The American version of "The Office" has been in repeats longer than any show affected by the writers' strike. In fact, its last episode aired before Thanksgiving, creating a withdrawal that has lasted more than two months for fans.

This is the perfect opportunity for those obsessed with "The Office" to see where it all began, on the other side of the pond.

The U.K. version of "The Office" is in many ways dissimilar to its American counterpart. For example, the U.S. characters Dwight (Rainn Wilson) and Michael (Steve Carell) (versus the British Gareth Kenan and David Brent), are decidedly different. Dwight is more of a squirrelly schemer while Michael is a sort of a wannabe stand-up comedian rather than simply a blithering idiot.

The dynamic of Pam (Jenna Fischer) and Jim (John Krasinski) (Dawn and Tim in the U.K.) remains, and their characters have pretty much the same personalities and problems as those in the U.S. version.

The major differences lie within the way the series filmed. The U.K. version sticks very closely to its documentary style, rarely leaving the titular office and going into the exterior lives of its characters, something that happened in the U.S. version in the middle of the second season.

The British version also relies less on the supporting characters around the office. They are still there and have their own funny bits, but many remain unnamed and they rarely speak to the camera.

The traveling salesman Chris Finch (David Koechner's David Packer in America) also plays a far more significant role in the British version.

The biggest difference between the two takes on the lives of employees of a paper company is that the British version is simply funnier. Its co-creator and star Ricky Gervais (David Brent) may be the funniest man on the planet. He's yet to fully break through in America though his second sitcom, "Extras", was shown on HBO. Audiences may recognize his stodgy museum manager from "Night at the Museum" or from the episode of "The Simpsons" he wrote and lent his voice to.

Gervais also wrote every episode along with his co-genius Stephen Merchant. Many fans of the American show have actually seen the first episode already as Greg Daniels uses a slightly-Americanized version of Gervais and Merchant's script. The duo also combined to write an episode of the American version when the staff compared working at Dunder-Mifflin to being in prison.

Aside from the extra humor added by its star, The U.K. version of "The Office" also packs a lot more heart. Its reliance on the true documentary feel and accompanying low production values makes the dramatic situations in the British version far more effective and much less corny than those viewed in America.

One word of warning for those who don't regularly enjoy British Comedy - the accents are very heavy and may be hard to understand for less Anglicanized audiences. It's a good idea to watch the first episode with subtitles until you get the hang of the new speech patterns.

The brevity of the series makes it an exception to the rule of using a rent-by-mail service like Blockbuster Online or Netflix to enjoy the run of the series. Its entire run can be rented in one trip to the video store, or you can purchase it for a mere $40.00.

Any way you choose to enjoy this series is well worth it. The characters are more realistic and well-realized than the American version, and the situations are far funnier. Gervais and Merchant manage to develop the Dawn and Tim relationship further in 12 episodes than the American version has been able to during its entire run thus far. Best of all, the creators stopped the series at the right time, saying all they needed to say and never becoming redundant.

"The Office" has two seasons with a total of 12 episodes plus a 90-minute special. It's perfect for fans missing “30 Rock”, “My Name is Earl” and “How I Met Your Mother.”

Make sure to check back every week for a new TV on DVD recommendation.

Story By Andrew Payne
Starpulse contributing writer