The Office running thread

I didn't like it because I didn't buy the setup. We know Michael is immature and juvenile, and he acknowledged that the goodbye would "hurt like a mother(bleep)er." But what was hard for me to believe was that after spending seven seasons longing for his coworkers to become -- by his admittance -- his best friends and his family, he suddenly would pull a Baltimore Colts by sneaking away a day early.

I put myself in the position of one of the workers staying behind. If I'm planning a party for someone who doesn't show for said party, I'm PISSED. If I'm one of the employees who started out disliking the guy in 2005 and came around to liking him in the present day -- even going so far as to hold a candle and take part in his proposal to Holly -- I'm hurt if he slinks away in that fashion. And for a character who loves being the center of attention -- witness all the episodes from this year and last in which he acted petulant when he wasn't the life of the party -- I'm unwilling to believe that he's OK with slipping off with no fanfare.

And if you're saying goodbye to someone who is unaware that it's a goodbye, does it really count?

An aside: Given Gabe's freak-out, I wouldn't be at all surprised if he turns out to be the real Scranton Strangler. (Toby did mention last week that he thinks the guy they convicted and sentenced might not be the guilty party.)

 

Some awesome moments yesterday.

"Walk away bitch" was one of the greatest quotes in the series.

Gabe walking into the womens bathroom and getting scolded by Creed was awesome. Erin acknowledging Creed and Creed not washing his hands was even better.

Michael calling Gabe a transvestite was also awesome.

And I liked how Micheal did a 360 and was overly friendly to everyone for the first time.

 

Doesn't the Scranton Strangler predate Gabe's arrival? I think he was in Tallahassee when they first mentioned it.

 

There are a couple of ways to bypass security like that... maybe she knew a ticket agent and got a gate pass, or told them she was there to pick up an UM, and they gave her an escort pass. Or she just bought a ticket.

Hell, the cameras would have never been allowed to be there, and Michael wouldn't be allowed to pass anything to them. So there are a lot of holes there. But it's a TV show. Get over it.

 

Last night blew ass. The only funny moment was Ed Helms getting Michaels 10 best accounts and starts blowing them. 'There goes Porter's Hardware!'

 

If you're looking for wall-to-wall comedy in an episode that is sending off it's premier character, you were looking for too much. I think the comedy was brushed aside as I'm sure none of the actors could have delivered because this was the last time they would work with Steve Carell. Just thinking about that moment with Jim and Michael puts me on the verge of tears now. For all intense and purpose, this was the series finale.

 

Agreed that this felt more like a series finale. And to no surprise, I enjoyed it, although I was sad to see Michael Scott go. A few of my favorite moments (leaving out the sentimental stuff that I enjoyed but wasn't enjoyed by most here):

- Michael giving Oscar the scarecrow and then laughing hysterical that Oscar accepted it without question. "He has the lowest opinion of me of anybody." It's a bit of self-awareness that Michael rarely displays, and I cracked up with him.

- Everything involving Gabe, who's spiraling his way out of the show.

- I guess they're writing their way out of the Will Ferrell arc by turning him into a nut job, although it begs the question, how did DeAngelo Vickers get the job in the first place? Still, Dwight and Jim's quick exchange at the end was great.

 

I like the way you think. Even if he was in Tallahassee he wouldn't be the first serial killer to cross state lines.

 

The only reason to watch this show anymore is to see WIll Ferrell implode

 

Found another great line upon rewatching. When handing over his microphone, he asks the cameraman, "Will you let me know if this ever airs?"

 

I think you're right ...bummer, I liked that idea. Gabe's fondness for horror movies, his sudden psycho turn only a week after Toby's oddly placed reference to convicting the wrong man, seemed to add up until you ruined it.

Well, how bout Will Ferrell, didn't he seem kinda stranglerish? I doubt they dropped that "wrong man" line in for nothing, they'll be re-visiting the SS plotline.

 

Not necessarily. I've seen other people suggest Gabe's timeline doesn't add up, so I went back and checked the details. According to Dunderpedia and a couple of online episode lists, the first mention of the Scranton Strangler came during the 2009-10 season (Season 6) in "The Delivery." Two weeks earlier, Gabe came on board.

And earlier this season, when the entire gang was gathered around the TV watching the alleged Strangler being apprehended, it was Gabe who broke up the viewing party and encouraged everyone to get back to work. If Gabe were the Strangler, that would seem to give him a clear motive to distract everyone from the case. Especially since we've established that Juror Toby believes the convict (who will be played by Will Arnett) might not really be the Strangler.