(S02E18) In my humble opinion, The Office is hands down the best comedy on television today. Great writing, great acting, great stories--I could go on and on. This episode, the season finale, was, in a word, brilliant. You could not ask for a better way to tie up story lines that occurred over the course of a season while opening up new ones at the same time.
Let's briefly sum up what happened. Dunder Mifflin, led by Michael, holds a Casino Night charity function in the warehouse of the Scranton branch. Michael (played by the excellent Steve Carell) is doing his best to choose a suitable charity after the staff nixes the Boy Scouts. After some interplay, they decide to do something for AIDS patients, so that Michael can prove to everyone that he is a great "philanderer". (Michael's butchering of words reminds me of the old-time comic Norm Crosby.)
At the same time, the flirtation between Jim and Pam reaches a fever pitch when he offers to help her choose a band for her wedding. Just looking at them making eye contact with each other is enough to make you just want to shout at the screen, "Come on! Get together already!" In addition, how funny was seeing Kevin in "Scranton-icity"? The Wedding Singer flashed in front of my eyes at that moment.
Michael also is in a bit of a "love triangle drama" when he ends up inviting his real estate agent (Carol) and his boss (Jan) to the event. Of course, his bravado gets in the way and he looks foolish trying to "balance" both women, but still you root for Michael to find romance despite his boorishness. As we've seen over the course of the season, despite his over-the-top behavior, he exhibits a sensitive, human side that makes you think that deep down, he's a good guy who just needs some understanding.
One tiny part of tonight's story was Angela's slapping of Dwight. All season long it seemed they had a hot relationship going on, so her reaction to him was a bit weird. We'll have to see what happens next season with them and if their "romance" will continue.
Of course, like the rest of the viewers of The Office, I was chomping at the bit to see what finally transpires between Jim and Pam. The flirtation was strong between them the entire episode, and the subplot was whether Jim was going to tell anyone about his possible transfer out of Scranton because of the lack of a future there. After hanging out in the parking lot with Jan, she tells him he has to say something to somebody.
Finally, after Roy leaves, Jim finally professes his love for Pam. Shockingly, but not surprisingly, Pam rebuffs Jim, saying that he misinterpreted things. He says he wants to be more than friends, but she apparently doesn't. We then see Pam alone in a darkened office calling her mother and telling her what transpired. Jim walks in, and after hanging up the phone, Pam and Jim finally kiss! I would imagine most Office fans stood up and cheered, but I also think a number of you wanted to see Pam reject Jim's advances. The season ends with the kiss, so we'll be left to ponder all summer if the Pam-Roy wedding does take place or if Pam and Jim decide to hook up.
Again, this was a brilliant end to a brilliant season for The Office. I think all of us can't wait for September to see what happens next.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
5-11-2006 @ 11:36PM
Brian said...
I think you missed Angela's reaction as she walked away from Dwight. She smiled, as she liked the kiss. Their relationship has always been a secret, so she had to slap him when he got caught up in the moment.
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5-11-2006 @ 11:36PM
Landon Howell said...
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH
MYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSH
What a great episode. I almost hate that the "Jan brought her bag to sleep over" plotline took second place.
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5-11-2006 @ 11:37PM
Radical Bender said...
Jim is my hero.
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5-11-2006 @ 11:38PM
Mikey Bulldogs said...
I thought this was a great episode, and fitting ending. When Angela slapped Dwight, while walking away she kinda smirked, and so did Dwight so I think they were both loving that. BTW how funny was Creed. "I've never owned a refrigerator"
This show ROCKS!!!!
New Thursday Night Lineup should be:
8:00-Scrubs
8:30-New Tina Fey Comedy
9:00-Earl
9:30-Office
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5-11-2006 @ 11:48PM
Bebop said...
did u see jim cry a little bit?? And the Kiss was soooo exciting! Dammit! But i have a feeling Pam's gonna get married anyway
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5-11-2006 @ 11:48PM
LifeInTheOffice.com said...
An interesting tip: Carol is Steve Carell's wife in real life. When you know that...the scenes with Jan are even better.
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5-11-2006 @ 11:50PM
Clint said...
I was actually surprised when Jim told Pam he was in love with her. With the whole conversation with Jan right before, I was expecting him to tell her that he was taking the transfer and we would have this whole Pam-going-after-Jim scenario.
A great episode!
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5-11-2006 @ 11:59PM
Egotstic! said...
Best. Episode. Ever.
Pam and Jim are the best. Though I thought the kiss itself was a bit weak.
Love it!
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5-12-2006 @ 12:07AM
Rich Keller said...
Good God! What the hell are they going to do next season? They now have a very high standard to follow.
As for Jim and Pam? YAY!!!!
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5-12-2006 @ 12:42AM
wassily said...
Good episode and great ending.
And I have to say that what could have been a very "sitcom-y" plot (Michael juggling two women) turned out to have a surprising amount of pathos to it.
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5-12-2006 @ 1:24AM
Chris said...
Can someone explain what "Dinkin' Flicker" means?
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5-12-2006 @ 1:30AM
Ryan S. said...
I am the only one who thru the whole thing kept feeling really bad for Jan, like the worst i felt for anyone thru the whole show?
I just kept thinking that maybe Jim was going to do something stupid like hook up with Jan, but it was much better to see Jim and Pam making out in the office.
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5-12-2006 @ 1:31AM
Captainmicahp said...
I almost died from laughing so hard at Afghanistanis with aids. Good lord.
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5-12-2006 @ 2:51AM
Reuven said...
Great episode!
My favorite lines: "Why are you the way that you are?"
And: "I hate so much about the things that you choose to be."
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5-12-2006 @ 6:57AM
Rosey said...
Let's not forget the very beginning with Jim's mind control trick of moving the coat stand. Dwight was hilarious the rest of the way, making a ring around the stand and then trying to move his bobblehead telepathically. Classic.
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5-12-2006 @ 7:39AM
Mel C. said...
That episode was perhaps the best thing ever in the history of television!
Ok, so maybe that's a little hyperbolic, but seriously, it was brilliant.
I thought for sure Jim was just going to tell Pam about the transfer and maybe she would kiss him... but the moment he said, "I'm in love with you," I squealed like a little girl.
She better not say it was a mistake and marry that douche.
And the overnight bag was heartbreaking! Poor Jan.
"It was very late, Jim."
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5-12-2006 @ 8:27AM
Genevieve said...
Am I the only one who thought this episode was a bit weak? The Jim/Pam revelation was kind of a letdown to me, actually-- I didn't think there was enough buildup within the episode. And I'm going to miss the romantic tension-- now that his declaration is out there, they're going to have to act on it. And WHY WHY WHY is down-to-earth Jan at all interested in Michael?? I just don't get it!
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5-12-2006 @ 8:49AM
Misterwrite said...
Okay, I?ll say it: I don?t need any more of The Office.
End it now. Cancel it. Why?
Because I love it that much.
See, here?s where the British have it right. Six or so episodes a season, done. Leave us wanting more.
That?s a concept that American network execs couldn?t fathom.
How many seasons did Seinfeld phone it in? MASH? Friends was still on at least three years past its expiration date.
Last night?s Office ended with a perfect kiss between two characters I care more about than any two characters on T.V. right now.
And if the show never aired again, I wouldn?t shed a tear.
My theory is that the Jim (Tim) & Pam storyline is the real reason I watch The Office (US & British).
The David Brent/Michael Scott character is such an unlikable person and Gareth/Dwight is so cartoony that the romance is what really draws me back. I need someone nice to hang out with here.
And so they?ve kissed. Now what? Michael?s inappropriate comments at work? Dwight?s disgust and hypocrisy?
Ah, bazzfazz. It went off so much better than it should have and I quite frankly don?t require more. Its high quality caused the shark to jump.
Peace.
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5-12-2006 @ 9:25AM
Dinkin' Flicker said...
The kiss does not necessarily change everything, and the writers know that. Next season, Jim and Pam will still flirt in the office - the first episode back she will say that the kiss was a mistake (actually, it would be more true to form if Jim says it was a mistake), and they both with say they agree, although they won't, and the wedding planning will continue.
And thank goodness - the tension must continue for the show to work.
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5-12-2006 @ 9:54AM
BD said...
I loved most of it but found the ending a big letdown. Jim's confession was well-timed -- I almost hit rewind on the DVR because I couldn't believe he had said it. But then what? They just leave it on a cliffhanger? As far as cliffhangers go, that one has a little less surprise than, say, J.R. Ewing being shot.
Here's what I was hoping -- Pam initially rebuffs Jim, then finds out Roy hired Kevin's band without consulting her. That causes an epiphany, she runs after Jim and THEN they kiss.
I'm cautiously optimistic for next season. They can resolve the plot points any number of ways. I'm hoping Pam and Jim get together (anything else would be absurd, wouldn't it?) within a few episodes but try to keep it quiet in the office. Might even be fun to have them get together but not inform the viewer -- pick up next season as if nothing happened and then let us all try to decipher clues for a few episodes.
John Krasinski and Jenna Fischer have quickly become my favorite TV actors. They're simply amazing.
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