DJariya

My sister highly recommended watching "The Office" to me, but I've never seen the previous 3 seasons. Can I start watching this season without feeling lost? Are there any serialized elements that may confuse me?

Chew

There's several serialized elements to the show, but I doubt you would have a problem picking up on them fairly quickly. Some of the jokes might not make you laugh if you haven't seen the history behind it though.

Best answer: start with new episodes when it premieres while catching up on the DVDs.

Goat3001

All you need to know about ongoing story is:



There... you're all caught up. Enjoy season 4. And if you like it make sure you get a chance to watch the first three seasons because they are all great.

cdollaz

I think there are a lot of jokes that require past knowledge. Even moreso, I think a lot of the jokes are dependent on knowing the characters well.

You may still find it funny, but most people I know who just watched an episode here and there don't really get it. That's how I was until I watched the DVDs starting from the beginning.

CreamyGoodness

...that's what she said.

Mopower

Or he said.

wishbone

To add

cdollaz

In other words, you are telling us what's been going on with you lately.

Mordred

Damn I love this show!

GoldenJCJ

The Office is probably my favorite show right now and I still have yet to watch S1. I started about 2 or 3 episodes into S2 and became addicted. When I find the time I'll go back and watch the first season.

mdc3000

Why not catch up right now... Season 1 is short, you can watch it in 1 sitting. Season 2 you'll fly through in 2 nights, ditto Season 3... if you start tomorrow, you'll be good to go by the Thursday premiere.

kenage

I did not know that Jim knows that Dwight & Angela are a couple? I remember the episode when he walked in on them getting it on, but he did not see her face.

the big train

Speaking of things one won't understand without seeing previous episodes...

GoldenJCJ

We do know for sure that Pam knows, right? So it wouldn't be too far of a strectch to assume that she told Jim.

Boba Fett

I thought there was an episode where Jim found Angela naked and asleep in Dwight's hotel room, and decided he'd never say anything as a way of paying Dwight back for saving him from Roy.

Goldberg74

Jim thought it was a hooker. He didn't know it was Angela.

Pam has seen Dwangela caught in a passionate kiss.

Kevin M. Dean

Well I guess the OP won't need to watch the first 3 seasons anyway since everyone seems to be throwing around spoilers left and right.

Adam Tyner

Those were two different episodes, but:

FinkPish

Jim does know, but from the episode where Dwight maced Roy. Jim wanted to get him something to say thanks, and Dwight kept refusing. Once Jim saw Dwight and Angela together, he said that not telling anyone would be his gift to him.

CreamyGoodness

"I am going to drop a deuce on everybody."

DarthVong

I enjoy having breakfast in bed. I like waking up to the smell of bacon, sue me. And since I don't have a butler, I have to do it myself. So, most nights before I go to bed, I will lay six strips of bacon out on my George Foreman grill. Then I go to sleep. When I wake up, I plug in the grill. I go back to sleep again. Then I wake up to the smell of crackling bacon. It is delicious, it's good for me, it's the perfect way to start the day.

obscurelabel

The show has some of the most brilliant callbacks of any show I've seen, so if you can watch them in order there are very rewarding payoffs.

Two of my favorites:

JasonTHX

When starting watching a show cold after it's been on a while It's always best to be fimiliar with the characters. I've learned the hard way - I've tried watching Brothers and Sisters and Ugly Betty halfway through their runs and I was really lost. Speaking of which if you try to start LOST at this point you will be just that.

The Office shouldn't be that daunting. Like Seinfeld or Curb each episode stands alone as uniquely contained.

I consider The Office a real-life Simpsons - it's that funny.

JuryDuty

I agree that it's something you should be able to jump right into. There are some previous storylines that might be referenced, but even often when that happens, they play a clip from what they're referring to so you know.

I'd start watching without hesitation. Just be prepared to give it a couple shows to get used to the characters.

BTW, Season 1 really isn't integral at all to the series. It has some very good episodes, but you could start with Season 2 if you had to without a problem. Or just start watching the reruns on TBS of the previous seasons. You'll be into it in no time.

critterdvd

I tried jumping in last fall and felt completley out of the loop.

From what I've heard from friends this is a very very character driven show and 80% of the humor comes from your knowledge of their past interactions...