Grid Effect

We’re not going to even get started on Survivor, but if Erik can keep up this current immunity streak, plus with the girls alliance crumbling as a result of his win and Amanda’s discovery, he could really make a run for this thing. Outside of Amanda I’m not sure who else would win a jury vote against him, possibly Cirie because she has been kind of lurking in the shadows dictating every move Parvati makes and catching none of the blame for it, but whoever she’s to go up against in the finale can shed some light on her misgivings. It was nice to see her blindsided for once though.

Anyhow, for the first time since the strike The Office neglected to hit a home run, it was still a double, but was so plot-oriented and at times flat out ignored the comedy angle that we can’t be completely adulated with an episode of television from a series best described as a comedic sitcom. Still, it set things up nicely for the finale and had some brilliant moments of tension and comedy.

First off, Dwight Schrute is back in original form for the first time since Angela dumped him for euthanizing her cat; and took out revenge on his arch-nemesis, Andy, by buying his car and selling it at a higher price after strong-arming Andy into a deal. The camera shot through the window after Andy sold the car while he was observing a sale sign that we assume is just leftover from beforehand, only for us to see when the camera slowly pans down and see that the sign says, “Contact DWIGHT SCHRUTE” was a highlight for me. I make no bones about Rainn Wilson playing my favorite character on this show, and from that camera shot to the confrontation between him and Andy to the outside shots of Dwight washing the car…the whole sequence is just validating.

Dwight’s ideal hierarchy.

Aside from that and Michael’s attempt to garner knowledge about gang conflict resolution from Darryl, everything was just tense. Even if it was funny it was comically tense. And we do not mind, but man, between this and the “Dinner Party” episode we’re starting to almost pity the characters, we’re not sure if that was intended for anyone other than Michael Scott.

Everything with Stanley just felt like it hinged on a false premise. Essentially, Michael isn’t supposed to be able to implore Stanley to assist them in writing a rapping voice message with the implication that he would be beneficial because he is black, which is what happened when Stanley lashed out at him. That in and of itself, along with all the other racist commentary and not-so-subtle references to minorities that Michael engages in would be enough to sue him and the company. We understand the environment that the two and everyone else in the office has come to accept, but that doesn’t make it any less unlawful.

The other subplot along with Dwight and Andy was Jim being put in professional jeopardy. That visit from Ryan is a pretty standard practice in an office environment. you bring in someone from corporate to offer a warning, then should the person in question finds himself in an insubordinate position whether it is his fault or someone else’s, that person can be terminated under the guise that “they were warned”. If these were normal circumstances,the tone of Ryan’s warning would mean that if he just upped his productivity all would be well. But his HR representative and his corporate overlord both have it out for him, and that cannot play in his favor. Unless Toby (surprised he didn’t actually head for Costa Rica) makes another untoward pass at Pam or David Wallace intervenes in the Ryan-Jim showdown, this might not turn out so well for our resident protagonist.

I’m kind of surprised by the reaction to Toby’s deceptiveness. He’s always been a sympathetic character considering he has no wife, no girlfriend, an estranged kid he seldom sees as it sounds like he got the screws put to him in a divorce, a job where everyone either hates or ignores him, the only person who doesn’t he has a hopeless crush on so he’s bending the rules slightly to pursue her. Not that this is the most constructive manner of doing so, but I’m certainly not surprised by his actions. He feels he has nothing to lose, and sadly enough, in many ways, he’s right.

Choice quotes:

“This car is a piece of junk. You have three options: you can either sell it for scrap metal, give it to someone you want to die in a car accident, or sell it to me. I’m going to use this vehicle as a carrier, it will be dragged by horses”. -Dwight, underplaying the value of Andy’s car to him.

“Seller beware, if you’ll excuse me, I have to get back to monitoring a three way bidding war for my Xterra”. -Dwight, indifferent to Andy’s protestations

“In the gang world, we use something called fluffy fingers. You tickle him, and he starts laughing, then soon enough he starts tickling you, and you’re laughing. And before you know it, ya’ll are eating dinner.” -Darryl, explaining the ills of gang life to Michael

Kevin: Every single one of my girlfriends has had glasses, it’s actually kind of a turn on for me.
Pam: I have to get back to work now.
Kevin: Can you just do me one favor? Can you say, “These are due back next Thursday”?

Michael: Were you in the Crips or Bloods?
Darryl: Both. And the Latin Kings, The Warriors and the Newsies.

Probably it for the day, enjoy the weekend.