(S05E11) Admit it, if what happened in tonight's episode happened at your actual office, it would be The Greatest Thing that has Ever Happened. A secret affair, a cuckolded trust-fund baby with anger issues, an emotionally aloof ice-princess, and a duel? That's like six sacks of awesome and a barrel full of booyah.Maybe it's the spot-on characterization combined with the documentary style of the production or maybe it's because the effectiveness of my anti-schizophrenia medication is wearing off, but over the last five years I feel like I've become a part of the Dunder-Mifflin family. When everyone was watching the "fight", no doubt feeling that special tingle of schadenfreude that only happens when someone you work with is going through some real emotional turmoil, I felt like I was right there with them.
It was a good feeling (in a "pleasure at another person's pain" kind of way...)
I learned in college -- from a professor with a pretty serious beard -- that it's wrong to judge a work of art based on its moral lesson. With apologies to The College of New Jersey's English department, I very much enjoyed Angela's comeuppance tonight.
She's been playing both sides of this for far too long and as Andy's character has grown from a one-note nickname-machine into probably the best supporting player on the show, it was getting harder and harder to find anything likable about Angela.
The slight smile sliding across her lips as the duel was about to play out was the last straw: Angela is not a very nice person. It was fantastic to see all that attention end for her in a canceled sail-boat cake and a tossed-out bobblehead doll.
My only criticism is that Angela is still a rather opaque character. While it's easy to see her motivation for sleeping with Dwight (that hair!), I never could figure out what kept her from hurting Andy. This is a woman who sharpens her own life through cutting remarks to others; why "spare" Andy by lying to him? Maybe she enjoyed the drama of it, but that seems to go against the rest of what we know about her, doesn't it?
I'd love to hear your theories on this in the comments.
Other stuff:
-- Richard Keller, my esteemed TV Squad co-reviewer, thought that the Michael subplot was a little unnecessary. I can see his point, but I thought there were two good reasons to have it:
1) it got Michael out of the office, which was really necessary from a dramatic point of view
2) it provided an ironic counter-weight to what was happening; here was Michael getting praised for being a good boss at the exact same time two of his employees were about to have a Klingon Honor Fight in the parking lot.
What were your thoughts?
-- "I guess you have fewer options when you get older."
-- A question to the ladies: is it a fantasy to have two men fight over you (quite possibly with ninja throwing stars?)
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
The TV Squad Podcast: Vik Sahay of Chuck, Oprah talk, brutal timeslots, and more!
TV Squad Ten: Top Ten ESPN shows from worst to first
Andy Richter: The TV Squad Interview
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
1-15-2009 @ 11:49PM
Frank Wrench said...
I looked at it more as Wallace appraising Michael and deciding whether he was really worth keeping. And, judging from his reaction, that "Michael gets fired" storyline that everyone's been expecting for 5 years now might not be too far off.
Reply
1-16-2009 @ 9:23AM
kip said...
I saw it kind of the opposite way... every so often they need to justify why Michael keeps his job. It seems he's actually doing a good job in spite of himself. Like in the episode at Chili's where we saw what a great salesman he was.
1-18-2009 @ 4:30AM
Mags said...
Heh, I like to think, yeah: he's got options!
http://www.entertonement.com/clips/42713
The "your branch is doing well and we're trying to figure out why" is pretty standard in office and project appraisals, though.
1-15-2009 @ 11:56PM
Zach said...
Great episode. Laughed too many times to count. Loved Michael getting the star treatment, and having no clue what to say. Loved Jim going around collecting the weapons, and trying to "settle" the dispute between Dwight and Andy. Loved how Michael told Andy as he drove away. We actually found out Angela was sleeping with Andy, even if it was just a couple times. And of course, loved the canceling the cake and throwing out the bobble head. I still see Dwight and her winding back up together, I'm glad Andy was finally rid of her. Did I mention I loved this ep?
Reply
1-16-2009 @ 12:14AM
Burnt Sienna said...
Meredith: "I call loser!"
That had me in stitches!!!
Reply
1-16-2009 @ 12:19AM
Sarah said...
i thought the ending was a bit anticlimactic, but what made the entire episode a trip was that everyone in the office was involved. we all know that people we work with not only are privy to our personal business, but they also have the nerve to be opinionated about it. hearing everyone's side comments throughout the episode was the best!
every woman wants a man that would fight for her.
Reply
1-16-2009 @ 12:28AM
Raychel :) said...
"You're welcome!"
Man, oh man, I love me some Creed.
Reply
1-16-2009 @ 7:49AM
Jason said...
I about lost my stuffing on that one too. He's so wrong. :)
1-16-2009 @ 12:16PM
scott said...
best line of the night!
1-16-2009 @ 12:39AM
Phil said...
Loved this episode..
Jay, I'm a fellow TCNJ alum, (class of '08), just wondering which prof with the serious beard you were talking about? I was a Journalism major so I know a few of the English profs, but none of them that I can remember right now had that kind of really impressive facial hair..
Reply
1-16-2009 @ 12:59AM
comctrl6 said...
Don't forget Meredith's comment about guys fighting over her:
"I've had two men fight over me before. Usually it's over which one gets to hold the camcorder."
Disturbing, repulsive and gut wrenchingly funny.
Reply
1-16-2009 @ 1:32AM
Chi Keung Lau said...
Where was Toby during all this? While the fight took place outside it was still technically on the company's property and that's certainly an HR matter.
Reply
1-16-2009 @ 10:12AM
Sarah said...
I was wondering the same thing, but i doubt he could add any funny nuggets to the episode. Toby is at his best when Michael is the center of the episode.
1-16-2009 @ 4:29AM
clint said...
I liked the fact that Jim finally acted in a position of authority that he's supposed to be. Well, at least until Andy pinned Dwight with his car and he did nothing to step in, just gawked like every one else. Still though, it finally gave me a reason to like him again. His character has been in a holding pattern for this and last season showing almost no growth and, while doing less immature actions such as pranks, has seemed to overall become more immature by his lack of willingness to man up
Reply
1-16-2009 @ 6:55AM
JohnnyB said...
"It's a Prius, it's silent as long as he doesn't go over 5 miles per hour".....
LOL
Reply
1-16-2009 @ 1:21PM
colby said...
Couple things:
- I think you found out tonight why David Wallace puts up with Michael: he's one of his best employees.
- Meredith's comment regarding the camcorder? Please, God, erase that image from my mind.
1-16-2009 @ 8:28AM
alaina said...
I couldn't stop laughing at Dwight's rules song! I think I laughed for about 2 minutes after that. I'm not sure why but it just killed me!
Reply
1-16-2009 @ 8:42AM
Harry J. Friedman said...
Angela, in a moment of true emotion to Dwight
"I've admitted I love you"
Reply
1-16-2009 @ 8:43AM
fowak said...
I'm surprised the cold-open wasn't mentioned and still hasn't been in the comments. I thought it was one of the best ones this season. I love those classic Michael moments...
Reply
1-16-2009 @ 10:25AM
D-Bo said...
31 is my new number!