Category: The Office (Page 13 of 17)

I was pretty excited about a 45-minute episode of “The Office” this week, but I have to say, it was a little disappointing. It seemed like some of the jokes that would have otherwise been cut – like Kevin’s dealings with the shredder – ended up making it into the final edit of the episode.

Andy’s encounter with Michael, and how Michael thinks that Andy has a “really likable way about him” were pretty funny. Ed Helms and Steve Carell worked together on “The Daily Show” and it’s clear they still have a lot of chemistry. Andy’s feud with Dwight also has some good potential.

There were a few good moments – “Lazy Scranton,” the breast pump bit and Michael’s defense of Hooters – but there weren’t as many big laughs as usual. Michael’s hilarious query of Karen’s heritage – “Was your father a G.I.?” – wasn’t as effective since it was used in the previews last week.

However, there was some movement on the Jim/Pam saga. It looks like Jim and Karen are dating and Pam is too much of a wuss to say anything to Jim. When she said, “We’ll always be friends,” it became crystal clear that these two aren’t going to get together anytime soon. I was surprised when Jim turned her down for coffee. It seems like he’s still recovering from being rejected the last time.

It will be interesting to see how the show deals with all the new characters. Will there be enough screen time for the supporting cast with all the new faces in town? And where was Oscar this week?

First of all, the whole “Future Dwight talks to Present Dwight via the fax machine” bit was the best opening sequence of “The Office”…ever.

Anyway, now that the Scranton branch is absorbing the Stamford branch, things are going to get weird. There is a serious love triangle brewing. Actually, if you include Roy (Pam’s ex), it’s sort of a love bucket. Karen likes Jim and he likes her a little, but he still has feelings for Pam, who likes Jim, but Roy has been hanging around and acting sorta normal, which reminds me:

Roy: Do you know that song “Don’t Know What You’ve Got ‘Til It’s Gone” by Cinderella? That’s pretty much better than how I’d say it…in words.

I love the fact that he has to quote Cinderella to relate that cliché/sentiment.

After an awkward episode or two, I think Jim will try things with Karen (through some sort of miscommunication between him and Pam) and Pam will relent and give Roy another chance. Karen is likable, pretty and funny, and would be a good match for Jim, so that will probably go on for a while. In fact, Karen is quite the catch.

It should be interesting.

This one goes out to Roy, wherever he is…

This episode didn’t move the Pam/Jim storyline forward, but there were several funny lines leading up to and at the Diwali.

Michael: “You know, Stanley, come Kwanzaa time, I’ve got you covered.”
Stanley: “I don’t celebrate Kwanzaa.”
Michael: “Well, you should. It’s really fun.”

Kevin: (about the Indian godess) “She looks like Pam from the neck down.”
Michael: “Pam wishes.”

Michael is the king of awkward, and I had to cover my eyes when he asked his girlfriend to marry him. His proposal became even more absurd when we discovered it was the couple’s ninth date.

I think my favorite line was when Michael and Pam were sitting on the steps and Michael leaned in to kiss her.

Pam: “What are you doing?”
Michael: “What are you doing?”
Pam: “I’m rejecting your kiss.”

So Pam and Jim finally reconnect and have a long conversation. I love the bit about Pam’s confusing “28 Days” with “28 Days Later”:

Pam: “I kept waiting for Sandra Bullock to show up.”

But the conversation ends abruptly and awkwardly when Ryan and Dwight return from the Tests. Pam says “bye” to Ryan, and Jim thinks she’s saying it to him. Pam’s a receptionist – doesn’t she know to cover the phone when she’s talking to someone else? Geesh!

Here are a few of my favorite moments from the episode:

Dwight: (talking about Ryan’s future) “Is he going to be a slacker/loser/wiseass like Jim or will he join Dwight’s Army of Champions?”

Karen: (as Jim sings the Cardigans’ “Lovefool”): “That is not a proportionate response.”

That was a great shot of Dwight tearing off in his Firebird, leaving Ryan alone in the field.

Dwight: (after Ryan says that competition is the biggest threat to Dunder-Mifflin) “Wrong! Flash floods!”