This episode really made me think about how fortunate Carell's character in the Forty Year Old Virgin turned out to be, becuase with one or two wrong turns this could've been his life. Michael Scott is possibly the most tragic character in all of television. His life was no bed of roses before, but the shit that he is going through now is beyond any sort of belief, and yet is one of the most believable portrayals of a loveless relationship I've even seen. Every fiber of Michael Scott's being just oozes masked sadness. The bench bed. Having to lie about being with Pam in the past (unless Jan made that up.) The blatant Hunter CD. The well-rehearsed candle pitch. And especially the Dundies, which are probably as special to him as any child would be, are quietly shoved into a corner, only to receive what I'm sure are frequent eye-rolls from Jan. Even his best friend (and how nice was it to FINALLY hear Michael call him a friend) really only showed up to spy on/ruin Angela's "good time." I think.
I kind of hate Jim and Pam a little bit for how they behaved after they left. However, it's hard to entirely blame them, because they were starving after all.
This was one of the best episodes of this series ever. It didn't make me laugh once.
Originally posted by Super Shane SpearThis episode really made me think about how fortunate Carell's character in the Forty Year Old Virgin turned out to be, becuase with one or two wrong turns this could've been his life. Michael Scott is possibly the most tragic character in all of television. His life was no bed of roses before, but the shit that he is going through now is beyond any sort of belief, and yet is one of the most believable portrayals of a loveless relationship I've even seen. Every fiber of Michael Scott's being just oozes masked sadness. The bench bed. Having to lie about being with Pam in the past (unless Jan made that up.) The blatant Hunter CD. The well-rehearsed candle pitch. And especially the Dundies, which are probably as special to him as any child would be, are quietly shoved into a corner, only to receive what I'm sure are frequent eye-rolls from Jan. Even his best friend (and how nice was it to FINALLY hear Michael call him a friend) really only showed up to spy on/ruin Angela's "good time." I think.
I kind of hate Jim and Pam a little bit for how they behaved after they left. However, it's hard to entirely blame them, because they were starving after all.
This was one of the best episodes of this series ever. It didn't make me laugh once.
I heartily agreed with every word until the last two paragraphs. I didn't blame Jim and Pam at all for how the reacted after they left. Sometimes when things are that painfully awkward, the only way people know how to deal with it is through laughter.
I also really enjoyed the episode and would call it one of my favorites, but unlike you I laughed my ass off throughout. Mind you, there were also several times when I went "awwwww" for Michael (e.g., the plasma TV, the bench bed) but I found tons of it funny. Maybe I was just going through Office withdrawal and any little thing would have pleased me.
Does anyone else feel like Angela is the worst person ever? The way she treats Andy (and Dwight, for that matter) is as bad as, if not worse than, how Jan treats Michael.
Jan is way worse than Angela. Angela may be harsh, but at the very least, you can tell she cared about Dwight (and presumably Andy.) Jan is just insane. Ever since the boob job, I haven't understood the direction they've taken her. I can't remember the last time I've actually rooted for a couple to break up on tv (except for when it was clear that someone in the couple belonged with someone else and the relationship was just an obstacle for that... think Pam & Roy previously.)
Dwight crashing the party was awesome. Michael's ploy to ensure that Jim and Pam had to come was great too.
I can't believe that Jim was going to ditch Pam at the party if he had to. That has to come up again sometime in the future...
You believe me, don't you? Please believe what I just said...
I love the fact that Michael cannot resist yelling, 'THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID!' even in the heat of an argument.
How can anyone blame Jim and Pam for how what they did after they left? They just suffered through over three hours of hell.
I liked this episode a lot, but I also kind of hope Jan starts to fade away. I like her character and everything, but I can't see them going a whole lot further with it. This episode remind me of the climax of the Pam/Roy relationship. Michael being back on the market after such a traumatizing relationship might make for some good television.
How could you not laugh at this? Jim: "My apartment is on fire." Pam (whipsered): "Flooded." Jim: "Flooded."
The look of terror Pam gave Jim before the commercial break was also a thing of beauty. Much like Jim's reaction in the candle work space.
I want a bonfire scented candle.
"As you may have read in Robert Parker's Wine Newsletter, 'Donaghy Estates tastes like the urine of Satan, after a hefty portion of asparagus.'" Jack Donaghy, 30 Rock
Worth ever second of the wait. Jim's expression to the vasectomy story was his best ever. The party was so uncomfortable, and even realistic at times, that I almost felt like I was there too. I found myself trying not to laugh at times, thinking it was inappropriate. Awesome.
"I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ."
Originally posted by StingArmyDoes anyone else feel like Angela is the worst person ever? The way she treats Andy (and Dwight, for that matter) is as bad as, if not worse than, how Jan treats Michael.
No word of a lie, I dated someone like Angela. What a wet rag.
Last night's episode...was underwhelming. I found it interesting that the return episode of The Office had little to do with Dunder-Mifflin; and that the break between episodes wasn't addressed.
All in all, it was a decent episode; could have done better if it were one hour long.
I love it. I'm like SSS in that I didn't laugh out loud once, but mostly because I was in a PB&J-like state of jaw-opened "OMG". It started right when they first arrived. I love how when PB&J got there, the director completely changed the typical "go through the motions, talking head, rinse-repeat" formula and just bullrushed us the way Michael & Jan's dysfunction bullrushed PB&J. Great move on the director's part. The lyrics to Hunter's song? AWESOME. They couldn't hint any stronger than Jan had sex with him at some point. I also love how when Michael was attempting to coax 10 grand outta Andy and Jim, Andy was instantly on board. Also major kudos for the insanely preppy sweater tied around his shoulders, heh. About the only thing I didn't really like, and that's because it didn't hit high expectations, was Dwight's guest. I expected either his mom or Michael's mom, not a random homeless woman.
As for Angela, hey this is who she is. The "office bitch". That said, she was a bit worse than usual but consider that she really doesn't want to be with Andy and that Dwight keeps tormenting her with attempts to get her back/throw digs at her.
Other than that, a pure gold episode with just tons of stuff thrown in our face.
THAT'S WHAT SHE SAIIIIID!
(edited by BoromirMark on 11.4.08 1216)
Michigan against the SEC: 20-5-1 (7-3 in bowl games)
Originally posted by JoshMannYou know you've just watched something disturbing when it might have just retired a word of endearment.
You mean the 'babe'? Jim and Pam using it while eating the hot dog was comic gold.
This is right up there with the UK Office in terms of just squirm-in-your-seat uncomfortability.
“How is it that I am a good actor? What I do is I... pretend to be the person I’m portraying. You’re confused. Case in point: in Lord of the Rings, Peter Jackson comes to me and says ‘I would like you to be Gandalf the Wizard,’ and I said ‘You are aware that I am not really a wizard?’ and Peter Jackson said ‘I would like you to use your acting skills to portray a wizard for the duration of the show.’ So I said ‘Okay’ and then I said to myself ‘Mmm.. How do I do that?’ And this is what I did: I imagined that I was a wizard, and then I pretended, and acted, in that way on the stage. How did I know what to say? The words were written down for me in a script. How did I know where to stand? People told me where to stand." -- Sir Ian McKellen, Extras
Yeah, Michael and Jan are awful for each other, but did you see the end? Jan sitting at home with the plasma TV on and trying to glue his Dundee back together. It almost made me wish that they could make it work.
I thought the police showing up was a little weird. Would the police really press charges on a woman who broke her boyfriend's TV?
Pam sabotaging Jim's escape attempt when he tried to leave without her was hilarious.
Originally posted by Mr. BoffoI thought the police showing up was a little weird. Would the police really press charges on a woman who broke her boyfriend's TV?
Well they showed up only because the neighbors called. It's probably their duty to ask if the person wants charges to be pressed since there's a good chance that some violence went down and/or someone feels his safety is threatened. Also, I'm willing to bet that it's not uncommon for police to show up and the boyfriend/girlfriend tries to downplay what happened so that nobody gets in trouble, so the police are probably used to asking if charges should be pressed despite statements in the vein of "Oh, it was no big deal." Now, I imagine usually it is the woman pressing charges against the man, but you get the idea.
That camera moment was almost Arrested Development like in it's reference to past episodes.
I like that they can pull away from the office with a few characters and still make a top notch episode. I do look forward to our first trip back into the office though.
It was also nice to see Michael and Dwight act like the Michael and Dwight I remember and not so over the top cartoon characters that they were playing earlier in the season.
Originally posted by Guru ZimWhat do you mean by PB&J? I can't figure it out from the context.
It's obviously not Peanut Butter and Jelly.
Pam Beesley and Jim, I'm assuming.
Exactly. This was mentioned by Kevin in a talking head the first or second episode of season four. I can't have been the only one to remember this. And sorry Shapiro, but it's an awesome term from an even better talking head segment.
(edited by BoromirMark on 11.4.08 1853)
Michigan against the SEC: 20-5-1 (7-3 in bowl games)
My wife tells me Eva Green is something else and deserves to win every award. I wonder if the show's scheduling prevented the submission of any material (it started mid-May, and the cutoff for eligibility is May 31).