It hardly seems necessary to refer to NBC’s “The Office” as “the American version,” anymore. We’re now two years into the series, and it has definitely evolved into its own creature. Ricky Gervais’ original seems a distant memory now, and in many ways, I think the American version surpasses its British forebear in almost every regard.

Watching NBC’s marathon of season two episodes last night, I’m struck not only by how real the show is, but how humane it is. Although the British show was complex and painfully real, it tended to view its characters with contempt. David Brent didn’t grow into a sympathetic character until the Christmas special, and Gareth was always portrayed as a sociopath. In contrast, Michael Scott, while being an asshole and boob, also has a sympathetic side, a humanity that David never had. Like David Brent, Michael desperately wants to be liked, but there’s a pathos to his character. There’s something infinitely relatable and sad about how Michael clings to his boss, Jane, a woman who he hooked up with just once, but clearly has feelings for, despite the contradictory attraction and repulsion Jane has for him.

The only element of the show that retains much of the flavor of the original is the Jim/Pam relationship. Unlike the sudden and pat resolution in the UK Christmas special, though, we see a long and natural evolution from their flirty friendship, to Jim’s awkward revelation of affection in the season two finale that we never really had in the BBC version. Dawn and Tim become a couple in the series finale, because it’s what the audience wants. And although there is some catharsis in the fact that they do get together, the two seasons of the UK show seemed determine to keep them in limbo forever, like in a classic sitcom. Jim’s revelation to Pam evolves more naturally as part of the overall season two arc, and there is no moment during the second season when the audience doesn’t know that something will happen between them. Good or bad, change in their status quo was inevitable.

I was particularly struck last night in rewatching the scene where a confused and overwhelmed Pam talks to her mom on the phone about Jim. She is elated by his revelation, but also terrified of the consequences. Her mother, unheard by the audience, asks her if she loves him. “I think I do,” Pam replies.

She is both vulnerable and empowered by finally admitting her feelings to herself. But how she chooses to deal with that revelation remains to be seen. Which is what’s so great about the show — that its characters, like people in the real world, make such terrible mistakes when presented with two choices. And the consequences of those choices lead to classic comedy, as well as moments of awesome tragedy.