I loved this first reaction. This is possibly the weakest episode not because it isn't great but just because it is setting the scene inevitably and every episode that follows is even better than the last. This truly is Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant's masterpiece. The supporting cast, especially Mackenzie Crook as Gareth, Martin Freeman as Tim, and Lucy Davis as Dawn, are amazing but were unknowns at the time. All have gone on to many other things. You may recognise Lucy (Dawn) from Ugly Betty and she was also in Shaun of the Dead. Not sure if you've seen either. I only saw the first couple of episodes of the American version and it kind of followed the original but still seemed "lighter" somehow, the following seasons all becoming far more traditional and easy-going sitcom fare by all accounts. This original version is the full British cringe and bittersweet journey - it doesn't let anyone off the hook lightly, so buckle in and brace yourself! Wonderful stuff. I can't wait to watch this whole series with you guys. As others have said, be sure not to miss the very brief post-credit scenes which come up quite a bit!
Ash Jeffries
2025-03-04 22:48:06 +0000 UTCThe acting from everyone in this is incredible, but I can't help thinking that Ricky's acting is the best. Every little gesture and look he does brilliantly. He's a bit of a genius.
Tonia Laws
2025-03-04 21:58:47 +0000 UTCWatch after the credits next time as there’s always an extra bit.
Rachie
2025-03-04 21:44:04 +0000 UTCI love watching comedy with you Jess. You laugh at everything!
Rachie
2025-03-04 21:41:47 +0000 UTCWith every episode that goes by it gets cringier and cringier amd even more awkward, its excellent!
Theloyalmuppet
2025-03-04 21:39:43 +0000 UTCActually a really good comment by Mike about the American Jim. He was tall and handsome in his own way, and could easily compete for Pam, so it isn't as believable. Tim wouldn't win in a physical fight. On a way off side track... the American Inbetweeners remake, which failed, even cast a "good looking" male to play the geeky Will character. Which again didn't make it believable. P.S Dont react to American Inbetweeners. It was shit.
Ryan Lynch
2025-03-04 21:27:56 +0000 UTCKnew yous would both get it guys, Dawn at the front desk was in one of jess fav films shaun of the dead! She was the irish guys girlfriend
Theloyalmuppet
2025-03-04 21:08:25 +0000 UTCGreat choice guys. The UK and US version are both amazing. I hate when people put them in competition with each other. Hope you eventually watch Extras too. You’ll get to see Steve Merchant acting in that one (although he does make a brief appearance in The Office).
Julian T
2025-03-04 21:02:34 +0000 UTCTrue, not everyone got The Office straight away. I like to think that I did. I came to the Royle Family late, and it took me a while to warm to it, but by the time it finished, I was calling it a masterpiece.
Thomas
2025-03-04 20:59:08 +0000 UTCAlso some BBC documentaries did include cringey people that it wasn't obvious to some this was trying to be a comedy. https://youtu.be/Dh359S3Eg1U?si=mQCBwyDwCBW4sUcS This stands out to me as a funny example.
Andy
2025-03-04 20:50:12 +0000 UTCOn a similar tangent... years ago my dad and I sat down to watch a DIY show that was advertised in the TV section of the newspapers. Turned out the show called "Home Improvement" was an American comedy. Ended up watching it regularly, albeit it was never going to be on par with Mash or Cheers for him.
Ryan Lynch
2025-03-04 20:46:53 +0000 UTCIt's important to remember almost all the actors were unknown at the time or not had big roles. I remember my mum and dad never watched it because they couldn't understand why the BBC made a documentary about working in an office then they found out it was a comedy. As far as I'm aware first of it's kind.
Brendan
2025-03-04 20:41:34 +0000 UTCI'm still sceptical, Jess found it familiar because of the American version. When The Office in thhe UK was launched barely anyone got it here either. Time has changed comedy, and it wasn't long ago that the majority thought 'modern' stuff like The Office and the Royle Family wasn't funny at all, but no one admits it no, in fear of looking stupid.
Dave Roberts
2025-03-04 20:41:25 +0000 UTCso excited for this , amazing show , would highly recommend the david brent saga after this as well as extra's!
TheHigh
2025-03-04 20:39:47 +0000 UTCTaffe316 has reacted to it, and Bxkid7, those two started reacting in about 2018, and have done a ton of British shows before anyone else.
Dave Roberts
2025-03-04 20:37:55 +0000 UTCWhen I was in Slough about ten years ago, there was a pub called Wernham Hogg, named after the ficticious paper merchants Brent and co worked for. The perfect place to get bladdered, blottoed etc.
Thomas
2025-03-04 20:18:20 +0000 UTCAmericans love stopping as soon as the credits roll.... Let it play out... Usually there is more after the credits
CONALL MCLAUGHLIN
2025-03-04 20:15:45 +0000 UTCThere is also a David Brent movie. Well worth checking out when you have completed The Office. I won’t give any spoilers 😂😂😂
Thomas
2025-03-04 20:09:40 +0000 UTC"Sounds a bit gay" 😆😆 I must've seen that episode (and all the others) over 20 times and it still cracks me up.
Michael Fazakerley
2025-03-04 20:08:19 +0000 UTCi would love to see you guys react to the outtakes once you finish the series its hilarious!
Jason
2025-03-04 20:08:11 +0000 UTC“She’s not dead” 😂😂😂
Caroline
2025-03-04 19:59:19 +0000 UTCOne of my favourites as well.. and comic relief😂😂
Caroline
2025-03-04 19:58:38 +0000 UTCJust so you know, 90% of the time there is a small after credits scene.
Wilss
2025-03-04 19:58:14 +0000 UTCThe Office and Royle Family are on a par, right at the top end of British comedy. Not seen any Americans react to the latter. Maybe it doesn’t beat the YouTube block.
Thomas
2025-03-04 19:41:20 +0000 UTCThe girl playing the receptionist, Dawn, in real life is the daughter of a really famous (in the UK) comedian called Jasper Carrot. He was so famous back in the 80s. Worth you looking up one day.
AngieG
2025-03-04 19:41:10 +0000 UTCShameless US compared to the UK original Shameless, - is another you should look at if you watched the US one.
emu cat
2025-03-04 19:36:49 +0000 UTCCan't wait for you to see S1 E4 - training. Possibly the greatest single episode in comedy, ever ... get the guitar 😆
Michael Fazakerley
2025-03-04 19:34:39 +0000 UTCLove this show but Caroline Aherne beat Ricky to start this phase of British comedy with The Royale Family, that's not to take anything away from The Office, which could well be genius in it's own right.
emu cat
2025-03-04 19:31:28 +0000 UTCGreat reaction. I’m glad you proved the sceptics wrong 😂. Ricky set the bar high with The Office, but managed to better it with After Life. I doubt if you’ll be able to react to After Life as it’s on Netflix. If so, be sure to check it out privately. It’s remarkable.
Thomas
2025-03-04 19:29:17 +0000 UTCYes Peep Show is necessary it’s my favourite of all time
Erica
2025-03-04 19:16:01 +0000 UTCAlso, there’s always after credits x
Caroline
2025-03-04 19:14:48 +0000 UTCThe opening theme song to this show was covered by The Stereophonics (they were featured in "Top 10 British Bands That Never Cracked America" video that you guys reacted to. The song is called "Handbags and Gladrags"
Paul
2025-03-04 19:13:01 +0000 UTCR.I.P Big Keith.......Thank you for making me laugh so much!
Simon Cross
2025-03-04 19:10:58 +0000 UTCOn needing episodes past the 2nd... I have a streaming platform with them in 1080p... You would just need to download the application Jellyfin, which is easy enough on Windows, Mac etc. I'm not suggesting don't pay, just if it helps I can provide you a login.
Andy
2025-03-04 19:08:44 +0000 UTCGareth really threw Anton under the ̶b̶u̶s̶ forklift.
Terrahawk
2025-03-04 18:56:00 +0000 UTCJess, you will be pleased to know that roundabout has been demolished and replaced with a crossroads. That horrible urban mess in the town of Slough (20 miles west of London) is just two miles from Windsor Castle where Harry and Meghan got married and where Trump will stay during his State Visit next year, although we should really put him up in Slough Premier Inn following the events of the past week.
Thomas
2025-03-04 18:54:11 +0000 UTCWhen you finish the 2 series and the 2 part special , there is also a "pre pilot" that you might like to see, which is the original episode they filmed to essentially get the show green lit to be made. It's lot different, but it's an alternative version to this first episode with different actors and actresses. It was called "Seedy Boss" . Lets you see how much the idea evolved. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELtPlza-5uU
Danny
2025-03-04 18:51:33 +0000 UTCGreat to see you doing the office and laughing along with you guys. You know ages ago I would never have considered subscribing to patreon for anything, in fact it seemed a bit silly. I’m subbed to three now and it really ramps up the rewatch factor of these shows by a massive amount. ❤️👍❤️👍❤️
Rob G
2025-03-04 18:49:39 +0000 UTCAh fair enough, had t realised that although I do think I’ve seen her in something fairly recently - perhaps we need to suggest some Jasper Carrot for them to check out too given that it’s her dad of course
Kieran B
2025-03-04 18:47:03 +0000 UTCLucy Davis has been in quite a few American shows recently as well, which is probably how they recognise her.
Jay
2025-03-04 18:37:43 +0000 UTCI think Jess has a radar for all types of comedy, and Mike knew exactly the point of it from the first moment. After watching a couple of American reactions to the Office, where they didn't get on with the subtleties and realism of the comedy, it's refreshing to finally see a reaction channel that does.
Jay
2025-03-04 18:36:03 +0000 UTCThe word "genius" is used too easily these days. But the original Office literally does fall into that category.
Jay
2025-03-04 18:32:17 +0000 UTC😱😱 I’ve been hoping yous would do this!!😱😂 Yous aren’t ready for the amount of cringe comedy in this😂😂x
Caroline
2025-03-04 18:31:25 +0000 UTCThe American Office moved away from the UK's script on its second season. So you will find so much difference with the UK's version second series onwards.
Jay
2025-03-04 18:26:26 +0000 UTCI thought it would take you weeks to get this. You got it instantly, as in, within a minute. Fantastic.
King Pin
2025-03-04 18:24:29 +0000 UTCI swear David Brent is the funniest character ever written 😂 1. Brent 2. Basil Fawlty 3. Del Boy
White Dwarf
2025-03-04 18:22:06 +0000 UTCYes!
Jason
2025-03-04 18:21:44 +0000 UTCYou’ll absolutely love Peep Show if you like this and The Inbetweeners Every single line was written by Ricky and Steve.
Kieran B
2025-03-04 18:21:08 +0000 UTCThere’s a bit extra after the credits finish
Jay C
2025-03-04 18:18:58 +0000 UTCThe receptionist (Dawn) was in Shaun of the Dead
Kieran B
2025-03-04 18:18:57 +0000 UTCAmazing, I didn't even know this was on the cards. Like Fawlty Towers, a flawless series with nary a bad episode.
Sean Riley
2025-03-04 18:18:32 +0000 UTCHe absolutely doesn’t want to fire people, he wants to be liked
Kieran B
2025-03-04 18:18:05 +0000 UTCDuring the stapler in the jelly bit, David Brent says "we're like Vic & Bob" which is a reference to Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer (who were a comedy duo in the 90s)... Thought you'd like to know that lol
na plz
2025-03-04 18:15:02 +0000 UTCOh a new recommendation for you is the Detectorists (written and directed by and starring Pirates of the Caribbean guy - Mackenzie Crook)
Kieran B
2025-03-04 18:12:27 +0000 UTCSpot on
Kieran B
2025-03-04 18:10:28 +0000 UTCI do like the US Office but Michael Scott is definitely more of a cartoon character than David Brent, I think most of us have worked with a David and pretty much all the other people in the office - for the first couple of episodes loads of people thought it was a documentary when it first aired (there were a lot of real shows like this at the time. There’s some good YouTube videos about it when you’ve finished the series) As you said yourself Mike you’ll meet plenty of real Gareths but you’ll never meet a real Dwight
Kieran B
2025-03-04 18:07:24 +0000 UTCOh you beauts! chuffed as.
emu cat
2025-03-04 18:03:20 +0000 UTCGlad you like it! You will LOVE Extras - Ricky & Steve's absolute best.
Alan
2025-03-04 18:01:51 +0000 UTCYeah the receptionist she lives in America now and she has been on American TV so you probably would recognise her
Fred bates
2025-03-04 18:01:36 +0000 UTCThat’ll be just the office 😊
Neil
2025-03-04 18:00:53 +0000 UTCRemember that each episode is supposed to be documentary going out, unlike the US Office, the presence of the camera crew is a big thing in terms of behaviour
Kieran B
2025-03-04 18:00:06 +0000 UTCJess was a little wrong about "this is just the way he is". Everything is for the camera. He is an extremely insecure person and is constantly trying to look good and do, what he believes to be, the politically correct thing - or something to make himself look good - in front of the camera. But he always goes too far. Every look. Every movement. Every spoken word. It is all said and done with the camera and how he looks in mind. Either that or to be liked and accepted by people. That is why he is so infuriating, and so tragic, at the same time. If you view the entire series with the viewpoint that this is a middle aged middle manager who is not well liked (but who yearns to be), who knows he has a TV camera pointing at him and the whole country will see him at work, it will all make complete sense. His little looks to camera to check that what he has just said will be received correctly, or because he is worried that something he has said will make him look bad, or sexist, or racist. The way, in the jelly scene, he literally physically switched sides to become one of the aggressors. Loads of tiny things like this make the British version so much more nuanced than the US version, which is more recognizable as a traditional comedy with gags and punchlines. Look at it through that lens and you will love it!!!
Steve Small
2025-03-04 17:56:36 +0000 UTCHahhah :D
Athan Immortal
2025-03-04 17:56:17 +0000 UTCJess totally gets the humour! thats awesome
Joe
2025-03-04 17:52:27 +0000 UTCDavid is 100% playing it up for the camera, just not successfully. He's desperate to push a certain image of himself
Eoin573
2025-03-04 17:50:26 +0000 UTCThank you x
Mark Topham
2025-03-04 17:47:08 +0000 UTCCould not be more delighted to see this upload and the start of yet another show on the channel,plenty of fresh content all coming thick and fast,this channel is the gift that keeps on giving.
Duncan
2025-03-04 17:45:11 +0000 UTC😁
Silk
2025-03-04 17:43:12 +0000 UTCThe "Offices"? 🤣🤣🤔
Martyn Dawson
2025-03-04 17:42:50 +0000 UTCAre yo sure? Mike's title suggests there's more than one 😜
Eddy
2025-03-04 17:42:38 +0000 UTCWhether you like the uk version or not (compared to the US version) it always deserves respect coz without it, the US one wouldnt exist
James Welsh
2025-03-04 17:39:57 +0000 UTCThere’s only one Office. 😜
Silk
2025-03-04 17:39:55 +0000 UTC
