Grid Effect

We’re not saying that this episode of The Office was shorter than any other half hour episode that we’ve seen over the course of the series, but when we wait until halftime of the Pistons-Bulls game to watch it, fast forward through the commercials and the episode was over before the 3rd quarter started; well, it barely registered on the radar as something we did last night. Still, we can’t complain about perceived limitedness anymore.

Length issues aside, it was a damn funny episode. Naturally we always assumed Dwight would naturally and gladly follow in Michael’s footsteps, just slightly more authoritarian if he ever was promoted to regional manager. “Survivor Man” suggested his rival is better fit for the position, and when you compare what Michael has in common with Jim and Dwight, he has much more with the former. About the only thing Dwight and Michael share is an undying loyalty to Dundler- Mifflin. Based on the final scene, it appears Michael’s passion for mass paper sales was learned and not ingrained upon employment, as it clearly is with Dwight.

But Jim’s sudden transformation with the party planning almost made me actually sympathize with Michael for a half hour, and realize that maybe its not him but his petty employees. Of course, to say Michael isn’t petty is a gross understatement, but at the very least it opened up the very real scenario that these people aren’t exactly tolerable or innocent when it comes office conflicts. Considering he’s always had somewhat of a condescending attitude about him, it was good to see reality smack Jim in the face, if entirely depressing. It doesn’t seem like anyone ever has intentions of staying somewhere like Dundler Mifflin for 10+ years, being told its almost inevitable is never comforting, even for the audience.

“Gee, thanks for the heads up, sweetheart.”

I also appreciated the fact that everyone realized how flawed Jim’s plan was from the beginning, but let him make his own mistakes. The only time Jim seemed aware of it was with Pam’s suggestive suggestion that they resolve the problem in the conference room. The final scene seemed like improv, don’t know why, possibly because both characters had their guard down, and their was less awkwardness. Maybe since they were bonding and it wasn’t overly dramatic (like it usually is when Jim takes Michael seriously), and therefore felt slightly less rehearsed? We never thought Michael would be one to admit that his “that’s what she said” joke rarely had any context, and Jim getting in on the act never entered my mind as a possibility, but there it is, and it was entertaining to watch.

The Survivor Man parody was well-orchestrated. But since we’ve never seen the series (we’re only aware of it) it reminded us of Into The Wild what with him having Dwight dropping him off and exhibiting some concern for him really took us back to the sometimes overwrought but definite risk-taking film. Also, for whatever reason, this reminded us of “The Fire” episode, in which they play desert island and Dwight says one of the items he would take with him is a survivor’s manual with a hole cut in it.

The story itself was somewhat needless. Steve Carell wrote this episode, apparently his first since the infamous “Casino Night”, and since he is the central character and he can’t entirely write himself out like Mindy Kaling (Kelly) or Paul Lieberstein (Toby) essentially did earlier this season. But it just seemed so far-fetched, once again, even for Michael to be so reactionary about being snubbed on the Dundler Mifflin camping trip. It also seems “far-fetched” isn’t really an appropriate term anymore, given that this degree of abnormal behavior is the norm this season, and it doesn’t ruin the episode for us, but man was it distracting from the office plot.

Highlights, they are immense:

-Michael chuckling at the concept of Phyllis rock climbing.

-Michael referring to Ryan’s camping trip as “Broken Mountain”, probably a little too “indie” for him.

-Dwight’s arsenal of weapons hidden all over the office. Particularly the samurai knives behind the water cooler.

-Loved the montage of quick cuts of Michael’s office party antics. Given Jim’s penchant for pranks on Dwight, I could see him devolving into this if he stays another ten years.

-”No…I think it’s a great idea” -Jim, after Pam asked him if he thought the communal birthday parties was a good idea.

-Creed’s insistence about the cake is something I’d figure he’d flip out about. This exchange had me in stitches:
“I want pie. A peach pie.”
“A birthday pie?”
“I want a nice cobbler”.

-”1, 2, 3, okay, everybody, so basically we shouldn’t do it”. -Jim, after asking to see a show of hands about the new birthday party concept.

-I mean, its a cake Toby, come on.” -Jim, adapting more of Michael’s persona than he’d be willing to admit, though I’d agree with Jim about.

-”Hey Andy, I have…some calls to make” -Jim’s dismissive to probably his least liked person in the office.

-”Michael’s a man of great death and passion, I’m not sure what he’s searching for out here…(pulls eggs out of birds nest) Lunch”. -Dwight, definitely quite frightening this episode.

In all, it was a quality twenty minutes. The foreshadowing of Jim’s character is eerily memorable, and has me questioning everything we thought we knew about the characters. Toby can be unlikable, Creed can be demanding and confrontational, Jim can be contemptuous and everyone else can be childish. If they were going to exhibit drama in this series, we’d prefer it be of this brand than relationship oriented.

FNL and It’s Always Sunny recaps later today.