‘The Office Australia’ gets divided reaction from viewers: “What an insult to an iconic show”

18 October, 2024

Felicity Ward (Hannah Howard) & Edith Poor (Lizzie Moyle) in ‘The Office’.

The Australian version of The Office was released on Amazon Prime Video today (October 18) and it’s fair to say that viewers are divided.

READ MORE: ‘The Office’ review: Amazon’s workaday Australian remake is dogged by déjà vu

It’s the latest adaptation of the BBC series, created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, that first aired in 2001. Numerous other adaptations have been produced around the world, with the US series being the longest-running. A follow-up, The Paper, has been announced to premiere on the streaming platform Peacock, too.

Many viewers of the Australian adaptation, however, seem to be unimpressed, with one writing on X/Twitter, “10 minutes of The Office Australia made me want to drink a pint of bleach,” and another opining that it’s simply “so bad soo soo bad.”

Someone else, meanwhile, called it “fucking awful” and “possibly the worst version” of the show. One more wrote, “I am a huge fan of the show, The Office. Both the UK and the US. I just gave the Australian one a shot and I lasted less than five minutes – what an insult to an iconic brand/show. Not even going to get into it, just don’t waste your time.”

 

Another viewer was unsure, saying, “I have mixed feelings about the The Office Australia reboot. An uncanny valley type of feeling too. Though it kinda feels like if Utopia and The Office US had a baby.”

Characters in ‘The Office‘
‘The Office’ was released today (October 18). CREDIT: John Platt/Amazon

Some viewers are enjoying it, with one writing, “Four episodes down of The Office Australia. Don’t hate it. Few good gags and enjoying the cast. Look forward to next four.” Another said, “Just finished The Office Australia, and I have to say I need more!”

One fan offered a balanced review, calling the jokes not “offensive enough” and “nowhere near close to the line,” but praising its awkward comedy.

 

NME, meanwhile, gave the “workaday Australian remake” a two-star review, describing it as being “dogged by déjà vu” but adding: “It took the US Office two seasons to stop being a bad cover version and hit its stride. In this cutthroat climate of streaming where series are prematurely culled, will this be allowed time to settle into its own unique rhythm? A fatalistic question that would probably be followed in The Office by a reaction cutaway shot to somebody’s eyes awkwardly darting from side to side.”

When the Australian adaptation was announced in May 2023, Gervais said in a statement: “I’m very excited about Australia remaking my little show from the turn of the century. Office politics have changed a bit in 20 years, so can’t wait to see how they navigate a modern-day David Brent.”

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