After a long day of pushing papers and filing TPS Reports, what is the only thing that can raise your broken spirits? If you said, kicking back and basking in the misery of your favorite TV desk jockeys, give yourself a pat on the back! In NBC’s The Office, the only difference between their 9-5 and yours, is that their misery only lasts for 23 minutes, strategically centered around satirical jokes and quirky situations.

The Office’s popularity is undeniable, but what is it about the series that gives it such a mass appeal? The atmosphere is a place that we are all familiar with — coffee maker down the hall, water cooler to the right. But in all actuality, the success of The Office can be attributed to two main factors:

1. First Time Watchability - Honestly, if you miss the first episode of some shows, you’re absolutely screwed and you’re better off waiting until the summer reruns if you ever plan on having any idea of what the hell is going on. On the other hand, The Office is extremely easy for absolutely anybody to start watching, in any season, whether or not they have ever seen a single episode. The quirky situations that the Steve Carell and the other characters find themselves in require no background knowledge whatsoever. Each episode, individually, has the ability to be watched and enjoyed with zero dependence of the rest of the shows in the season.
2. Intricate Character Development - Here’s where The Office really shines. If you did start watching from season 1, you will receive a special treat over periodic Office watchers. This treat is that you will begin to notice intricate - yet subtle - character development that evolves from one episode to the next. This character development brings an element of drama to the series that leaves you craving more. For example, in the earlier seasons, we are given very very subtle hints throughout a couple episodes that one of the secondary characters might be gay. These were hints that the periodic watcher would most likely miss entirely, but still enjoy the comedy of the show. By contrast, the regular viewer is able to put the puzzle pieces together and understand the character even better. Even though I’ve seen all the episodes multiple times, I still catch new things in the DVD box sets that I failed to pick up on the first time around.

The Office is an amazing show with a fantastic cast of characters. Non-regular viewers will love the comedy of the show, and the ability to immediately relate to many of the office situations that have likely happened in their own cubicle. Die hard fans will recognize this same love for comedy, but stay on board for the drama that ties all the episodes together, as well as the intricate character development that comes with it. If you’re behind on the past seasons, or if you just can’t get enough, now is a great time to catch up. Seasons 1, 2, and most recently 3 are now available on DVD in all their original glory, plus tons of bonus features. Season 4 has recently started to air, and runs on on NBC at 9PM EST. » Get Yours: Seasons 1 & 2 - Season 3