Grid Effect

Kind of a bereft manner to go into an unexpected hiatus on, maybe the writers did this on purpose to leave us without any closure on so many subplots (of which we have to acknowledge in this series, despite it being a comedy). We’re vindictive enough here, we probably would have done the same thing.

None the less, it felt like a vintage, season two Office episode. With the Michael storyline somewhat insular and the rest of the office involved in a B-plot, with a heavy focus on Pam and Jim (in a good way) mutually interacting with their coworkers. We haven’t had one of these in a while.

Let me just say that while the Michael’s testimony at the deposition was hilarious and entirely unrealistic, it was almost unbearable to hear the contents of his diary read aloud, and even more disturbing that his girlfriend would offer it as evidence. Regardless of how much she think it would inoculate her of any fault and help win her lawsuit, given how simpleminded and easily manipulated Michael is, she had to know (and in fact did, hence she brought it with her) how embarrassing the contents of it would be for her supposed beau. At least the stenographer wasn’t asked to repeat its reading.

The comparison to that odd picture he accidentally forwarded to everyone in the office is neither here nor there, since technically they weren’t dating, and ultimately it was an accident. Not that she was aware of that to begin with, but over the course of their courtship I’m sure it’s been explained and accepted. Usually I don’t let this sort of nonsense bother me, but the understanding that Michael may have “got what was coming to him” seems a bit absurd.

The intolerance is visceral.

Still, when Michael knocked over Toby’s lunch tray, I laughed. Just like I did during the “that’s what she said” confusion at the deposition. Somehow then manage to make Michael seem utterly soulless and borderline inhuman, then turn him into a sympathetic character. Probably because he’s mostly well-intentioned, set aside when it comes to Toby, in which case his hatred is completely bizarre and comically unexplainable. The entire plot thread was one of those quality Office “moments” when the dramatic tinge of the episode nicely compliments the comedic.

The B-plot had me in stitches. Particularly with Kelly, who might be one of the better peripheral characters, and her instigation/intimidation of Pam about their boyfriends respective ping-pong skills. The confrontation at the bathroom entrance, the smack talk vs. trash talk explanation (”I hear Jim has to take steroids just to watch baseball”) and the improvisation of that fake punk/pop song after Jim lost yet again to Darryl were all quality moments. The fact that this was final straw for Pam was comical in it’s own right. How does anyone let Kelly get under their skin?

Also, Rainn Wilson took a backseat in this last episode for a good while, but it was a fucking clinic, both for Rainn and for his character. See, Dwight is something of a ping-pong aficionado and his understanding of the game and its history is uncanny. This, of course, was exemplified in his display at the makeshift table that Pam set up in the conference room, and in the battle royale with him and Mose. Dwight’s shock that Jim would try to sell paper to a company employee, as opposed to just realizing that Jim lied to him, suspended disbelief a little too much, but I’ll let it slide because of everything that it accompanied.

On technical note, this was the second week in a row Michael left the office alone to the minions, anyone else sensing a pattern? I am sure Steve Carrell loves working on the series, but if he had the opportunity to focus on films, make ten times more money and work on his own schedule…well, who wouldn’t take advantage of it? If he wants to devote all his time to making sequels and campy family flicks like Dan in Real Life, well, I may understand it, but I don’t have to like it. Besides, while I like his role on the series, its not entirely necessary. I think it can sustain its momentum without Michael Scott. And, if the series creators think otherwise, its been a great run, no shame in hanging it up after four (three and a half?) seasons.

FNL recap later, at its regularly scheduled time.