Mockumentary style?... let's see.
My issue is with the so-called documentary style of the show... What does that even mean anyway? Shaky camera (check), Warwick looking at the sound guy/cameraman occasionally (check), Warwick confiding to the reporter in a conventional interview set-up (check)... and ice on the cake, well, that 'reality' feel.
Take the Liam Neeson scene. He comes in, walking like he knows the office already... has he come here before? I wouldn't say so. Shouldn't he at least look around, like he's discovering, certainly not run to the desk like he does, especially since the event of him showing up seems rather unlikely in the first place. And the way he leaves is hardly any better...
Another thing is Ricky looking at the camera to fake embarrassment all the time. We've seen that trend grow in the US since David Brent became Michael Scott but the gimmick has long mutated. In 'Parks and Recreation' for example Leslie and co. regularly look into the eye of the camera to express their frustrations but are we even supposed to wonder if there actually is a camera crew filming them? not especially. In 'Modern Family' the characters regularly answer questions on their sofa but are we supposed to wonder about who's following them in their day-to-day life? certainly not.
And wasn't David Brent looking more at the cameraman than he was at the camera in The Office UK to begin with?... If in the American shows that approach seems to be used as a simple device for conveying reality - and of course comedy - the viewer doesn't really have to question it any further. In Britain, we're supposed to feel all the human misery and pain in the making of the documentary, in front as well as behind the scenes. This is what made 'The Office' UK so good back then, and superior to its US version in my opinion. This is what still makes 'The Thick of It' great. When in 'Life's Too Short' Ricky looks into the camera in self contentment, it's all the reality that goes by the window.
Repeated throughout the whole series, these issue drags the whole show down and reduced my enjoyment significantly. I'll be optimistic anyway and say that I'm looking forward to a (better) season two.