The Office Review: Fails to Fill Some Big Shoes

This Australian adaptation of the celebrated mockumentary series The Office (2005-2015) based on The Office by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant has been made and then remade many times across the world. Prime Video’s newest addition follows Hannah Howard and her managerial prowess as the managing director of packaging company Flinley Craddick. The season follows Hannah desperately trying to keep morale high so that corporate doesn’t shut down her branch and make everyone go remote, as well as the hilarious consequences of keeping her “family” together.

The season has 8 episodes, each with a runtime of around 25 minutes.

The Office Review

The problem with adapting one of the most influential sitcoms of modern times is that, even before it releases, it is doomed to be compared to its predecessor for as long as it exists. Prime Video’s gender-swapped The Office tries its hardest to be familiar but different but you can’t help but see it through a familiar lens. The American adaptation is a comfort watch for me and thus watching the Australian The Office can get a bit biased sometimes.

However, the fault isn’t on the viewers. One can’t help but see the parallels because even though the Australian version tries to be topical, especially with the remote working situation and all, it treads very close to the American show from episode to episode, so much so that you automatically try to wonder whether Dwight would’ve done what Lizzie is doing here etc. This isn’t to say that it’s not funny and kudos to Felicity Ward who does a phenomenal job of filling Steve Carell’s mammoth shoes – a feat that I didn’t think was possible.

Even then, however, you can just feel that something is missing – the 2024 series doesn’t make you as uncomfortable as that first season of the American iteration did and prefers to follow an odd middle ground that is neither uncomfortable nor funny. The bursts of funny moments make things worse, in my opinion, because you know that it’s playing safe which can get on one’s nerves. Considering what The Office and then Parks and Recreations have brought to the workplace comedy genre, the Australian iteration falls short by a mile even though it tries its hardest to.

I also don’t really find it amusing how the creators have tried to make the characters similar to the American version. Other than swapping the genders, the core essence of these characters is the same and that’s most noticeable in Dwight/Lizzie. Edith Poor’s Lizze Moyle is made to embody Dwight in all the ways possible but as a result, turns into someone without her own standing and without much depth, mimicking Rainn Wilson’s iconic character soullessly. The other characters try to be a bit different but eventually fall into the same old grind.

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The first episode truly surprises you. The topic of remote working will amuse audiences because it feels fresh and new, a new spin on an old take. However, the more episodes go by, the more the series feels sluggish and boring. I think the series should’ve stayed on the topical path instead of trying to morph old concepts to fit this new cast of characters.

Final Thoughts

The Office Australia has its funny moments that are entertaining but in the grand scheme of things, it feels similar to the American version in more ways than one. Although it gender-swaps some characters and adds some relatable, real-world topics, episode to episode things seem similar and devoid of anything unique or noticeable. It’s not the worst thing out there, but if you love the original, probably doing a rewatch is for the best.

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