I give the cold open on last night’s The Office marks for realizing where its strength lies, and at the moment that was down in Florida. Making Dwight a part of the joke, even from a distance, made that work. Only Dwight would leave a treasure behind, and did you see some of the ideas for what could be in it? Schrute bones, Star Wars stuff, nudie mags, Rosebud-type scenario, actual gold, or a trap. Creed was the right person for that job, and he and Kevin are also the only two people who’d be lulled by the sight of a group picture in the box. Look out for that poison dart!
I know it hasn’t been all that long, but I’ve quickly grown tired of The Office’s tales from Tallahassee. The office itself has suffered the most since the split, but it’s been no better down South having to endure Todd Packer, Nellie (Catherine Tate), and a particularly unpleasant Dwight. I’m glad everyone’s returning to where they belong.
Darryl and Toby’s battle for the chance to sell Kevin cookies — for their daughters — was fun in spots. There is no doubting that “this is the only place [Toby] interact[s] with people,” and the pathetic way in which he said that was hilarious. And I loved how Darryl was willing to give Toby everyone in the office save for accounting; how’d Toby not pick up on that sooner?
Their rendition of a Michigan J. Frog original song and dance number was hilarious, and listening to Kevin as judge was a great experience. Based on what is he sure that at midnight Toby’s at home in bed with a model? I loved Toby’s response to that: “I’m not gonna comment on my personal life.” Is there something we should know?
Meanwhile, after Jim discovered that Robert California planned to axe the Sabre store project and fire Dwight, he did the unthinkable: he battled to save Dwight from getting himself canned. But was it just me, or has Dwight’s regular bluster been a bit too much to handle of late? It’s always a nice moment when Jim and Dwight do something nice for one another, but this time I really wanted Jim to turn around and walk away. Dwight deserved to get fired.
Still, I’m glad that Jim kept on coming back, if for nothing more than the fight that we got to witness. The best part, aside from the initial tackle, was when Dwight revved up and then jumped off the wall, only to land on his face. Nice.
And I’m okay with the result as it is: no more Packer. It’s about time they cut him loose, and I suppose even more so now that his buddy Michael is long gone. I will not miss him.
Then there was Erin, who landed a job working for one of the old ladies who stopped by the Sabre store opening. I love Georgia Engel — Amy’s mother Pat MacDougall from Everybody Loves Raymond — and as always it was great to see her. I hope she dispenses her own medication … Erin’s free-for-all with the pills was a nightmare. And boiled Gatorade? Who thinks of that?
“Nice try Jim. Your pranks have never worked in the past and they’re not gonna work today.” – Dwight
“Okay. First of all, they’ve mostly worked, so—” – Jim
“I have my dignity too. I refuse to be another man’s horsie.” – Toby
Clacked by Aryeh S.
on Mar 09, 2012 @ 14:00 EST5EDT
