When I watched the original British version of The Office, I remember thinking that the “manager” character wasn’t funny at all, but pathetic in a way that made me feel depressed. However, I kept watching because I’m the type that gets emotionally invested in characters and watches a show to the bitter end.
I expected the American version of the show to be worse, but I found I liked it better. The “manager” is really just a social-retard and a bit of an idiot savant (his secret talent being sales). Overall, the show was more lighthearted and didn’t get me down about the corporate workplace most of us work in (which is so damn depressing). I’ve been casually checking in on the re-runs playing on FOX and I’m finding that the earlier seasons were actually quite close to the British version in terms of being oddly serious (is that what tongue-in-cheek means?) and a little bit of a downer. I prefer the tone of the later seasons much more: a little bit goofier and sillier without feeling heavy.