The Office running thread

I absolutely agree and was going to write something similar to this.

IMO, this was one of the best episodes in series history. Top 5, and I've watched every ep in the past month. The way they touched and developed almost every major character was incredible. As a scriptwriter, I marvel at how they cram so much coherent material into little over 20 minutes. It's remarkable. They weave between comedy and drama (Pam-Jim) seamlessly.

Andy has become the highlight of nearly every episode he's in since arriving in Scranton. In the beginning of his run, I found him to be an annoying, unnecessary addition to the crew, but Ed Helms delivers his lines like few others on The Office and they've done an excellent job with writing the character. ("Break me off a piece of that Fancy Feast...it's the cat food. Nailed it." is my favorite gag ever.) His phone call to Angela (while she was with Dwight) was the highlight of the show. Oscar was really funny too and I like the friendship between them. As it's been said, the phone call to Wallace showed some progress in Michael's character and Ryan/Kelly delivered with laughs too, especially with his reaction after finding out that Daryl did not care.

 

I can see your points. It was a good episode for advancing the story and building the characters. I just didn't think it was particularly funny aside from a few scenes.
I loved the Oscar/Andy scenes, but I have no interest in Ryan/Kelly. Ugh! And I also didn't think Michael was turned away.

 

I don't think safe has anything to do with it.

I think she's truly, deeply, madly in love with Jim (God, I'm talking about them like they're real people), and can't stand three months more without him. Sometimes, people just find love, and it happens in an office or at a school or a church (or temple, Xan), and that's all it is.

Playing it safe? No way.

 

First half of the show (aka the Michael scenes) was absolutely cringe-worthy. The second half made up for it.

 

That's what I got out of it.

That's why she was crying after the phone call. She tried to adjust at first, but she truly didn't want to be away from her love anymore. She knows the longer she stays, the greater chance of them growing apart like they kind of had in recent episodes.

 

OK, just finished watching on Hulu and I agree, one of the best eps ever. Interestingly, it was directed by my hairdresser's best friend, who started out just doing the photography on this show but has really moved up in the hierarchy there. Anyway, loved the Andy/Oscar stuff. I agree that Andy was completely annoying when he first came on the show but has really come into his own and made us care about his character. I actually loved the Ryan/Kelly stuff because she is so amazing and really delivers her lines. The running funny about Canada being a foreign place was hilarious. My favorite line of the show was: "A concierge is the Winnipeg equivalent of a Geisha." As for Pam and Jim, I agree it won't be the last time they revisit the whole thing that she basically left school for him but I'm glad she's going to be back and more in the mix. What a lot to get into that short time, which tells me that my hairdresser's pal must be an amazing director.

 

I think you can definitely sense (Freaks and Geeks creator) Paul Feig's presence as a producer/director on the show this year. I think the true genius of The Office is that it's sort of a hilarious tragedy, in a way. It really using satire to express truths about corporate culture in Nowhere America. And as Giggity said, it's managed to be all things to all people, but Rainn Wilson's and John Krasinski's chemistry for comedy kind allowed the show to grab a broader audience, and sometimes those people who are looking for Seinfeld are naturally is going to be a little disappointed. It's a really delicate balance the show has to strike, because an unfunny Office would be off the air in no time, which is why Dwight telling Pam he needed five copies made right after she'd just made this huge, cheesy, lovestruck life decision was perfect.

For me, though, the most honest line in the whole episode was Andy saying "I had to go all the way to Canada to get to know a guy who sits 20 feet away from me. And he was delightful!"

Perfect.

 

That quote struck at me as well, DD, but I think it's because stuff like that is more the exception than the rule on The Office. I can't for the life of me think of another quote like that over the life of the show. Most of the comments are ironic or sarcastic.

 

No one? OK ...

This sets up the rest of the season nicely.


Great episode.

 

totally agree. she never loved the other guy. she know this is her true love and is set on not effing it up.

it really goes that way sometimes.

 

I love some of the subtle absurdities, like the ongoing use of French phrases or French accents because they think that's spoken in Winnipeg.

 

Nothing else to add about this week's episode really...but the Andy-Oscar dynamic was good stuff.