(S05E09) For a moment, tonight's episode played like an issue of What If? where we got to take a step back from Earth 616 and take a look at an alternate reality of What Dunder-Mifflin would look like if Michael's vision of himself as the word's most beloved boss actually came true! We also got to see why it can never, ever actually happen.The sad part is that the office as Michael would like it to be -- filled with ridiculous, unnecessary high fives and almost-sexual harassment -- actually looks like a fun place to work. Be honest, when Michael was doing his Stayin' Alive strut down through all the Mifflinites, you kinda dug it. For just a brief millisecond, D/M was a (gasp!) positive work environment.
Of course, it wasn't to last. For one thing, it came from the office's own self interest. For another, we are talking about Michael Scott here...
Let's get this out of the way first: I am not enjoying the soap-opera plotting of the Angela/Dwight/Andy triangle. It's starting to read a little bit like fan fiction (except without all the horrifying sex pairings).
That said, Andy Bernard is probably the funniest character on the show right now, and this plotline is giving him a lot of time to shine, so I'm torn on how I feel about this. It would be like if my wife suffered severe head trauma which caused her to suddenly find me as attractive as she does Jim -- I'd enjoy the benefits while feeling morally dubious about their source.
Tell me, am I alone in disliking the path they're taking with this plot?
The main action took place in the office tonight, however, and it was some stellar stuff. Each character got to play to their strengths, while a seemingly tiny disagreement opened some real-world strife between Jim and Pam.
Michael has to decide what to do with a budget surplus, which Dunder-Mifflin treats just like any other dumb, bureaucratic company: you spend it or you lose it (how long is it before the heads of the Pennsylvania paper industry fly on down to Washington to ask for their bailout?)
Instead of deciding, Michael does what he always does and puts it to a vote, with about half of the office wanting new chairs, and the other half wanting a new copier. Nothing new here; the twist is that Jim is on the copier side and Pam is on the new chair side.
You know I love this stuff. The Office is like the NBA; it's a lot more fun to watch when they play small ball. The more miniscule the disagreement, the better the show.
The entire office fights for Michael's attentions -- Jim and Oscar take him out to lunch, Pam puts on makeup and compliments his ass. But, in the end, Michael decides against spending the money so he can buy himself a fur coat with the bonus he gets for saving it. Solomon he is not.
This has the effect of making no one happy, so Michael decides to let the office choose their own fate (they go with the chairs, though we don't get a good reason why). And it's in this that we see why Michael can never have a true relationship with anybody: because, in the end, it's always all about him, and he's not smart enough to convince people otherwise.
Other stuff:
- Was anybody else disappointed that Pam didn't undo any blouse buttons in her efforts to "sexy up"? And, no, don't ask me about my fan fiction...
- Speaking of Pam, she's a new person since ditching the Big Apple, eh? First the note on the microwave, now a full out offensive to make sure her lumbar gets the proper support. How do we like the new Pam?
- One more Pam note: did anybody else think the copier was a no-brainer? It's a business; copying comes before properly aligned spines. Maybe I'm just used to being a corporate cog, but I totally sided with Jim and Oscar on this one.
- Mose! There can never be enough Mose!
- Dwight and Angela are fake married now. Really? Sigh...
- I hate disappointing just one person. I really hate disappointing everyone. But I love Burlington Coat Factory. You go in there with $645, you are literally a king.
As always, throw your red paint on me in the comments.
The Office' Photos
THE OFFICE Steve Carell as Michael Scott and Amy Ryan as Holly star in the episode "Weight Loss." Airs Thursday, September 25, 2008.
NBC
THE OFFICE Steve Carell as Michael Scott and Amy Ryan as Holly star in the episode "Weight Loss." Airs Thursday, September 25, 2008.
NBC
THE OFFICE Mindy Kaling as Kelly Kapoor and Craig Robinson as Darryl Philbin star in the episode "Weight Loss." Airs Thursday, September 25, 2008.
NBC
THE OFFICE Amy Ryan as Holly and Brian Baumgartner as Kevin Malone star in the episode "Weight Loss." Airs Thursday, September 25, 2008.
NBC
THE OFFICE, Steve Carell, ''Did I Stutter'', (Season 4, airing May 1, 2008), 2005-. Photo: Chris Haston / NBC
THE OFFICE, Rainn Wilson, ''Did I Stutter'', (Season 4, airing May 1, 2008), 2005-. Photo: Chris Haston / NBC
THE OFFICE, Steve Carell, Rainn Wilson, ''Did I Stutter'', (Season 4, airing May 1, 2008), 2005-. Photo: Chris Haston / NBC
THE OFFICE, Steve Carell, Rainn Wilson, ''Night Out'', (Season 4, airing April 24, 2008), 2005-. Photo: Mitch Haddad / NBC
THE OFFICE, Rainn Wilson, Cassie Fliegel, ''Night Out'', (Season 4, airing April 24, 2008), 2005-. Photo: Mitch Haddad / NBC
THE OFFICE, John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer, Rainn Wilson, ''The Dinner Party'', (Season 4, episode 4013, aired April 10, 2008), 2005-,. Photo: Chris Haston / NBC / courtesy everett collection
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
12-05-2008 @ 12:24AM
StevieG21 said...
I really enjoyed this episode. The Jim versus Pam story was great. Bringing Hank up to decide was unexpected and funny.
I agree about the Dwight/Angela/Andy love triangle. I'm getting tired of it. It makes me really dislike Angela for doing this to Andy. It's just too mean and has gone on long enough.
Reply
12-05-2008 @ 12:45AM
Anthony said...
It took a second watching to realize that Michael ate the tiramisu out of Pam's trash bin. Andy stepping in horse poo twice, one of those times in the MIDDLE of the barn, THEN in the kitchen, classic.
Reply
12-05-2008 @ 12:53AM
nisesmith said...
Wow! I didn't catch that. Nice.
12-06-2008 @ 1:00AM
stg said...
i dont think it was from the trash can, it could just be his own. Pam threw it out of the container, and also I think somebody would have noticed him taking it out. Knowing Mike, he would have thrown it right back if he saw someone disapprove
12-06-2008 @ 1:06AM
stg said...
i take whatever I said back, i forgot about the hair comment
12-07-2008 @ 10:41AM
Austen S. said...
um, michael said specificially "why do people throw out perfectly good tiramisu?" so i think that clears up that it was the same one...
12-05-2008 @ 12:49AM
SImpression said...
I'm a little iffy with the new Pam.
For some reason it just feels a bit off to me. =/
Reply
12-05-2008 @ 12:53AM
nisesmith said...
I enjoyed this episode like I do all the others but there wasn't any laugh out loud moments for me. I was excited to see Andy and Angela at the Schrute farm but it seemed pretty predictable where it was going when they stepped into the decorated barn. And I agree they have drug the triangle on long enough. I want Angela back with Dwight...but as his fake wife, no thanks.
I also have to agree on the copier vs chairs, Jay. Copier for sure. At the office I used t work at we had a copier that sucked crap and it was always breaking and we were always having it repaired. Every time I just thought why the crap can't we just buy a new one?
I enjoyed the talking head of Jim after Pam threatens him in the break room.
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12-05-2008 @ 1:05AM
Sam said...
I like this new more outspoken Pam; she's still cute as a button but has this new sort of feistiness to her that makes even sexier in my book.
I've been a big fan of the security guard Hank ever since that episode where Jim was put in charge and got everyone locked in the office building, so it's always good to see him.
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12-05-2008 @ 1:56AM
aileenm0813 said...
As soon as I saw the Minister, I knew they were going to get married. However, I didn't think Dwight was going to trick Angela into it; I thought it would be more mutual and behind Andy's back.
The Burlington Coat Factory/King comment just might be the funniest line I have heard in at least the past two seasons of this show. UNbelievable!
And...new Pam's kinda b*tchy. Someone had to say it :)
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12-05-2008 @ 1:41AM
alexmonty said...
I really enjoyed this episode and I thought I was the only one who hates the new Pam, I had to watch some season 2 episodes to see if I'm biased, but I love the early Pam, this one has a b*tchy attitude I can't stand it.
I wonder if the writers are doing this with something in mind for future episodes. In order to make this relationship to be entertaining and more realistic we need more conflicts and eventually a temporary break up with possible dates with different people.
And yes, ditch the love triangle already!!
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12-05-2008 @ 1:48AM
carterman said...
Yes, I agree we need more Mose, especially after the demise of brilliant sports journalism criticism/profanity blog Fire Joe Morgan.
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12-05-2008 @ 2:10AM
gwenshack said...
Yeah, I knew right away the moment that minister was babbling in German and Dwight was "translating" that he was going to marry Angela without her knowledge.
Very crafty, Jim is, making Pam do his copies again when he didn't get his way. I'm glad that the tension between them is over stupid stuff - not distance, proposals that didn't go the way they were initially intended (thanks a lot, Andy...), a house bought behind Pam's back, or an ugly clown painting bolted to the wall. It makes it more interesting when it's stuff that's seemingly stupid. Will it blow up or blow over?
They keep giving us these moments that we think is going to be the final straw - when they're going to break up our dream couple - and then they keep ending well - Jim turns the car around, Pam loves the house... Could this be another fake out? I sure as hell hope so. It would be novel and completely unexpected to just allow a tv couple to be happy. Be the anti soap opera, my dear Office.
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12-05-2008 @ 9:29AM
MadMup said...
I am so with you on this. Most people I know HATE the Jim/Pam relationship, but I feel it offers a good counterbalance to all the ridiculosity of the show. Let them be happy together!
12-05-2008 @ 2:26AM
Crystal said...
"YOU are the silent killer. Go back into the annex."
-Michael to Toby after he gives his suggestion for how to spend the money. Too hilarious.
Also I saw that Dwight/ Angela marriage from a mile away, as soon as he pretended to be Andy and the man started to speak in German.
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12-05-2008 @ 2:27AM
Crystal said...
Andy: What's that smell?
Dwight: You're going to have to be more specific.
Classic!
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12-05-2008 @ 4:45AM
Brent Schmidt said...
Oscar: So you can give that dollar back to Mommy and Daddy, but guess what? Next summer
Michael: I'll be six
Oscar: And you'll ask them for money and they're gonna give you nine dollars.
lmao...
Reply
12-05-2008 @ 5:08AM
Parl said...
Your review makes it sound like Michael let the office choose because he couldn't decide, but I got the feeling that his "brilliant" idea was that they would just argue until time ran out and he would get the money, but no one could be mad at him because he didn't choose the money (and he says this in the episode).
Reply
12-05-2008 @ 5:58AM
Hillary Clinton said...
I love how Pam's newfound self-confidence and willingness to stand up for what she wants (and not getting pushed over / deferring to others as in the past) is now considered "b$tchiness" by parts of the audience.
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12-05-2008 @ 5:48AM
Christian H. said...
Rainn Wilson's German was pretty good. Not even the hint of an accent, though he only spoke two sentences. Also the minister spoke "real" German, which I appreciate. I don't dig the Andy/Angela/Dwight-Love-Triangle either, it is just too over the top. Had they dialed it down a notch (or two) it would feel more real and I could actually care. I did when it all started out. I actually felt for Dwight, back when Angela ditched him and Andy started dating her...
I really enjoy Pam and Jim, though.
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