Jmunney's Blog

Season Analysis: I had thought the return of creator Greg Daniels might right the totally wayward ship of Season 8, but there proved to be precious little from Season 9 that I actually cared about.

“Finale”
Despite having just said I didn’t care for Season 9, the finale was a solid piece of television.  If you haven’t seen any of the show since Steve Carell left, I would recommend skipping everything after his last show and jumping straight to the finale.  Perhaps the best way to think of the series ender, in a way that is consistent with ignoring nearly two full seasons, is as a reunion special.  Much of the charm comes from getting an update on past guest characters and former regulars like Kelly, Ryan, and of course Michael.  Interestingly enough, half of the plot of the episode itself revolves around a reunion special.  Taking a behind-the-scenes look at the documentary crew mostly proved problematic in Season 9, but framing the finale as a reunion of the cast of the office documentary for the DVD bonus features was actually an ingenious idea.  It allowed for the show to examine its place in the history of the television landscape without being heavy-handed about its message.

Season Analysis: Where to begin with the troubles that plague The Office?  That reboot idea sure seems necessary, though I don’t know if I can say that I like its chances for success.

“Tallahassee”

One of the biggest problems of season 8 of The Office was its profound lack of focus.  It is true that, at its best, The Office has captured the random absurdity amidst the day-to-day drudgery of office life and therefore focus is something that is not really necessary – and perhaps even counterintuitive – for its success.  But while The Office has not always had a strong sense of focus plotwise, it has, for most of the series’ run, had a strong sense of the type of show that it wants to be.  This past season did not have that sense, at all, so when the Florida storyline provided the show with a focus regarding the plot, it was a good thing that there was at least some focus.  “Tallahassee” stood out among the Florida episodes, mostly thanks to some classic Dwight moments the likes of which we do not get to see as frequently as we used to.  His struggling through appendicitis and then returning to the presentation after surgery was appropriately suspense-filled comedy: the audience was on edge (a state of mind that can easily prompt laughter), knowing that at any moment, he might collapse or his guts might spill out in front of everyone, and the fact that he was going full-bore despite his condition only made it more amusing.  “Tallahassee” also featured the best cold opening of the season (Jim creating a fake murder scene in his hotel room), and that is no backhanded compliment, as the cold opens were a rare consistent bright spot this season.

“China”

The premise of The Office, for both the U.K. and U.S. versions, in terms of the main character, is a terrible boss who is so unaware of his own shortcomings such that he thinks he is the best boss in the world.  This unlikability, while funny initially, resists durability.  If dragged on too long, it becomes either too depressing or too shticky.  That is why the U.K. Office ended after only two seasons, and why the U.S. Office has made it clear that Michael Scott is not as bad as he first appeared, that he is essentially sweet-natured, and thus plenty lovable.  Still, it has generally remained the case that Michael’s coworkers have had to look past his foibles to be able to see that likability.  So it was gratifying in “China” to behold Michael looking impressive, with no exceptions necessary.  He expresses concerns over the rising economic power of China, a concern worth having, and when he states his facts, he actually seems to know what he is talking about.  He is even able to show up Oscar, the office’s resident pretentious blowhard.  If a show is going to be on the air for several years, an audience appreciates it if there is a character that it can get behind, and there were plenty of moments in “China” in which Michael proved that he is such a character.

Next up: Parks and Recreation

“The Meeting”

The Office was decidedly different this season.  Some said it went downhill.  I say it became darker and purposefully ambivalent and definitely more interesting.  This turn resulted in a style in which the episodes ran together, and few particularly stood out, as they did in seasons past.  Those that did were typified by a consistent comedy style that is more or less the show’s traditional style.  “The Meeting” fit this model with Dwight getting involved in a crazy scheme (and teaming up with Toby, of all people) and Michael causing more harm than he can imagine with his meddling shenanigans.  The laugh-out-loud, belly laugh, and chuckle moments were in steady supply, including the cheese-cart sneak entrance, Michael feeling “partially responsible” for Jim not getting the promotion, Darrell’s sister, Michael texting David Wallace while he and Jim were on the phone with him, and Toby depressed by paperwork.  While I am fascinated by the recession-inspired storylines, I like to know that the traditional laughs of The Office can still be pulled off.

Next up: The Office