If I had to choose to marry one person on television, I, like millions of women everywhere, would choose Jim Halpert. But he’s been disappointing me for a while now. Have some vision, Jim! Have some ambition! Some spine!
So this episode didn’t exactly address those concerns, but at the very least, I fell back in love with Jim again, and it feels so good. After last week, we were kind of in a snit. How dare you trick Andy so cruelly, Halpert? But oh, this week. How can I not love a guy who wakes up at butt-o’clock in the morning to kiss his fiance goodbye in his adorable pajama pants, and then saves her company later in the same day? That’s a man. Take notes, everyone.
Another character I absolutely fell in love with all over again was Michael. I’ve written before about the issue with finding Michael endearing, but this week, thanks to the masterful direction by Steve Carell, I’m finding it just too easy. No one seems to understand how to balance the incompetence with childlike wisdom that Michael uniquely possesses better than the man who portrays him. I wish the writers would take notice of him more often, because that man? He’s a genius.
Of course, this wouldn’t be an episode of The Office without moments of heartbreakingly realistic tragedy. The pseudo Breakfast Club that formed at the failing Michael Scott Paper Company was that shining moment this week. In between loving Michael for being a bit of an idiot and Pam for echoing the pain felt by absolutely everyone right now (Starbucks? I still await your call), I managed to feel sorry for Ryan. Yes, you read that right, Ryan. Who knew that him not going to Thailand and instead eating pad Thai in Fort Lauderdale would make me sad?
If I had one wish for the rest of this season, it would be to continue this trajectory. How cruel would it be to reveal how savvy Michael is only to have him retreat back into being a buffoon? There are plenty of ways to make Michael ridiculous (like having him continue to drink milk and sugar every morning) without making him a complete idiot. Leave that to Dwight — he’s proven to be excellent at it the last few episodes. My other wish is, as always, for more Mindy Kaling. Her comic timing is beyond genius, and the quick cutaway of her and Angela listening at the door was pure gold and far and away my favorite moment of the episode, closely followed by Phyllis telling off David Wallace.
What can I say? I like it when characters come alive.
Clacked by Julia Hass 
on Apr 24, 2009 @ 16:25 EST5EDT
Better make that “its” in the title…
Eep … sorry that got missed. Got it.
I loved how Jim made himself look ridiculous in front of Charles, just so Dwight would look even more ridiculous and Charles wouldn’t believe that MSPC was broke.
I wonder how this whole ordeal will affect overall sales. I can’t imagine that the clients are happy with their prices jumping around so much.
Nice review, and good luck with your job search.
I also found it ingenious. He knew Dwight’s weakness and used it against him – I love it when that happens :-)
What’s so great about it is that I think on a good day Michael would’ve understood what Jim was doing. The past episodes show that for this band of misfits making the biggest profits for Dunder Mifflin, Michael is the best choice for being their boss, as weird as it sounds.