Now that the US version has passed the UK version in number of episodes, it's time for a little competition. I think we were all skeptical of the US retread. But based on the size of the threads around here, clearly, it's become a cult favorite.

So now's our chance to act as a joint Wernham-Hogg/Dunder-Mifflin Human Resources Department to create The Ultimate Office Staff. Every couple of days, I'll put up a new staff member competition to vote on, starting with today's showdown...

Gareth


vs.

Dwight



Vote for your favorite and tell us why your pick should be part of...The Ultimate Office Staff.

I wish there was an option for a tie. The US version is really coming into its own this season. The only UK character I still clearly favor over their US counterpart is David Brent. Steve Carell is great, but he's no Ricky Gervais.

Dwight all the way

This just isn't a contest in my book. Dwight wins, and I cannot imagine a single UK cast member getting my vote over the US cast. I tried that version, but it just didn't work for me as well as the US version does.

This is tough. Gareth basically created the character, most of his mannerisms, but Dwight certainly has his own quirks. I also vote for a tie.

"I want this raise! I deserve this raise! The least you can do is keep my salary consistant with inflation...HEEYAHH!!!"

I love Gareth but i have to go with Dwight.

Dwigt.

As much as I like Dwigt I gotta go with Gareth. If there was a tie option I'd probobly select that but in the end it came down to which character would I want to work with the least. I would much rather work with Dwigt than with Gareth.

Man, lots of calls for a tie option. But we have two guys fighting for one spot, so you can only pick one.

The deciding factor for me was the look on Gareth's face when he's leaving the bar in that motorcycle sidecar. Classic.

And Dwight is still just a little too cartoonish to me.

I voted Dwight, because I think he's funnier. But Gareth is great too. But really, these characters are very very different so it's hard to compare.

As the OP said, Dwight still strikes me as a bit cartoonish, and I don't think there's a solid handle on his character yet. Gareth was fully-formed and awesome from the first episode.

Gareth all the way. Dwight is just too over-the-top to be believable at times.

When the show first started, I thought Rainn Wilson didn't hold a candle to Mackenzie's Gareth...but now that the US version has gone on, DWIGHT SCHRUTE has become one of the best characters in the history of television... I mean, Gareth Keenan was awesome, but Dwight would beat that bitches ass....

MATT

I'm going to end up voting the opposite of everybody since I'm going UK for every matchup but Packer over Finch.

Gareth was in the Army - he would kick Dwight's ass.

I voted for Gareth because he's a more believable character. I love the US version of The Office but I've never really met anyone like Dwight. I've met plenty of Gareths though.

p.s. to cleaver's avatar

This is pretty much exactly how I felt/feel, as well.

Gareth was certainly more realistic overall, but I prefer Dwight at this point.

That was the deciding factor in Gareth over Dwight. I still replay that haunted look in my mind. Dwight's mid-season cartoonishness merely aided the decision.

Man these matchups are going to be tough. While I think Gareth might be more real-world, I really can't wait to see what Dwight will do next.

So my vote is Dwight.

I chose Gareth simply on the basis that I'd rather work with him than Dwight. If I had to work with a Dwight, I'd probably murder him within a week.

Dwight's a little too phoney for me. Gareth.

das

i've only seen a few episodes of the US version, but Dwight seemed to me to be the character that was most "off", so definitely Gareth imo.

Gareth all the way. I'm a little suprised at all the Dwight (Dwigt) love in here. He's funny sometimes, but way too ever the top. Gareth, by comparison, is brilliantly subtle and, to me, it just works much better.

Way too over the top? Sure, but so was Kramer and George but I loved those guys just as I do Dwight and Michael.