Quick spoilers for last night's "The Office" coming up just as soon as I explain my friend James' theory about how no one owns fries..."I'm in love! I was hit by Cupid's sparrow." -Michael"Blood Drive" only made me laugh out loud once -- during Jim's desperate double-thumbs-up, Fonzie-esque "AYYYYYY!" gambit to shut up Michael and make the phone salesman go away -- and yet I found it a much more satisfying half-hour than the slightly funnier "30 Rock" episode that followed it.
That's because "The Office" has, over the years, become as much of a kitchen-sink drama as it is a comedy, not just with the Jim and Pam romance, but with small human moments like Kevin needing a win with the Five Families, or Andy realizing how terribly Angela had played him, or Stanley pushing Michael to a confrontation point. The characters are so well-drawn by now, and for the most part so likable, that a sweet, low-key episode about Michael and the staff bonding over their singlehood worked even without a lot of memorable jokes. We get to see the office rally around Michael (whom they do like when he's not being an ass), and to see Kevin get past his own awkwardness to ask the "pretty girl" if she's on e-mail (Brian Baumgartner with a perfect delivery as he told the camera crew "Good Valentine's"), and even to see Michael accept his fate in a relatively adult way for once.
Jim and Pam's double-date with Phyllis and Bob Vance (Vance Refrigeration) was also fun, particularly PB&J's dismayed/angry reaction when the two lovebirds returned to the table (see above).
Not an all-timer, for either the series or even this season, but I had a good time watching it.
What did everybody else think?
No comments:
Post a Comment