The recent Netflix television comedy based on the actual organization, Space Force, has taken the world by storm, reuniting The Office creator Greg Daniels and The Office alumni Steve Carell, to fans' excitement. It has quickly moved up the ranks for great workplace sitcoms, and, despite its mixed reviews, is loved by fans all around the globe.
Off to a shaky start, Space Force has a lot of potential to be the best workplace sitcom ever, and it is already being compared to the all-time greats, which, while encouraging, puts pressure on the cast and crew of the show. Here are five reasons why Space Force is a great workplace sitcom, as well as five who may be better than it.
It's Great: Steve Carell And Greg Daniels
Mark Naird, the four-star general and leader of Space Force, is the heart of the show. It's comedic and critical acclamation aspect relies on the performance of comedy legend Steve Carell as in the lead role, and it's safe to say that he definitely didn't disappoint.
The reuniting of Steve Carell with Greg Daniels for the creation of a new show is truly a match made in heaven and sees Steve Carell giving one of his best performances to date.
Alternative: The Office
If there's a competitor for Space Force in it's path to greatness, its none other than Greg Daniel's masterpiece, The Office. Following Dunder Mifflin, a paper company, and its employees in a hilarious fashion and led by Steve Carell's Micheal Scott for the major part of the series, it is brought to life by the staggering performances of big-name actors like Carell himself, alongside Jon Krasinski, Jenna Fischer, and Rainn Wilson.
Regarded as one of the best sitcoms to-date, The Office may be the only show standing in Space Force's quest to become the all-time great.
Why It's Great: Implementation Of Issues And Politics In Real Life
One of the greatest and funniest aspects of Space Force is its hilarious implementation of modern-day politics and social issues into its own world, with subtle references to everything from the current political climate in the US to Wendy's undercooked burgers. While others have tried this and failed miserably, Space Force finds that perfect, balanced contrast between real-life and fiction.
The real-life references and somewhat stereotypical aspects related to China and Russia make Space Force a great contender, having in spades what some of its rivals lack. It truly helps it stand out amongst the rest, despite being a newcomer to a long-running game.
Better Alternative: Parks And Rec
A long-running competitor to Space Force's greatness is another Greg Daniels' masterpiece, Parks And Rec, which has amassed a great following over the past few years. Revolving around a fictional city, Pawnee, Indiana, and Leslie Knope, a mid-level bureaucrat wishing to help Ann, a local nurse, to convert disused construction sites to community parks, which proves to be a grueling task.
Starring big names like Amy Pohler, Chris Pratt, and the humorous Ron Howard, Parks And Rec surely gives the Space Force quest for greatness a run for its money.
Why It's Great: John Malkovich and Steve Carell's Comedic Duo
Comedy legend Steve Carell forms an unlikely bond as Mark Naird with his scientific advisor, Dr. Adrian Mallory, which lies at the heart of the show. Mark and Mallory are polar opposites, from their athletic abilities to their way of dressing—and even their hair, or lack thereof.
Despite having almost nothing in common, they bond over time, to the point where Mallory becomes Mark's aide-de-camp and partner in crime, quite literally.
Alternative: Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Quite possibly one of the most popular modern-day workplace sitcoms is Brooklyn Nine-Nine, which deals with the management of the Ninety-Ninth precinct of the Brooklyn Police Department, headed by Captian Raymond Holt. While Detectives Jake Peralta and Charles Boyle embark upon cases, which get progressively harder, Sergeant Terry Jeffords deals with his personal life, and Rosa tries to keep her's secret.
All this goes on while Amy Santiago and Jake secretly have a romantic interest in each other, which leads to their eventual marriage, and personal journeys and character development. A different setting for a comedic sitcom than most sitcoms made Brookly Nine-Nine hard to forget.
It's Great: Unique Plot And Initial Setting For A Workplace Sitcom
Continuing its trend for uniqueness, Space Force offers the most unique plot and setting out of all of its competitors, who are mostly part of small offices for small companies. In comparison, Space Force is as big as it gets, with the stakes being the defense of a whole country, rather than a small paper company or a city even.
Space Force offers its viewers with a unique plot, is beautifully executed, stunningly made, and has a spring in its step as it marches toward fame.
Alternative: Superstore
Another sitcom really worth watching, NBC-made workplace sitcom just shows how fast a gossip or rumor can spread in a small organization, or a small superstore, that is.
The show offers a diverse cast, and head-on-heels laughter with its jokes, and silly plot. Right on par with Space Force, it's recently also been renewed for a sixth season.
It's Great: Ben Schwartz
Ben Schwartz as F. Tony Sparapaducci is the show's funniest character, morphing an organization run by an old breed with young and up-and-coming scientists and astronauts, with F. Tony as the advisor to Mark Naird on PR, social media, and the online aspects of Space Force, but not without a little comedy. Having worked with Daniels previously on Parks And Rec as Jean-Ralphio, Schwartz delivers an above-par performance as F. Tony.
Most of the funniest jokes and moments in the series have directly or indirectly involved F. Tony, and, if that isn't enough to convince critics and viewers of his immense quality and versatility, there is little which will.
Alternative- Silicon Valley
Silicon Valley is an IT-focused workplace sitcom following Richard, who creates an app called the Pied Piper, while five other programmers struggle to make it to the big leagues in the most hilarious fashion possible. The six season-long series sadly came to an end in December 2019, to fans' great sorrow.
Fans appreciated the show for its definitive flow of events, quirky jokes, and amazing performances by the actors involved in the show. Sharing the IT and Technological background as a similarity to Space Force, it can definitely be considered as an alternative to Space Force.