(S03E22) I'd have to go back and do a scientific study of previous Office episodes to be 100% sure, but it felt like the first 20 minutes of tonight's episode set some kind of cringe-per-minute record. It might seem odd coming from an Office fanatic, but I've never really enjoyed the cringe stuff as much as I've enjoyed the more subtle character moments. I was happy, then, when the episode took a less cringey turn at the midway point. What disappointed me was that I felt, maybe for the first time, that there was some mishandling of the characters for plot purposes...
I'm gonna change things up and start with the bad first. I'd like you guys to videotape me while I'm doing it and then we'll go over it to try and improve my form.
Not so good this week: Characterization! Where did this problem with Jan and Michael come from? I have seen no evidence up to this point that Michael was unhappy in their relationship. If anything, he was constantly trying to push them to the next level. While you might make the argument that Michael would do that regardless of whether he was happy in the relationship or not, I think the writers at least owe us a bit of foreshadowing before dropping a bombshell on us.
Also, did anyone else think that the first Pam "confessional" where she talked about wishing Roy still worked at Dunder-Mifflin was a little odd? It was understandable at first, what with a "pervert" on the loose, but when she starting saying Roy would be especially mad if it were Jim doing the flashing, it took an awkward turn. I mean, I don't know much about women (seriously, the only thing I know about them is that they don't appreciate it when you make a "farty" noise when they bend over -- that's it), but it seems to me that even if a girl has a crush on a guy, she wouldn't equate him with a flasher at the office. It doesn't feel right for Pam to think of Jim that way (even if she does have his "penis on the brain" to quote Dwight) and The Office usually excels at making character's words and actions feel right.
(As a side note -- has there ever been this many instances of the word "penis" on a network TV show before? I thought they should have put up a counter like the South Park sh*t episode).
Final not-so-good thing: Ryan. I've always liked how cold he is to Kelly (God knows I've seen relationships where a girl will Pollyana her way through epic disinterest), but I was disappointed in him for his email to Karen. Come on Ryan! You've got a little cutie-pie on your hands who absolutely adores you despite the fact you haven't made a single sale yet! You should learn to appreciate her.
(Now would be a good time to mention to some of our commentators that yes, I know these are fictional characters who do not actually exist. While I thank you for reminding me of this fact every time I criticize what I consider weak characterization, I'd like to point out that if I have nothing critical to say, these reviews become little more than a weekly, "hey, you know what was great?" session, which I would assume would get boring real fast!)
Hey, you know what was great this episode?
1) Michael as the "girl" in the relationship. It was a minor thing, but it just killed me that he was happiest with Jan when he was scrapbooking. Also, despite the predictability of the school-girl joke, it was still very funny.
2) Pam's prank on Dwight. Everything about it, from Andy's reaction, to Jim's appreciation of it (now that's a character moment done right), to the mustache-on-the-mirror reveal was hilarious.
3) While we're at it: Dwight was fantastic this whole episode. I just don't understand it: how is it that when Michael goes too far over the top I don't like it, but when Dwight does it I think it's great? Is it that Michael's the boss? Could Rainn Wilson possibly be a better comedic actor than Steve Carell? Someone explain this to me, please.
4) The guys in the women's bathroom. Kevin: "We should do this more often." Tobey: "I think we spend the appropriate amount of time together."
5) Michael's reaction to the knowledge that it was Phyllis who was flashed. I always wonder about an actor or actress who is picked to play an "ugly" character. Do they read an ad for "ugly woman wanted" and say to themselves, "Hey, I'm an ugly woman! I'd be perfect for that role!" Seems kind of sad. Further, what does it do to someone's self esteem when their character's unattractiveness is pivotal to the plot? I'm sure network TV money buys a lot of therapy, but still, it's gotta hurt, right?
6) Karen and the green underwear she picked out for Jim. So sue me, I'm a pervert too.
7.) Michael's ongoing and obvious attraction to Pam.
And that leads me to the question of the week: Now, I know I'm going out on a pretty ridiculous limb here, but is it possible that the reason they broke Michael and Jan up this episode was they wanted to introduce Michael as a potential love interest for Pam? While it sounds crazy, it would explain the sudden break-up and Michael's constant references to Pam's being the hot girl at the office.
Before you shout "No!" at the top of your lungs and punch the computer screen as hard as you can, consider this: Pam is still stinging from her split from Roy. That, plus her turmoil over having to watch Jim date Karen leaves her very emotionally vulnerable. As any of my ex-girlfriends or past hook-ups can tell you, when a woman is emotionally vulnerable, she'll make some pretty dumb decisions regarding men. NBC is in for the long haul with The Office and they're going to need to keep Pam and Jim artificially apart for the entire run of the show. A season 4 "experiment" with Michael might be the answer...
Let me know your thoughts in the comments...
A surprisingly weak handling of character combined with fewer laugh-out-loud moments than I'm used to forces me to give this episode 4 Creed number-twos out of 7.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
5-03-2007 @ 11:12PM
Nan said...
There is no way Pam would be even slightly interested in Michael. She rejected his kiss, remember? :-)
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5-03-2007 @ 11:13PM
ifferun said...
I think I had more laugh out louds in this episode than any all season. By reading your review-- I could tell that if we met in real life-- I would not like you at all. You are more of a girl than me or Michael Scott. But hey it takes all kinds.
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5-03-2007 @ 11:22PM
Nick said...
Michael has shown that he wasn't exactly happy with their relationship before and that is probably because he wants to take it further and she just wants him for dirty sex. They seemed pretty mismatched at the party when they 'came out' (he wanted to cuddle and have ketchup fights and she just wanted to have sex in the bathroom) and when he was on the roof about to jump he definitely didn't seem happy and wouldn't even include Jan as a reason for him to live (their relationship was 'weird' and the 'sex wasn't very good anymore'). There was also the promotion episode where they didn't look too happy (he was jealous of her assistant and she snapped at him for using certain words).
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5-03-2007 @ 11:23PM
Borat said...
I thought it was a great episode! Constant laughs..
-The locker room/washroom talk between Jim and Kevin.
-Michael laughing at Phyllis being flashed.
-Kelly being totally crazy..."it's awesome, it's awful...sometimes it's awesome, sometimes it's awful."
-Pam drawing a picture of Dwight.
-Jim's look when Dwight said "I've got penis on the brain." Just perfect.
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5-03-2007 @ 11:24PM
Jay Black said...
wowza! you can tell just from one review that you wouldn't like me in real life? what was it? my use of numbered lists? my over-use of parenthesis? my lack of guts by using a star instead of an "i" in my s-word reference? come on, i need to know... it'll burn at least a half hour in therapy this week...
(hey, by the way, if anyone else can tell that they wouldn't like me in real life based on my reviews of a television show, you know what would be great? not telling me that. yeah.)
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5-03-2007 @ 11:31PM
Borat said...
Haha Jay I think you are taking it a bit too seriously...
Also,
Creed: "If flashing is wrong then I should be in jail."
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5-03-2007 @ 11:31PM
rock4life said...
WOW. Sometimes I just disagree w/ some of these blogs - tonight I think the writer needs to quit reviewing any kind of comedies. I laughed SO HARD at this episode. Thank god for TIVO or I would have missed 1/2 of the funny things b/c I was about to throw up from laughing. That whole finger out the zipper thing was PRICELESS. So basicly, i'm with #2 - the reviewer and I certainly would not be friends in real life.
Thanks "Office" for giving us some great laughs and making this Thursday night the best evening in a long time.
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5-03-2007 @ 11:32PM
Melissa said...
Jay, I like your reviews, and I appreciate the criticism and the fact that you're aware the review can't be all sunshine and rainbows. I can tell by reading your review that if we ever met in real life, I would let you make farty noises while I bent over, and then we would high five and have a dance party.
The best part for me was Creed. It's always Creed. I also loved the nods thrown towards Dwight and Angela's "secret" relationship.
The worst of it for me, aside from what you've mentioned, was the dialogue between Pam and Michael at the mall, where it's painfully obvious that Pam's advice is directed towards Karen. I just think it's lazy writing.
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5-03-2007 @ 11:42PM
Chris said...
Thank you Nick for providing the foreshadowing that has appeared throughout the season. Jay don't you have the previous recaps to look at? Or wikipedia?
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5-04-2007 @ 12:27AM
ifferun said...
wow --- the reviewer just stalked me in a email-- that confirms my thoughts
you want to know why i think i would not like you in real life
you are a girlie girl-- what man emails someone about a blog comment
but my first impression was formed somewhere between all of your asides and the fact you took an episode filled with laugh out loud moments and turned it into a boring classroom lecture-- you struck me as someone who in real life practices so they can be funny in person-- you know so you come off as spontaneously witty but when you are alone you worry that no one likes you and don't believe in yourself-- my two cent view is that the uncomfortable moments of the show make you cringe because you are micheal scott and you want him to get pam because you are afraid you aren't good enough for someone like pam
sorry to do this -- the truth is my opinion should mean nothing to you-- but you asked why i thought what i thought
butch up
and dont ever email me again
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5-04-2007 @ 12:45AM
ladi said...
I can tell that I wouldn't like ifferum if I ever met her, and I have no relation to Jay Black.
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5-04-2007 @ 12:50AM
Donnie said...
ifferun= Darryl
Jay Black- Michael
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5-04-2007 @ 1:01AM
Nick said...
Since when is emailing someone who gave you their email address stalking? Especially when you flamed them on their website (or the website the work for, whatever).
By the way, many bloggers (who happen to be men) respond to angry commenters (I know they mention doing it in the TWiT and Penny Arcade podcasts and Roger Ebert used to respond to letters he got). They often do it to improve their site or they just want to point out that they are a real person, so when someone writes in stupid and childish comments like "I wouldn't like you if I met you because you are a girl and I don't like girls." (paraphrased) they are read by someone. Most of the times the people apologize, sometimes -like in your case- they continue to be assholes.
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5-04-2007 @ 1:07AM
AJ MacReady said...
I like pretty much all of Jay Black's blogs about the show, but even when I disagree (as I do in a huge way about one point he made about this ep) I never wonder whether or not I would like him in real life. I'd actually have to base my opinion on more than what he wrote about a TV show, even if it is one of my faves.
And Jay, THERE IS NO FREAKING WAY that Pam and Michael could ever get together. Just don't see that happening. It wouldn't be true to the characters (at least not her - it is rather obvious that he finds her to be hot). I think the writers would have to be suffering from a contagious aneurysum of some kind to do that.
But that ain't personal; just an agreement to disagree.
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5-04-2007 @ 1:11AM
Horatio said...
I see the Micheal/Pam thing as well. From the day at the art gallery, Pam knows Micheal will treat her right and thats got to mean something. Plus, if Pam was with Micheal it would provide some one who wouldn't put up with his insanity and force him to change.
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5-04-2007 @ 2:14AM
Alex said...
the michael/pam thing is a possibility but it wouldnt be good for the show. it would be like the time Joey dated Rachel in Friends.... and i believe we did see some evidence about michael feelings toards jan before tonights show.. on the previous episode when everyone was trying to convince michael not to jump off the building they asked him "what about jan?" he screamed from the top that it wasnt the same and the sex wasnt nearly as good.
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5-04-2007 @ 2:17AM
Spud said...
Dude, have you been paying any attention at all? The cracks in Jan/Michael's relationships have been showing for a while now: in Cocktails, Safety Training...Jan was always about the "physical" transgression of the whole thing, while Michael was the needy emotional one. The breakup made perfect sense to me.
Also Michael + Pam is absurd beyond words.
Although I haven't really enjoyed the direction the show's been taking lately (and JAM has been horribly mismanaged), I did laugh a lot at this episode. The cringey stuff was hilariously uncomfortable. And Dwight had some of the best lines ever with "Phallus" for "Phyllis" and "I've got penises on the brain."
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5-04-2007 @ 2:45AM
kazumashell said...
4/7???
I thought this one was great.
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5-04-2007 @ 2:45AM
David said...
Did anyone try calling the pervert hotline? 1-800-984-3672...pretty cool. Don't bother inquiring about the kick-ass firebird though...I call dibs :D
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5-04-2007 @ 3:26AM
James said...
I sort of agree with the cringe factor. It does make the show great, but cuts down on the rewatchability. Oddly enough, a show like "Arrested Development" was so much less cringy with far more despicable characters.
As for Pam and Michael, I could see a brief, perhaps alcohol-induced fling. She's defended him beyond the minimum required so many times, even as far back as "The Dundies." But I'm not sure how they could pull that off AND manage all the inter-office complications that would cause.
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