Grid Effect

Disclaimer: This post contains speculation/spoilers for the series beyond just this episode. Read at your own peril.

Now that was a damn funny episode. This series (particularly this episode) has an uncanny knack for tying everything and everyone together, even when everyone isn’t on camera. There was a lot to enjoy here as they touched on or tackled virtually every ongoing storyline that anyone is interested in. Dwight could possibly be done with Angela (good), Jim is going to avoid being the obsessive and possessive boyfriend (though he probably has plenty to be paranoid about), and Michael has finally found someone who doesn’t only tolerate his clumsy crassness, but actually finds it endearing. So long as he doesn’t take it to new, unseen heights in the office.

The episode sort of did a dramatic shift from the first act to the second and third with the first focusing on Michael and Holly, while afterwards Phyllis and Dwight by way of Angela and Andy’s pending marriage. It is somewhat unsettling watching Dwight exhibit any emotion. Ever. But when he jumps right out of being vulnerable to attacking, ridiculing and berating Phyillis over her obesity its a little less daunting. So that we could handle, and seeing him cry again would have been a little too daunting. Coming through the gate and driving up the bid for the hug with Phyllis was a Dwight Schrute form of redemption that we can get behind: It didn’t cost him anything but she felt better as a result.

Was she in this episode and I just missed it? Did she write it?

Given that we know Ed Helms is leaving at some point for his spin-off, we are curious as to why they appear to be prolonging his presence on the show when they passed up an ample opportunity with Angela’s affair.  I understand why they were dating/married in the first place (Phyllis put it best, “Angela’s not much of a risk taker, and Andy’s not much of a risk”), but when his departure is inevitable we have to wonder what is going to happen between the two of them so his transition from one program to the other feels natural. We imagine Dwight says something publicly.

On the other end of the spectrum, Michael and Holly appear to be thriving. They seem to have taken a few liberties with her level of tolerance but if they are able to actually interject humor into their relationship then we’re willing to overlook this detail. But it seems they have put the pieces in place to begin getting Amy Ryan off the series with David Wallace catching the two of them making out and seeming less than pleased with the situation. What’s worse is that he probably wouldn’t take issue with it except for the fact that Jan was such a mess he will probably attribute at least a part of her instability to her relationship with Michael. She will be sorely missed.

Other notes from Crime Aid:

-That is the third time they had misdirected us with the possibility of Jim-Pam suffering from the long distance relationship. At this point I am fairly certain it will eventually become one, and hopefully they will handle such material with wit and originality. As I am sure they will.

-The return of Roy could have been much more dramatic than they made it, and Dave Denman did an excellent job of playing the will he/won’t he throw a punch at Jim, even while insisting he won’t. But still, even though Jim is nothing like Roy in the way he treats Pam (all these three letter names feel redundant), it’s good to hear he is at least somewhat cynical.

“It worked when Bob said I had to quit talking on the phone to my mom so much.”-Phyllis on why she believes in the power of ultimatums.

“Hell yeah.” -Holly, responding to Michael’s absurdly straight forward questioning.

“Boss scores the boss.” -Holly, giving Michael way too much credit on two separate issues.

“Either you leave that singing bafoon or say goodbye to this. (gestures towards genitals)” -Dwight’s ultimatum

“Yeah, that’s all inclusive.” -Creed, apparently enslaving himself.

I’ll tell you what she did wrong, she stuck her nose in my business and tried to help me.

“I thought you were her friend.” -Roy, in reference to his initial presumption of Jim when he was with Pam.

“…And one penny!” -Needs no explanation.

Quality episode with great plot advancement and a shit ton of memorable lines. The Office excels at leaving us on hiatus’ with cliffhangers that don’t feel cheap or manipulative, but rather natural and frustrating (in a good way). As we approach the standard December break, we are sensing the same professional and creative integrity this series is, at this point, infamous for.

Back with Survivor and It’s Always Sunny recaps.