Ep 1. Merger

The Office (U.K.) season 2 episode 1, "Merger" begins with the Slough and Swindon branches of the Wernham Hogg paper company merging, which means the employees of both branches, including David Brent and Tim Canterbury, have to work with each other.

As the episode progresses, the employees from both branches struggle to merge their differing work styles and cultures. The branch manager, David Brent, tries to keep things light and friendly with his usual jokes and attempts at office humor, but his efforts are often met with awkward silences or eye rolls from the new employees. Moreover, his attempts to make the new colleagues feel at home, with a speech and some nibbles, fall flat.

Meanwhile, Tim Canterbury becomes increasingly irritated by the presence of the new team, especially the brash and annoying Swindon warehouse guy, who seems intent on making Tim's life hell. Another standout character is Keith, the Swindon representative of the warehouse staff, who although being a loveable guy, is unaware of his facial expressions and comes across as uninterested, but is actually very approachable.

The interactions between the characters range from uncomfortable to downright hilarious, with tensions bubbling under the surface throughout the episode as the employees struggle to work with each other. The episode ends with some employees starting to forge new friendships while others remain anxious about the future of their jobs.

Overall, this episode perfectly captures the awkwardness and tension that comes with merging two previously separate branches of a company, especially in such a small, close-knit community as the Wernham Hogg office. The characters are well-written, and the awkward humor of the show shines through as the various employees navigate their new workplace, all of which makes it a must-watch for fans of the show.