Grid Effect

Man, last night was something of a ho-hum Thursday of television. Every single show we had kind of an ambivalent reaction towards so maybe we just shouldn’t have played basketball beforehand. Our recap for It’s Always Sunny we’ll post shortly, but it will take about an equally disinterested tone to this one.

Well, that was awkward. Seriously, like the entire thing was the TV equivalent to Betty Draper’s dad groping her after a stroke. Was it good storytelling? Absolutely. Was it particularly funny? Well I guess that is in the eye of the beholder, but we would argue that no, it wasn’t terribly comical. It had its moments, but that obviously wasn’t the focus, and that is just what The Office is these days.

We have learned to accept this, mainly because the acting and writing is a rarity on television regardless of what the genre of the day is. But we are still watching the series for comedy, and any episode that focuses on relationships and drama will always run a distant second to the effective comedic episodes. We’d actually argue at this point that Steve Carell plays Michael better when the series is dramatic (see the finale, his confrontation with Stanley, etc.).

It wasn’t completely humorous, don’t get us wrong. Dwight randomly going ape shit on the baby stroller to test its durability seemed to be hit and miss for everyone, but we enjoyed it; even if it did feel more like something out of a Farelly brothers movie than anything we’ve ever seen hear. Jim trying to explain the scenario at the baby shower to Pam was probably the funniest moment of the episode, and it was basically in the backdrop, as all it was, was a recording of John Krasinski’s as Pam listened to it on her cell phone. That is probably a good indicator for a dramatic Office episode, or a really bad comedic episode.

But all that said, we were glad to see Michael seemingly break the clasp that Jan clearly had on his balls, even if he is still too timid to inform her that they are indeed his. We hate to spoil it so if you are reading this and do not want to be, just skip down couple paragraphs…..Alright, everyone reading this better prepare for more Michael heartbreak when Amy Ryan eventually leaves the series, as she is only on a short term contract. They should have brought on someone less known, so it wouldn’t be so transparent. It was a nice moment between the two of them and all, and we have expressed or adulation for Amy Ryan in the past, but it just kills any suspense when we already know what is happening.

Speaking of Jan, I can’t think of a more vile character in a comedy this side of It’s Always Sunny. Is there a reason they turned her into such a vile bitch? Or was it what they had in mind all along. At this point, I’d rather just not hear from her again. Maybe that is what Holly being there will accomplish, she will result in abolishment of Jan, which would more than serve its purpose.

Other notes from “Baby Shower”:

-Everyone loved the final scene between Jim and Pam when they are leaving like-minded voicemails for each other, whose to say Jim didn’t hear Pam’s earlier and is just pretending like he didn’t, so she feels better about the circumstances? Or vice-versa? Sill, for what it was supposed to be, it was good.

-How did we never see Jan’s reaction to Ryan now being the secretary?

-Actually, on second thought, the best scene last night was Darryl’s advice to Michael. It was funny, needed and pivotal. That is a rare combination.

-Jan singing “Son of A Preacher Man” was probably the oddest and most shameless showcase of an actor’s/actress’ talent we have ever seen.

Sunny recap later.