The Office running thread

Jim's reaction was spot on. Pam's was way over the top. Sure, she should be grossed out and mad, but I would have been disappointed in a 12-year-old handling it that poorly.

I'm hoping there's a realization coming for Pam sometime this season that she's not the cool woman everybody loved in the first few seasons anymore. Just because she/the writers decided she wasn't going to be such a pushover anymore doesn't mean she has to be unlikeable.

 

I'm with you. As someone said already, the reveal in Michael's office, with Pam growing increasingly uncertain, was priceless. And Jim's anger was surprising, but a great touch.

 

"Small things. Dimes. Ball bearings."

 

That's the point -- to show how strenuously she objects to the Michael-Mom relationship, by having her go that far from her established mild character.

 

This.

Holy shit, that episode was fantastic from beginning to end. I worried they gave away Michael-Pam's mom already ... but damn, they hit this one out of the park.

 

As schiez said earlier, my favorite part was Creed's facial expressions during the opera music and later during the meeting. He's just perfectly used in this show. Love it.

 

I agree that there's a percentage of Pam's reaction that ties into the idea that she's a little stuck-up sometimes -- think of the Finer Things Club or the cleaning-the-microwave fiasco. She's adorable most of the time, but she's not perfect.

More central, I think, is the fact that Pam clearly has issues with her mom and dad and their divorce. You could see it in the wedding episode. I think Pam would have been upset -- not ragingly angry, of course -- with her mother dating anyone.

It's bad enough having Michael encroach on your personal life outside the office, but Pam is in no condition, emotionally, to have him bringing his unique brand of crazy into her relationship with her divorced (separated?) parents.

 

Yep. After a wedding and five months of pregnancy, the last thing Pam needed to worry about was her mom with Michael.

 

I think Ryan has always considered himself above everyone else in the Office, even from the start. Remember his talking head about he could leave in a few minutes and no one would ever realize he was there? I think that was him, even as a temp, seeing DM as beneath him. If you rewatch Seasons 1&2 with the knowledge that Ryan is a huge douche, you will see hints of what is to come.

Yes, Pam was out of line. But if my boss was sleeping with my mother, I would flip the fuck out and I like and greatly respect my boss. Before this, Pam saw Michael as a boss who had a bit of an unfair rap -- she could see he was a good guy at heart who wanted to be liked and do the right thing. But that is a much easier call to make when he isn't bumping uglies with your mother.

 

Are you sure? I always got the impression that they intended for him to actually be above the fray there, which was a plus for him. I thought Seasons 1 and 2 he was designed as character who was just this normal, young guy dropped into this circus.

One thing that's humorous is watching Season 1 and seeing Kelly in the background. Completely different character than she became, particularly in her very, very conservative office wear back then.

 

um, you guys realize this is a tv show, right?

 

I'm not sure what you're trying to imply. Should movie critics stop writing, as well? Should universities disband their literature departments?

Characterization is a vital element of storytelling, and consistency and believability (within the world they have created and established) goes a long way in establishing the quality of the show - or movie or book. It's more than fair fodder for discussion.