The boss of a Slough company receives news that his staff may soon be downsized.
This is a great start to an excellent comedy.
Watching this when it was first broadcast was an experience and it still is on a rewatch over 20 years later. For me humour flows at breakneck speed as we are assaulted by the introduction of David Brent's hideous personality. His dialogue ranges from incredibly cringe-inducing to genuinely funny and although his behaviour might be outrageous, it is recognisable in so many managers I have had the misfortune to meet in my professional life. Ricky Gervais makes one of the best first impressions in BBC comedy with this episode.
Other characters are introduced very well and have their own charm. Martin Freeman and Mackenzie Crook make the best of the good material written for their roles. Arguably, some of wind-up related moments between Gareth and Tim go on for slightly too long, but it's great nonetheless. Lucy Davis plays the straight-role among the madness very well and deadpan.
Everything builds to a brilliant final scene where an inappropriate practical joke backfires and we get the very appropriate reaction.
Comedy as always is in the eye of the beholder, so it very much depends on your personal taste as to how funny you will find it. It's right up my street and I think it's almost a perfect start.
For me it's a 9.5/10, but I round upwards.
This is a great start to an excellent comedy.
Watching this when it was first broadcast was an experience and it still is on a rewatch over 20 years later. For me humour flows at breakneck speed as we are assaulted by the introduction of David Brent's hideous personality. His dialogue ranges from incredibly cringe-inducing to genuinely funny and although his behaviour might be outrageous, it is recognisable in so many managers I have had the misfortune to meet in my professional life. Ricky Gervais makes one of the best first impressions in BBC comedy with this episode.
Other characters are introduced very well and have their own charm. Martin Freeman and Mackenzie Crook make the best of the good material written for their roles. Arguably, some of wind-up related moments between Gareth and Tim go on for slightly too long, but it's great nonetheless. Lucy Davis plays the straight-role among the madness very well and deadpan.
Everything builds to a brilliant final scene where an inappropriate practical joke backfires and we get the very appropriate reaction.
Comedy as always is in the eye of the beholder, so it very much depends on your personal taste as to how funny you will find it. It's right up my street and I think it's almost a perfect start.
For me it's a 9.5/10, but I round upwards.