The Office (UK) "The Quiz" (2001)

Three episodes in and I already think of this show and the American version as two separate entities. I was fearful when I first started watching the original show that I wouldn't be able to differentiate the two and put them in constant comparison. The characters and situations in both shows however are vastly different despite similar story lines and when there are comparisons to be made it usually favors both for their differing portrayals. In this episode Tim is celebrating his thirtieth birthday which also happens to fall on the annual Quiz Night. David is excited because him and his pal Chris Finch (Ralph Ineson) have won seven years in a row. Tim is just looking to relax and spend some time hanging out with his friends, however petty rivalries and intense competitive natures win out. He starts off the day at work quite early as his mom has woken him up to give him her present. He seems pleased when Dawn gives him his card and later Lee brings them their joint gift, a giant inflatable penis which David enjoys as a prop to no end. There was even a Doctor Who reference using the inflated prop as an eye stalk with David proclaiming: "Experminate". I couldn't tell for sure, but Tim seemed displeased that his birthday was being overshadowed especially as we got to the end of the episode. It's understandable that when it is your birthday you expect to be the person getting the attention however Quiz Night has made that impossible.

Quiz Night gives us the first time we meet Chris Finch, David's best mate, who is a boorish, lewd bloke who in constantly insulting everything and everyone around him. Of course David worships the ground he walks on and lets him get away with disparaging him in front of his workers. Finch and Ricky are at immediate odds with one another and highly competitive throughout the Quiz. We learn just how petty Finch and Brent can be when we find out a previous controversial question regarding what type of alien Mr. Spock was. Side note: I loved that this episode had both a Who and Trek reference. That being said I'm ashamed to say I sort of agreed with David in his point that Spock is actually only half-Vulcan. I probably would have also made the distinction but not have blown up over it as David did. Back on track, Tim is the only one who seems to just want to hang out and have fun. He doesn't get caught up in the feud that has developed between Ricky and the Brent/Finch team. Unfortunately he is the victim of the immature "who can throw a shoe over the building" challenge and is roughed up so that his coworkers can use his shoe. First of all, it's interesting to note that after a battle of intellectual wits, the men devolve into a throwing contest when they can't stand losing. Second of all, the fact that Tim has stayed out of the arguing and has tried to simmer things down is reversed and it is determined that his shoe to be thrown. After the deed is done, no one offers to retrieve it for him and leaves him alone outside. It's a sad moment for the character and proof that even the more popular people in the office are not immune to bad pranks.

We also see a bit more of the Dawn/Tim relationship this episode. They've started their longing glances but it's mostly Tim this episode as he stares as Dawn when she is wearing his radio hat. Dawn also seems displeased with Lee's plans for their future which entails living with his parents until she can pop out a few kids and then get a part time cleaning job. There's palpable tension between Lee and Tim and it's unknown at this point if it's because Lee senses his interest in Dawn. He looks thoroughly embarrassed in the end that he had been bullied like that in front of Dawn and his pained expression is heartbreaking. When Gareth wants to throw his hat over as well, Tim snatches it back, slightly whining, which is how I would never picture him acting around Gareth, who he always gets the better of. Not the best way to spend one's birthday and I hope things start to look up for Tim in the next episode.

Favorite moment: Another Tim/Dawn tag-team of putting Gareth on. In this episode they get to make several homosexually related remarks within the context of asking him for advice regarding his military skills. Neither of them can keep a straight face and even when Dawn pops the balloon and points out what they're doing, Tim is still able to play it off so that Gareth thinks that Dawn is a bit crazy. The face he makes at Gareth while his heard is turned in a gaping laugh is priceless and ironic considering how Tim ends the episode in shame at the hands of his coworkers.