America and England have been duking it out for quite a while now ICYMI. There was, like, a war. Thankfully, we live in a time where we can all exist happily and not argue or fear each other.

For the most part.

Because if another person tries to tell me that the British version of The Office is better than the American one...

I don’t personally believe that we can keep comparing the two. This is super counterintuitive because obviously they are the “same” show. Just as Posh Spice/Victoria Beckham is the same now in the US as she was in the UK. Oh wait, except she’s not—because there are cultural differences that will affect people as well as shows from place to place. In her case, maybe it’s as simple as fashion sense or the way you carry yourself, but there will always be undeniable differences. Different places have different cultures—I know, shocking, right? And comedy is a part of culture. When it comes down to it, if the US version of The Office followed the same structure as the UK version, it would have failed, because it’s just not the humor that fits the comedy culture of the US.

So yes, they have the same title. They are the same premise mostly and they share the same title as well as characters. Both shows are wonderful, and I don’t want to make it seem that one is superior. They’re just too different, just like cultures are meant to be. It would be so boring if all cultures were the same. We live in such an amazing world of media because we have shows and movies that cater to so many types of people. I may not love the UK version of The Office, but there are definitely elements of it that I love immensely, and these are elements that I wouldn’t necessarily see in American sitcoms. I like watching shows from different cultures because I know that this will help me grow as a writer, and for that I am thankful.

The main difference is the overall tone of each show. American TV shows rarely have a mundane environment depicted in a truthful, bleak manner. Americans get sad really easily apparently, so we have mundane environments depicted in happy and quirky ways. Americans love quirkiness.

The British, however love it! Each show is so incredibly impactful and respectable, but in different ways. Even if all you do is consider the look of each show, you can tell that the material will be approached in contrasting ways. The UK version used older technology, but they made it a habit to use dull clothes for every character and the greenish fluorescent tint to add to the uncomfortable office set. The U.S. version began like this, but as the show progressed into its second and third seasons, the characters started switching it up with brighter and more varied clothes and the lighting was much warmer and natural.

David Brent: he’s not likable. This is my opinion, yes, but when he claims to love the staff, I feel like he can never mean it as much as Michael Scott would mean it. This is because Dunder Mifflin Scranton is a family–and not just because they ran longer. The supporting characters have genuine love for each other as well as for Michael. David Brent didn’t have a strong relationship with every employee like Michael did. Brent wasn’t written to genuinely care about the kids of his employees, just to know that they existed so he could make a joke about them. Hell, we didn’t even learn the names of all the employees in the UK version! Basically, if I had to pick one of them to get stuck in an elevator with, it’d be Michael. At least he’d run out of jokes and eventually just ask me how my dog is.

It’s not just David though. I think another major factor was that none of the Slough employees were actually good at their jobs. Jim was so good at his job. He hated it. But he was actually pretty good at it. Dwight was a great salesman, too. Scranton was a successful branch, but Slough was just aight.

Jim/Tim specifically had the biggest role in the overall dynamic of the office. Jim Halpert was meant to lighten the mood and look into the camera knowingly and cutely. Tim was actually kinda mean. His pranks never went over in the same way as Jim’s. Again, the likability each of their characters has is very different. Jim makes the whole office happy sometimes, which is why we like him rather than Tim only being sympathized with because he loves the receptionist. Otherwise, I sort of don’t care. Tim doesn’t seem like he deserves much more because he doesn’t work that hard. Jim doesn’t work that hard either but he knows how to sweet talk people.

I do not think that there is anything really wrong with the way that any of the characters were written though. I need to make that very clear. I love that Tim is lazy and laughs at his own jokes. It makes the UK version the more accurately represent what it’s like to work a dead end job. The American version makes you feel good; the UK version makes you feel understood. I love them each, but I just don’t think it’s fair to compare their merits and pit them against each other. I feel really bad for having to paint my favorite characters in a negative light just then. It was all for the story though. They’re brilliantly crafted characters and overall each are brilliant shows.

The only thing these shows have in common is some namesakes. It’s understandable that when Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant brought the show to America, they knew that things could be different and that it wouldn’t lose any of its heart if they changed the tone just to make things a little harder.

So let’s all just stop trying to compare the two. It’s so much better when they exist separately as two beautiful entities that evoke completely different and mutually exclusive reactions.