Pam's the most attractive one and unintentionally lives her personal life in front of the office, since she's only had relationships with co-workers.

As far as this being the "dark" season, I expect nothing less. So many possibilities opened up last night with Ryan's statement of "I know what goes on around here" to Michael. Yeah, Ryan's an asshole, but he became my favorite character last night.

I have the feeling that Ryan will be taking the fall by the end of the season. Michael may trip, but will not be down for the count. He's always proven he can pull things together if need be and Ryan has had toom much too quick in the corporate world.

Oh, two more funny things...

1. Ryan tried to get Kelly outsourced to India.
2. Karen wanted to date Ryan? Is that what really happened or wasn't it the other way around...?

2. was the other way around - from Officequotes.net's recap of the Women's Appreciation episode:

Toby: Hey, uh... where'd you decide to take Karen tonight?
Jim: Anna Maria's.
Ryan: What's the occasion?
Jim: Six-month anniversary. What?
Ryan: Nothing - I think, uh, we all kinda thought you guys were just, like, hooking up.
Jim: No, we've been dating for six months.
Ryan: Uh, she might mention an email that I wrote a while back, um -
Jim: Oh, right. I remember that one. She read it to me. She said she's not really ready to date somebody in the office, but she really likes you as a friend.
Ryan: I figured. It's cool. I don't - I wouldn't want to be in an office relationship anyway.

Ryan, I guess, turned it the other way around to "prove" to Kelly that he gave an S. Nice bit of writing there.

Something that's been on my mind lately is whether or not Jim was actually offered the corporate job last season. He seemed like he was "in" with Wallace, and I've kind of been assuming that he turned it down to go be with Pam. If so, I wonder if that'll come up as an issue between he and Ryan at any point. Like, Ryan's sour grapes over not being the first choice or something.

One of my favorite lines was Creed telling Michael that if they didn't do something "Me, you, Sammy, Phyllis and the girl you ran over will all be out of a job."

Creed not caring enough to remember names has always been one of my favorite little running gags on the show.

Reminds me of "Then a woman I have literally never seen before in my entire life started talking very loudly about something involving Halpert." from Creed's first blog entry.

Not to mention: "That's Andrea, she's the office bitch. I'm Creed, nice to meet you."


It occurs to me that this relationship is going to be harder around the office for Jim. I don' think he's ever had any sort of office vulnerability before. Everyone seemed to admire him and look up to him and there was nothing to pick on. Now we have Phyllis getting catty, Andy and Kevin doing a whole standup routine that got started over exactly what Napdaddy brought up, his feeling self-conscious about having given up his best shot at being "successful" in favor of safety and the comfort of his little old life. It all came together during his talking head when he gloated about how "Ryan couldn't get ANY girl he wanted." which showed that he's feeling a level of insecurity he never had reason to feel before.

It was subtle, but I think they've started to make Jim into a less ideal romantic lead...both for Pam and all the fangirls...which of course is exactly what happens in real life. Pursuit is one thing, a relationship is another. You idealize someone while you are chasing them and you only see their weakness, flaws, once you're with them. Jim is going to have to deal with very different reactions from people and with his own sense that he's the one who "gave something up" for the relationship...and Pam will have to deal with Jim's passive aggressive streak...and the viewers will have to deal with seeing all of this from their two romantic protagonists.

This is going to be a depressing fucking season. I'm not overly fond of the Jim/Pam thing but I've grown to like "happy, childish" Michael too much and they're about to bring down the hammer on all three leads.

I was wondering when they'd make the Jim/Pam relationship fully public. That got answered pretty quickly, didn't it?

Watching it again, I get the vibe of sorts that Piranesi gets, yet I'm also a little optimistic. As much as it's realistic to think Michael will crack, maybe he'll manage to overcome the pressure. Right now he's the grizzled veteran of sorts who isn't all there but won't give up and that appeals to people. It might be a little unrealistic if he overcomes all the odds, but I can see him at least saving himself from completely cracking under the pressure. As for Jim, I'm expecting him and Pam to eventually wonder if it's good for the office for them to be together, maybe an argument halfway through the season between each other. They might come close, but I just don't see them breaking up. If they do do away with the relationship and Michael in power I wonder what the major story would be after that.

And this didn't get pointed out yet, but I loved Angela feeling sympathy for Dwight and then realizing the camera's on her she changes her expression to indifference. It was a good episode.

"Me, you, Sammy, Phyllis and the girl you ran over will all be out of a job."

"Then a woman I have literally never seen before in my entire life started talking very loudly about something involving Halpert."



"Goodnight, Mary-Beth."


Creed rules it so hard.

No recognition for the throwaway Shoah joke?

The big cost cut by online ordering is commission, so it'll be interesting to see how Ryan's advancement directly fucks over Jim and Dwight.

I laughed my ass off at that.

So, if Dwight's Grandpa Mannheim is alive in Brazil, then that means Dwight is maintaining a false gravesite on his farm (as shown in "The Initiation") to provide cover for him?

That's a pretty dark little riff for an NBC comedy.

I'd think it would be his other grandfather.

The tombstone he showed to Ryan in "The Initiation" said something like "Heinrich Rolf Mannheim"

He then "introduced" the grave to Ryan saying: "My grandfather was a good man....who did some very bad things."

I think the tombstone also listed his death as 1975...maybe that's when he went to join the boys in Brazil...In fact, didn't that book supposedly take place in 1975 or 76?

Office S3 is $28 this week at Target. I just picked it up and plan to watch at least the eps with commentary once the Fox animation block ends.

Only if he brings Roy back to work as his enforcer.

Funny deleted scene...Creed rides a skateboard into the breakroom and calls Oscar, "Ese."
Sweet.

That's back to back episodes of stretching Michael's stupidity to unbelievable levels. Solid effort otherwise. As I mentioned before, Angela/Dwight/Andy looks to be an awesome triangle, and Kelly needs to hop aboard the Darryl Express STAT. Not enough Pam and Jim, but I have a feeling that something bad is brewing.

Dwight vs. The Computer made the episode for me. The whole instant message conversation and Dwight nearly crying in triumph.

Dwight vs. the computer and Michael's kidnapping ruled. Darryl eventually tapping Kelly is going to make for some great TV, and I love that the Pam/Jim stuff tonight was subdued - everything they did was great, and I liked the Dwight/Michael thing mirroring their date, and Jim bringing up Pam's mixed fruit yogurt again.

Quotes -

I really enjoyed tonight's episode. Darrell's brief appearance and confrontation with Dwight might have been the funniest part of the episode, if only for this line:



I'd say Michael's stupidity this week was much funnier/more believable this week than last week. I mean, driving a car into a pond? That was a rare misfire by The Office. The invitation confusion is very Michael-ish and ties in well into the "old, outdated man vs new technology/young higher up" storyline that's starting.

I loved Andy with his serenade, that was fantastic. Stanley dancing to the music was funny as well. I think it's a great touch letting Dwight grow facial hair due to his situation. I like Pam feeling guilt for Dwight and the last IM was a sweet moment. Poor Dwight.

I'm not liking this episode as much as I did the past two, but maybe on another viewing I'll warm up to it more.

Something I may have missed, but what was that conversation Michael/Jim had in the car ride to NY? Why didn't they go to the party?

Michael failed to the realize that his invitation was an e-vite to a virtual party; rather than the actual gathering in New York, Ryan had intended for Michael to stay at the "satellite" party in Scranton.

The invitation was to the online webcam party. Michael wasn't invited to the VIP party.

I'm usually not a fan of the "singing a 70's song" for comedic effect, but Andy's performance made the episode.

And as far as the "not as stupid as driving into a pond" plot, at least that only went twenty seconds. The pizza delivery boy went half the show.

No love for Michael mimicking Ryan only to subconsciously blurt out, "I'm hot"? I can't recall what was said after that because I was laughing too hard.

I don't know how I should feel about doing the exact same thing with a dvd player as the guys did in the beginning. It always comes so close but I've never seen it get right in the corner.

And Michael calling Angela "booster seat" almost had me in tears. That just caught me off guard.

Did anyone else notice how Dwight kept switching back and forth from sorta clean shaven to scruffy throughout the episode?:) It's pretty noticeable in the scene with Darrell.

Rob

What about Ryan being exposed as a fatuous, catch-phrase spouting drone who is starting to grate on his new boss' nerves?

A second for Michael's "booster seat" rip on Angela - very funny.

And to the rain's point - that scene completely exposed Ryan as an empty suit...kinda reminds me of Michael in a way. Ryan tries too hard to make himself look smart, were as Michael tries way to hard to get people to like him.

True, Dunder Mifflin Infinity was really cutting edge idea....in the year 2000, but he's strutting around like he just launched The iPhone.

Another exchange I loved:

Michael: I still want some New York-style sushi. And do you know the only place you can find New York-style sushi?
Dwight: Tokyo?

I call Ryan developing a monstrously huge coke habit. If he hasn't already.

Come on now. This isn't the Dunder Mifflin of the '80s.

"We moved a LOT of paper."

Good point, I thought of that (or at least that a huge coke habit would be unlikely for a paper company exec, even if he is in New York ) right after I posted ... still, Ryan seemed kind of coked up in this episode.

This episode, again, just has me waiting for Michael's fall. With him pissing Ryan off now in two consecutive episodes, I think it is only a matter of time before Ryan suspends him, which would eventually lead to something worse.

However, the thought of a suspended Michael trying to find reasons to show up to work would be funny.

I'm thinking the same thing only by season's end I'm guessing Ryan either gets fired or demoted, and Michael gets to go back to work.

TREMENDOUS cameo by authentic Alfredo's pizza boxes.
BOO to it not being Alfredo's type pizza tho.

So this week is the final hour long episode for awhile.

From the preview it looks like all of Michaels stunt's are catching up with him as he finds himself in debt and is hitting people up for loans. I eagerly await Creed trying to charge Michael an insane interest rate.

Oh and fuck is that deleted scene with Creed on the skateboard gold!

ultimoDANK

Wow. I just watched the deleted scenes from "Back from Vacation", the episode with the email of Michael and Jan in Jamaica. I haven't melted down in laughter so much in years as I did over the deleted scene where he's on the phone with AOL after the email has gotten out:

"Don't you have some kind of chaser or gobbler thing that you can send out to eat all the other emails? Uh huh. Well, I am in America and I am online, so yes, I think this does involve to you. Uh huh. And if I were a subscriber, then you'd be able to send out the gobbler? Yes, I'll hold"



I can't believe they cut that out..."send out the gobbler" is maybe the funniest thing I've ever heard.

I see Michael becoming a favorite at the NY office as the guy who keeps making Ryan look like an ass.
The last scene with Michael being recognized on the street in NY really made the episode for me.

The scene with Ryan's boss telling him to "Do this in your own office" exposes him as the corporate version of Michael.

Season 4 just gets better and better - tonight's episode had some great comedy with Michael, his financial problems, his second job, the absurdity of the "Beats motel", tons of emotional stuff with Pam/Jim, Dwight/Angela/Andy, and Darryl/Kelly, and that touching speech from Jim to Dwight, followed by Jim passionately kissing Pam in front of everyone and then the long-awaited return of DWIGHT THE ASSHOLE made this one incredible episode. S4's off to a stronger start than S3 was.

Quotes -

To me the episode tonight was the darkest episode of the Office yet. I think I will need another viewing to enjoy better, but your so accoustmed to sort of goofy comedy from the Office and while we got that their was a lot of depression and dark themese surrounding this episode that were not all resolved by the end. ITs an interesting twist and direction for the series.

Throughout the episode, I kept thinking "This is the least "Office-ish" episode of The Office ever."

Hopefully this makes sense to the rest of you. It was good, but for now, I'd put it on the low end of Office episode's of all-time. It certainly wasn't as fun as I'm accustomed to with The Office, and there was almost too much overly-goofy stuff.

Total agreement. I felt like this was written by someone who had never even watched the show. I didn't even smirk until Ryan came in with his goofy intro.

The problem I am having with this season is the show is great at being emotional and believable, but it's hard to do that when so many of the plots border on the ridiculous. I've lost count how many painfully uncomfortable yet hilarious moments I've witnessed during the first three seasons. I've yet to see one this season.

Quite frankly, I'm glad the show is going back to a half-hour. I think part of the problem has been some of the plots are being stretched too thin to cover a full hour episode. Kill the silly farm subplot, and you'd have had a solid half hour episode.

I totally loved this episode, favorite of the season thus far by a long shot. I didn't think it was entirely un-Office like, I just thought the quirks and stuff were done differently. There are a TON of typical Office gags, just all done in more unique ways. There definitely were some dark moments and some heavy moments but man, I loved this episode.

I sort of agree with you there; they strayed a bit from the usual setting of the show. Loved it though, as they have this pattern of doing shows that progress the characters, then doing a show that is just pure comedy and has a small plot.

I'm in agreement that this was the best episode of the season yet. I really don't think that they could have done Jim and Pam's relationship any better. Although so far this season I've had this sense of impending doom about them. That all changed with the big kiss in front of everyone. It would actually be kind of unique if things just sort of worked out between them. Anyone else notice the interesting camera angles this episode? The one that stood out most was the shot of Jan and Michael swinging their feet while sitting on the train talking. That was very un-Office-ish, but I really liked it.

Most unfunny episode ever.

Still my favorite show, but there hasn't been anything this season that's topped S3 at all to me.

I think this was a spoof on some scene from a movie. Not sure which movie but I swear I've seen it somewhere before.

Rob

Part of this is the Jim/Pam problem. They were the only characters "normal" enough for their anxiety/problems to have emotional impact...and right now they have no anxiety/problems. Dwight/Angela can't fill that role and no matter how much I may personally find myself empathizing with Michael, his role on the show keeps his emotions to big to feel...real. While Michael's demise is going to be sad, and while his sudden changes of fortune/mood are emotionally effective, they can't wait much longer before injecting some pathos back into the Jim/Pam story.

The bit today at the call center were the closest this show has come to seeming like the UK office, except they let Michael off the hook a little by having him get along so well with the other poor souls. That part was really intriguing and I wish they had time to explore it more. I would have liked to have seen Michael out for drinks with them, having fun, fitting in, and then taking the bus back home to a passed-out Jan. The idea that Michael fits in so well someplace...and that he has a preternatural stamina for sales interactions...along with his insane devotion to the idea of loyalty and to the notion that his woman must not be the problem...all of that was great and I think they could let that story play out for another episode instead of going for the neat little tie-up moment on the train. I wonder why they rushed into that? Either they are in a hurry to set up something new or they just fell into formula.

So, yeah, this episode was a slip in that normally I don't find myself wondering why the writer's missed so many opportunities...but at the same time there were some profound ideas about Michael that were there.

Oh, and Mose running alongside Jim's car was funny and terrifying. It was funny and horrific at the same time like that scene from TWIN PEAKS where the local cop keeps stepping on a loose board and it keeps hitting him in the face.

..and the scene with Michael and then Dwight both staggering in in the morning while Jim and Pam are both yawning...it was dank...something about the lighting was different. It was the most Slough-like shot in the show so far. Really a downer but well executed.