(S03E06) You know, this show does it to me every time. I've probably reviewed about 10 episodes of The Office that I have considered classics. Well, you can count this one as number 11.
The episode focused on "Diwali", a major Hindu festival which is celebrated, coincidentally, at this time of the year. In this instance, Kelly has invited the entire staff to a Diwali celebration, and most of the folks are enthusiastic about going, but some, including Angela, are a bit skeptical, if not downright hostile to the idea.
To drum up enthusiasm, Michael convenes a meeting where he attempts to explain "Hindu Halloween" and celebrate the diversity of the Indian/Hindu culture. His presentation includes pictures of famous Indians, and one of them was Apu from The Simpsons, which elicited guffaws from this blogger. Absolute brilliance from the writers.
At the same time, we see Jim discuss his bike riding to work in order to save on gas money and stay in shape. Back in Scranton, the meeting reaches a fever pitch when copies of the "Kama Sutra" are distributed to the staff. Angela thinks it's inappropriate, and Toby seconds the thought, which annoys Michael.
The staff arrive at the festival location, and that's where the fun begins. As we well know, Ryan dates Kelly, who happens to be Indian. Dressed in a traditional outfit, he ends up meeting Kelly's sisters as well as her parents, but the family don't seem that taken with him. Her parents grill him about his financial situation, but it doesn't seem that he has made a good impression. It's funny that although we've seen Ryan downplay his relationship with Kelly, he is attending a major celebration with her and meeting her family. What's that all about?
During the festival we see a number of funny scenes, including Michael dancing with some festival goers. The look of joy on his face was priceless! Everybody else on the staff, save for Angela, seems to be having a great time. Pam even shows up later after saying she wouldn't come, and it looked like she was going to make some sort of connection with a young guy, but nothing seem to come of it.
Back in Stamford, Karen, Jim, and Andy have to work late on a project, and Andy immediately breaks out a bottle. Jim and Andy end up doing shots until they pass out while Karen pours her drinks out. Jim eventually wakes up and attempts to bike home, but he keels over and Karen ends up giving him a ride home.
For me, the Stamford scenes don't seem to add much to the story other than the burgeoning flirtation between Jim and Karen. Will it amount to anything? I guess we'll find out over the next few weeks.
Anyway, Michael brought his girlfriend Carol to the festival, who is dressed in a cheerleader outfit. During all the hoopla, Michael is suddenly overcome with passion/emotion and then grabs a microphone and proposes to her. She is taken aback and says they need to discuss this further.
They part ways with Carol driving home alone and Michael looking for a ride. It doesn't seem that Michael and Carol will be together, but stranger things have happened. Pam was attempting to text message someone (Jim?), and then encounters Michael outside. He then tries to engage her into a discussion about them both losing out on love, but Pam kind of sets him straight. She then gives him a ride home, but he is made to sit in the back seat.
Just a terrific episode. The scenes inside the hall were hysterical, especially the dancing. Will Michael get back into Carol's good graces? Will Pam continue to exhibit her independence? Will Jim and Karen hook up? The next few episodes should give us some sort of clue.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
11-03-2006 @ 12:21AM
Nick said...
"Pam was attempting to text message someone (Jim?)"
Yeah, I would assume cutting to Jim's phone vibrating next to him would be a fairly good indication that she was trying to text Jim.
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11-03-2006 @ 12:24AM
Bob said...
It was also nice to see Pam's ex-boyfreind trying to make a comeback. He seems like he could be a nice guy (and not just a one note jerk as he was in the Brit version)if he wanted to try - and he seems to really want to get Pam back. There's a lot of nuance and detail in the American Office that Gervais and Merchant didn't give themselves the time to get into. This is a classic series. Right up there with Lucy, MTM, Cosby and MASH. I think maybe it's that great.
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11-03-2006 @ 1:10AM
SJ said...
Oh man just when I think I can't love the show anymore I do.
I'm Pakistani, though I am fairly familiar with Indian culture. Those were Mindy Kaling's actual parents, and they were spot on representations of West Indian parents, who are always on the lookout for the perfect spouse for their daughter/son (it's really annoying). Seeing Dwight in the traditional Indian garb and Michael trying to dance was hilarious.
I think it was obvious that Pam was texting Jim. The only point of the Stamford branch storyline was to further the romantic interaction between Karen and Jim. Still a lot of episodes to go so I think they'll take their time.
Isn't Steve Carell's wife attractive? I think they found a way to write her character off. Surely she won't be getting back with Michael?
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11-03-2006 @ 9:47PM
dwacon said...
I'm sure my neighbors thought I had lost my mind with the cackling and howling laughter... but this was a FUNNY episode.
When I was in Singapore they called the holiday Deepavali (sp?) but I assume it is the same.
Made me hungry for some Rogan Josh, Roti Prata, and Vindaloo.
--
dwacon
http://dwacon.blogspot.com
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11-03-2006 @ 2:08AM
tiffany said...
I don't see the point of these bits between Karen and Jim either. (I'm obviously a JAM fan by that definition.) A recent NPR interview with Greg Daniels and Mindy Kaling (recent as in today) talked about how Pam and Jim's relationship are built with small moments here and there, and how that gives just the right dose of JAM to viewers. And, now, I see what they're doing with Karen and Jim. The problem is that they're boring or uninteresting compared to JAM... Hopefully, this ends with a quick admission of feelings that's quickly turned down by one or the other.
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11-03-2006 @ 2:06AM
jOHN said...
I thought it was funny how Kelly's sisters were talking in front of Ryan in Hindi and the words Zach Braff were mentioned in reference of his resemblence to the actor.
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11-03-2006 @ 7:16AM
mollyb said...
I wouldn't call all of Jim and Karen's flirtations boring. When he through the imaginary grenade onto her desk and she tossed up some paper clips to effect a fake explosion was one of the best moments of the season so far.
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11-03-2006 @ 9:52AM
OnlyRumors said...
When Andy and Big Tuna broke into Indigo Girls "Closer To Fine" I peed my pants a little bit...nay...ALOT!
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11-03-2006 @ 9:07AM
imdennycrane said...
I agree, Mollyb. I'm a big fan of Pam & Jim but Jim & Karen have had some good moments. The rolling chair and the grenades were pretty funny. Or maybe I'm still a little bitter at Pam for not jumping into Jim's lap ;-)
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11-03-2006 @ 9:12AM
Gordy said...
"Ryan dates Kelly, who happens to be Indian"
LOL, like it's an accident...
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11-03-2006 @ 9:21AM
amy said...
i actually find pam really boring.. the moments between jim and karen are much more interesting! and i actually think they suit each other more as a couple.
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11-05-2006 @ 12:02AM
Michael Couvillion said...
How could you leave out the amazing homage to Adam Sandler's 'The Hannukah Song' at the end? Wow, brilliant and perfectly done.
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11-03-2006 @ 9:52AM
Scott in Green Bay said...
One of the first things I do upon coming into work the morning after one of my favorite shows is on is log on to TV Squad to get even MORE of a fix. As it turns out (more and more often), the commentors have about 100x more relevant and significant things to say than the TV Squadder does. Do you guys really watch the shows? I mean, you'd probably be better off by just having your entry say "The Office was on TV last night" and then leave the rest to the commentors. Unless you're doing the blogging for free, then, um, thanks. But if you're getting paid, maybe you should watch (and be a fan/regular watcher of) the shows. BTW, this was another great episode - Michaels attempted kissing of Pam was priceless and reminscent of when Michael kissed Oscar. Great stuff!!
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11-03-2006 @ 9:54AM
Rebecca said...
Ew, Jim and Karen makes me want to barf. Every time they cut to then/her, I basically yell "Noooooo" at the TV. I think ever since we were first introduced to her, when she was all snobby-ish and lame, I've been hugely, utterly against her & Jim. They have no chemistry; Pam & Jim do. Plus Pam is just a better person. But yeah, the only place I can really see this going is Jim & Karen kissing and Jim realizing she's not Pam. I'm gonna hope that's as far as it would ever go.
Question: did Karen not drink just so that she could maneuver to give Jim a ride home, or because it was stupid?? I just realized it could have been the former...
And also, how much did I keep wanting Jim to look at his stupid phone??? OY VEY.
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11-03-2006 @ 9:54AM
Rebecca said...
PS - I LOVE THIS SHOW.
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11-03-2006 @ 10:14AM
Porchland said...
The Jim-and-Pam thing may come to a head sooner rather than later. Here's the description of next week's episode:
"Branch Closing": Michael strives to keep the staff's spirit up after learning of the Scranton branch shutting down; people envision how their lives will change.
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11-03-2006 @ 10:23AM
JDub said...
I'm a bit surprised that the recap didn't mention the fabulous attempt Michael made to kiss Pam (thanks, Scott, for being the first to do so). That moment made me shriek. And when Andy's love for Big Tuna was expressed at the end of their sing-along, I may have blacked out, it was so great. This episode was outstanding. When Michael was in the back of Pam's car and said, "These aren't my shoes," then tried to turn it into Taxicab Confessions, priceless. Poor Pam, suffering through Michael, just waiting to hear from Jim. Perfect.
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11-03-2006 @ 11:48AM
malren said...
#15 nails it. No recap of this episode is worth a crap without mentioning that kiss and Pam's amazing, super-blunt response!
"What are you doing"
"No-nothing, what, what are YOU doing?"
"I'm rejecting your kiss."
*Awesome*
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11-03-2006 @ 12:20PM
PS said...
I am Indian and I watch the Office religiously. It was simply amazing that they were able to incorporate Diwali into the show. Kudos to Mindy Kaling who wrote the episode, and yeah who better to play her parents then her actual parents. By the way that video clip with Mindy was a great way to preview the episode. Of course my favorite parts were with Michael and Dwight really getting into the spirit and dancing. Plus Michael's comments at the end... "I think I took the wrong shoes". Of course what celebration would be complete without a rendition of Sandler's Hanukkah song turned into a Diwali song. Steve Carrell should sing more in my opinion. Overall, great episode, great way to talk about different cultures, and just further proof why the Office is my favorite show on TV.
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11-03-2006 @ 1:01PM
Alberto said...
My favorite part was definately Sandler's Hanukkah song turned into a Diwali song. It was amazing!!!
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