Grid Effect

Okay, we’ve managed to calm down since the Survivor write-up, but it’s all a facade, we’re still seething about that result. Anyhow, to the topic at hand, this Office episode had a lot of dark imagery and themes to it. Substance abuse, unrequited love, racial stereotypes…all extremely heavy topics for a twenty-two minute comedy. I mean, three or four years ago when The Office first aired, did anyone think we’d ever see Dwight in a New York City club making out with a center for a fictional collegiate basketball team?

After rewatching it during lunch, there are several absolutely hysterical points of comedy, but it felt disjointed more than usual because of all the numerous plot holes and it didn’t really advance any seasonal plot other than the obvious fact that Ryan is struggling with his new lifestyle. No, he’s not gay, just extremely troubled. And by troubled I mean reliant on drugs and alcohol to cope with his professional failures.

But outside of Ryan’s plight, we got nothing in the way of plot. But using a NYC night club as a setting for Michael, Dwight, a coked out Ryan and his dealer, well, that’s almost a sure thing for a sitcom, for Dwight in particular. And made us wonder all the more why despite how good Ed Helms is, Rainn Wilson’s name isn’t getting tossed around for a spin-off.

The rest of the cast locked in the office wasn’t doing much for us, but we thought it shed some light on a few things. Namely, the torch Toby has been carrying for Pam since the second season. Amazingly, the office seemed more shocked than the audience, because while they’ve hinted at it here and there, never did I think he would actually do anything so subtly aggressive out in the open. It struck us as more subconscious than a deliberative effort to be affectionate. Almost like he did it, then realized how he was doing it, then he was momentarily comfortable before realizing there was a swarm of people standing around him, then immediately made an excuse to run out of there in embarrassment. Really the only appropriate course of action for that situation.

But the entire Jim is the new Michael thing seems forced in a lot of ways. This is the second time they’ve done this, the first time in the “Survivor Man” episode it was much more subtle. This go around, we had Jim racially stereotyping people. In what other instance has he ever done that, and he has certainly had his opportunities. If they want to take the characters in that direction we in no way object, we actually prefer it given all the adulation people have for John Krasinski and his character Jim Halpert, but at the same time if it’s sloppily done like this appeared to be, then we need to reevaluate things.

There were plenty of things we enjoyed with that bit, even though We thought it shortsighted that they would even be locked in there in the first place or that they would struggle so mightily to find a way out, but we are able to overlook those minor details for a couple laughs. Still, this was definitely a side-story to Michael-Dwight-Ryan.

Choice moments/quotes:

-Quite possibly our favorite moment of the season, is the basketball team buying Dwight a drink, then him establishing eye contact before dumping it squarely in the trash out of paranoia that they were trying to drug him, followed by a contemptuous “nice try”.

Brilliant play, Mr. Schrute.

-”They look like white slaves” -Dwight, describing the girls in the first club they visited.

-Michael’s Wire tangent. Finally, that series is recognized by a broadcast network in some capacity. It’s a shame 95% of the audience has no idea what the hell he was talking about.

-”Do you live in a normal sized house?” -Dwight inquiring Ryan’s diminutive friend.

-Dwight singing his German lullaby as Ryan attempted to sleep. Reminded us when he was playing “Green Sleeves” on his flute for the employees offspring. Did we mention we really liked Rainn Wilson in this episode?

-Angela Kinsey who plays Angela, constantly behind a barrier to conceal her pregnancy. Well played by the stage crew.

-Everything Creed said during Ryan’s presentation.

Yeah, that is way too many highlights to not recommend or give Grid Effect stamp of approval. Only three more left this season, if they keep up at this rate The Office won’t really have any competition for best comedy.