(S05E12) If The Office has one weakness it's this: when it feels the need to split time equally between an A-Story and a B-Story, it's a fair bet that one of them is going to suffer. I guess the "curse" of having such a large and talented cast is that you want to include them in every episode; trying to keep them all involved means sometimes shoehorning them into the episode with more forced awkwardness than a Dennis Miller pop-culture reference.So, while I found Michael's foray into the world of industrial espionage funny and even a little moving at the end, I could have done without the Hilary Swank hotness debate. That's not to say I haven't had that debate internally myself (what is it about Hilary Swank that makes her hotness so hard to quantify?), just that it felt more like an extended Saturday Night Live sketch than a truly organic storyline.
Michael's adventure, on the other hand, fared much better. I was delighted that the trip to the Prince Family Paper Company became a test of Michael's morals rather than the usual exercise in his stupidity.
The last act, with Dwight trying to convince Michael to give up the client list using reasoning right out of 1930s social Darwinism, was among the best set of scenes of the season. It even ended with a twist: I thought for sure Michael would destroy the client list. His concern, after all, has always been the love of others first and his place at the office second.
I mean, hell, Mr. Prince laughed at Michael's jokes. He laughed at Michael's jokes. If Michael was a Mentat, laughter would be his Melange (okay, maybe I make some awkward pop-culture references too). I can't believe Michael would betray a man who laughed at his jokes like that.
When a character surprises you and you don't feel like he's acting out of character, that's good writing.
Other stuff:
-- My sister-in-law wrote me after my review posted last week to tell me that I've been too easy on the show as of late. She says it's been mediocre at best and that I've been writing reviews that are much more flattering than it deserves. Is she right? Am I too close to the show? Is it possible that I have TV Stockholm Syndrome?
-- This is two episodes in a row with Michael getting some love from corporate. Any theories where they're taking this?
-- I'm curious what Hilary Swank thought of this episode. I wonder if she knows she's one of those people who wanders into the realm of questionable hotness. Part of the reason, I think, why I didn't like this storyline is that I spent the entire time thinking about her watching it.
-- Two things I did enjoy about the Swank debate: 1) Stanley's passion. It's hilarious that after five years of apathy, THIS is what gets him going. 2) Kelly's crying conclusion that the entire debate is designed to make her feel bad.
-- "I opened the store when I got back from Vietnam." "I hear it's beautiful there."
As always, your complaints, observations, and favorite quotes are welcome 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 2)
1-23-2009 @ 3:33AM
Diego M said...
i didn't find the cold open funny. i would've had the roll of cable under his desk and just have him pull and endless supply of cable, not go up a power pole...
the michael storyline was really good, it had everything, heart, laughters and a chase through the office.
Dwight was really a cruel but he was just thinking business, Michael is gettin a lot of cred on coorporate, i don't think this will set other branches well, if everyone tries to become like the scranton branch.
the swank storyline was ok, great to hear from all the characters but i didn't really laugh much at that, i mean do they really care whether oscar finds someone hot? i did like the end when michael nonchalantly settles the argument "oh she's hot"
very good episode not great though
favorite line from the episode
"beutiful is not hot, a painting is beautiful but i dont wanna bang a painting"
thoguths like that from kevin is what got him an internet filter at work.
Reply
1-23-2009 @ 11:35AM
Katie said...
What's a thoguth?
1-23-2009 @ 7:36PM
Eludium-Q36 said...
And this week's celebrity sponsor: Hilary Swank. Seriously, do their publicists pay for this exposure ? It's the most disgusting form of celeb narcissism I've witnessed. This 22-min episode only took me 10-mins to complete because I FF'ed through that ridiculous storyline. Even the Michael/Dwight adventure name dropped Denny's and IHOP. I don't mind subtle, subliminal placement but this is just obnoxious.
1-26-2009 @ 11:03AM
Guido said...
I doubt Swank would want that kind of publicity. Hollywood is too vain for any negativity.
1-23-2009 @ 3:37AM
Monkeydog said...
I thought the episode was great just because of the Micheal storyline, I'd have preferred not to have the Swank one.
It was just so difficult for me to watch, I cringed and felt so bad most of the time...which is proof to me of great writing and acting. I felt so bad afterwards, it was horrible, but oh so true.
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1-23-2009 @ 3:50AM
Stacie23 said...
I'm not one to feel bad for a multi-million dollar, Oscar winning actress, but I felt kind of bad for Hillary Swank. I understand that they want to make this show to be like any other office, and alot of office's have people who discuss things like the hotness of someone, but those office's aren't on TV. They could have easily used a fictional character or someone on the show but I didn't like that they used a real person discussing if she is good looking or not and talking about they way her face is segmented. Kind of cruel in my opinion.
I also didn't like the cold open. I thought it was way too extreme for Jim to pull a stunt like that. I think it would have been funny if the red wire just led to the bathroom or something, but for it to be hundreds of feet of wire that roamed from the upstairs office all the way outside up a pole is kind of ridiculous.
I liked the Michael and Dwight scenes. They felt very authentic and real to me. It was very in character with both of them. The scene at the end as well as Michael admitting he isn't a shark was quite touching.
Overall not a great episode of the show, if it wasn't for Michael and Dwight's road trip it might have gone down as the worst episode of the series ever in my opinion.
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1-23-2009 @ 4:47AM
Crystal said...
I often wonder if they get permission from individuals before the make an entire story line about them. If I were a celebrity, I'd let them do it. I don't necessarily think they were mean-spirited or overly rude. My sense of humor would just find it hilarious if it were written about me on a show.
1-23-2009 @ 4:30AM
Bill said...
I've been espousing the theory of "movie hot vs everyday hot" for years, and Jim was totally using that when creepily whispering to closed-eye kevin. Hillary Swank is hot, she's just not movie hot. There are hundreds of talentless actresses (and dozens of talented ones) who can stand next to Hillary Swank in a scene and make Hillary look like the "ugly friend." BUT, if you didn't know who she was and saw her in real life, you'd turn your head. She's not Prince's "most beautiful girl in the world," she's FotC's "most beautiful girl in the whole wide room."
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1-23-2009 @ 10:43AM
ac said...
Really I dont think swank would be that good of a part time model. Although maybe an air hostess from the 60s.
1-23-2009 @ 4:47AM
Crystal said...
Favorite moments:
What you talkin' 'bout WALLACE!
- Michael on the phone with David Wallace
You will have pancakes, and you will like it!
- Michael to Dwight
Michael Scarn! That's a throwback reference to the screenplay Michael wrote and the office staff had a sit-down reading of.
Michael TOTALLY screwing up the little girl's homework, and her mom telling her to disregard everything he just told her.
Dwight starts talking about a war in which far too many died... and if Frodo hadn't destroyed the ring, then goodness itself might have died.
What's the point of bittersweet chocolate? Who are you helping?
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1-23-2009 @ 5:37AM
Christian H. said...
I do agree with almost everything.
Cold Open: Not funny.
Swank B-Story: Neither funny nor paced right.
Michael A-Story: Awesome. It was so good, that it made up for all the rest. It was funny and touching, just as "The Office" as a whole is usually.
I could have done without the B-Story at all. I would not have missed the rest of the cast with an A-Story that captivating. I also expected a little aftermath from last weeks Angela/Dwight/Andy fallout.
And, Jay, I think your sister is partially right. "The Office" tends to be a little weaker. But then again the dynamics have changed and you simply can't compare it to stellar Season 2. I am not complaining, tough. "The Office" is still my favorite show an TV and there are so many things in every episode that I enjoy...
Regarding "Michael getting love from corporate": I was thinking... We all were expecting for Michael to be fired/demoted. But the writers are too smart for obvious choices. Maybe he will be promoted. The result will be the same (Michael without his loved employees - at least for a few episodes). He will be transferred to N.Y. Happy at first, then slowly realizing his "way of leadership" doesn't work at all in the big city. At the same time Jim might take over Scranton and live through his own hell.
This might be highly entertaining and would shuffle it up. Because Jim has no storyline at all at the moment...
In the end Michael would ask Wallace to transfer him back after 5-6 episodes and all would be back to normal. Maybe Holly rejoining in "Scranton" as a gift for Michael from Wallace?!
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1-23-2009 @ 9:42AM
Grover said...
I hear you on this story line. It would make sense in all that ways you say, and they are bringing in Idris Elba (stringer bell from 'the wire') as a no-nonsense corporate employee for about 6 episodes.
1-23-2009 @ 7:48AM
Cheng-Jih Chen said...
Possibly, Michael will be transferred to the branch Holly works at, because it's a failing branch and Corporate wants to see if he can turn it around. This would be an easier thing to do than putting Michael in the big city.
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1-23-2009 @ 8:46AM
Jason said...
I liked the cold opening, and I liked the Swank Hot or Not bit. I must be the odd man out. But then I work in an office, and that scene hit close to home for me.
Reply
1-23-2009 @ 12:24PM
Annabel said...
I agree - the Swank plot and the cold open were great. The Prince Paper Co. plot was terrible.
The Office usually does awkward interactions perfectly (like in the Dinner Party episode), but the awkwardness of Michael and Dwight trying to shut down the small family business was just way too uncomfortable. Maybe because it seemed so out of character for Michael to ultimately screw over the little guy.
All in all, I thought the Swank debates were fantastic...and definitely something that would hapeen in any office across America!
1-23-2009 @ 8:50AM
Sarah said...
even though i agree with your review in its entirety, i do not think that you have been too easy on the show. keep up the good work.
i kinda liked the cold open for only reason that it reminds us that every stupid prank Jim does to Dwight, he sorta has to go through himself just to set it up.
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1-23-2009 @ 8:52AM
Cincinnati Mike said...
Come on...Hilary Swank is a good looking dude, if you're into that.
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1-23-2009 @ 12:05PM
scott said...
yeah, she's just as handsome as matt damon... twins separated at birth?
1-23-2009 @ 9:54AM
keithnl said...
“It is by will alone that I set my mind in motion.”
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1-23-2009 @ 10:04AM
Erin said...
I do agree that the Hillary Swank subplot was a bit unnecessary, but I found myself remembering having a similar conversation at my office. So it wasn't too ridiculous to see office workers spending much less time working and much more time debating a meaningless topic.
I'm a huge fan of 30 Rock, a show that also has an incredibly talented and hilarious ensemble cast. Something that The Office does much better than 30 Rock is keep most (if not all) characters in every episode. Some subplots are certainly better than others, but at least we're not wondering "Where has Stanley been?" or "Is Meredith still on this show??"
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