Not my favorite episode... but there were some pretty decent moments. The Karen-Jim confrontation was painful to watch. Dwight peeing in the can was hysterical, and Stanley's last line was pretty funny as well.
Oscar's line, however, was almost worth the entire episode:
"Besides having sex with men, I would say the Finer Things Club is the gayest thing about me."
Again not my favorite episode, but it still had its moments.
I tried to convince my wife a couple weeks ago that Michael Scott was becoming more like Bad Simpsons Homer Simpson than the Good Simpsons Homer Simpson he started as, but she wouldn't believe me...until this week.
Still, an enjoyable episode even if Jim was a tad unbelievable. Even with Dwight brandishing Molotov cocktails, he should have - if his phone was working (which I think he implied it was) - just called Ryan or Karen or someone and alerted them as to Michael's going off the deep end. That was the nagging point here; as much as Michael and Dwight can get crazy and stay within the realm of acceptability, it's tough when Jim's dragged into it, no matter how hard he objects. He might still be a tad immature, but he's more of a businessman than someone who would duck from Karen to that extent.
Originally posted by PeterStorkStill, an enjoyable episode even if Jim was a tad unbelievable. Even with Dwight brandishing Molotov cocktails, he should have - if his phone was working (which I think he implied it was) - just called Ryan or Karen or someone and alerted them as to Michael's going off the deep end.
Disagree completely. Jim calls Ryan, Michael and Dwight are fired on the spot. Jim calls Karen, Karen reports at least Michael to Ryan and Michael is fired on the spot. It is clear by the way Jim handles things (his tone of voice, the way he pleads and compromises with Michael) that he is trying to save those two from themselves. The LAST thing he would have done was dime them out.
This episode had one of the things I really like to see on the show: deliberate interaction with the documentary crew. I just loved it when Jim hit the camera and mouthed "What's wrong with you?" Other than that, though, it was pretty spotty.
Originally posted by StingArmyDisagree completely. Jim calls Ryan, Michael and Dwight are fired on the spot. Jim calls Karen, Karen reports at least Michael to Ryan and Michael is fired on the spot. It is clear by the way Jim handles things (his tone of voice, the way he pleads and compromises with Michael) that he is trying to save those two from themselves. The LAST thing he would have done was dime them out.
I'm pretty certain that most "real world" companies would fire Michael and Dwight on the spot if Karen were to report their antics to management. You drive 150 miles, disguise yourself to break into another branch, destroy company equipment, and do this all during a work day - yeah, you shouldn't really expect to keep your job.
This is where I need to have some "suspension of disbelief" to enjoy the show - which normally doesn't bother me, but this episode pushed it a little too far.
It wasn't my favorite episode either, but some of the one liners did salvage things. And also...the only thing better than Jim in the porn moustache was Dwight as Super Mario.
Originally posted by StingArmyDisagree completely. Jim calls Ryan, Michael and Dwight are fired on the spot. Jim calls Karen, Karen reports at least Michael to Ryan and Michael is fired on the spot. It is clear by the way Jim handles things (his tone of voice, the way he pleads and compromises with Michael) that he is trying to save those two from themselves. The LAST thing he would have done was dime them out.
I'm pretty certain that most "real world" companies would fire Michael and Dwight on the spot if Karen were to report their antics to management. You drive 150 miles, disguise yourself to break into another branch, destroy company equipment, and do this all during a work day - yeah, you shouldn't really expect to keep your job.
Which is why it bugs me that Jim went along, even just to keep the other two stooges at bay. He calls Ryan, Ryan tells Michael to go back to work - Michael bitches about setting a fire in the break room and tells the Scranton employees that "Ryan spoiled everything again." Not that this is necessarily what I want to see; I've no problem suspending disbelief in order for there to be (a certain amount of) wackiness. At the same time, Jim just seemed a bit too accepting to me, especially when they ditched silly string for a felony. He knows he can't really control Michael, especially when Dwight is there as an acolyte.
It bothers you that Jim cares enough NOT to throw Michael and Dwight under the bus? Wow. Callous.
Well, I previously stated that Launch Party was my favorite this season and would be hard to beat. If this would've been an hour long, it would've won. This episode...was...HILARIOUS. I haven't laughed this hard at a half-hour'er since The Injury. There was too much goodness here to keep track of, but I tried.
-The Finer Things Club was so ludicrously hysterical. Michael about to leave and running into a bowtied, teacup-carrying Toby was probably my top highlight of the episode. It was made even better with Andy desperately trying to get in. Check out the first deleted scene, heh.
-The call to the Utica top salesman was priceless. Him bringing up Michael hitting Meredith with his car, Pam laughing at it but most of all, Michael then dismissing Pam ("Get out") and then threatening the Utica guy. Awesome.
-Molotov cocktails = badass. So badass.
-Someone else touched on it, but I love that the cameraman was the one to screw things up for Jim & company. And listen to everything Michael and Dwight are saying over the walkie talkie. Michael at one point wants Jim to "promise me, promise me Jim....you'll host the Dundies..."
Absolutely loved it. I really don't get the criticisms I've seen for this season at all. Michael "unrealistic"? Isn't that the point? And either way, it shouldn't matter. It's a comedy. Are Michael's actions funny? Yes. So there's no issue.
Well, did they mention before that Karen had gone to Utica?
And, Jim trying to fit into the Finer Things Club and failing, sets us up for even more "Pam is going places and Jim is just Jim" stories down the road.
Karen wanting to talk to Jim, and then getting pissed when he says things are going fine means MORE INTERACTION is called for down the road. Cant wait for that!
Overall, not HORRIBLE, but not great. Stanley just walking in and saying he was leaving was priceless, as was Michaels efforts to keep him.
I had no idea Joss Whedon directed this episode. I don't think it made a difference, though.
I'm also in the "Good, but not my favorite" camp. I was really hoping Jim would go off on Michael and Dwight, but he didn't quite break. I can sympathize with him for wanting to protect Karen from the prank, but he should have stopped them outright instead of playing along and trying to passively assist them.
I thought this would be the one where Jim finally snapped too, so that guy has the patience of Job.
The show was good, but it seemed to me Pam was out of place in the Finer Things Club. Oscar I can see, and Toby was of coarse there just to get next to Pam. It seems a bit hoity toity for Pan, though. Unless her character is about to go in a different direction, suggested by StaggerLee above.
The Jim and Karen reunion was painful, especially right in the middle of a hair-brained scheme wearing a fake mustache and Madge's shirt.
No Angela, and I don't remember seeing much of Creed or Kelly either.
"I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ."
Originally posted by SchippeWreckI had no idea Joss Whedon directed this episode. I don't think it made a difference, though.
I noticed Joss' name during the credits and kept waiting for the one-take panning establishing shot but it never came. The problem with the guest directors for this show is that because of the faux-documentary premise, it doesn't give them much latitude for how to manipulate the camera. That said, Joss went with a few angles that were different (when Michael was on the phone with Karen, they had the camera low at the corner of Michael's desk so the view was of him over the phone.)
As for the episode, I enjoyed it. My biggest complaint was Karen talking about how easy the job was when she wasn't dealing with Michael or Jim, as though she had always had to deal with them, as if she was forgetting her Stamford days.
You believe me, don't you? Please believe what I just said...
Thread rated: 4.79
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