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Like a lot of shows, The Office seems to be taking the small things that make each character a character, and blowing them up. It's the staple of American television... if a little of something is good, then a lot of something is way better. Look at the way they Super-Sized Homer's stupidity on The Simpsons.
I'm not impressed with Season 3 thus far. How can the man who listed god as his fourth hero ask that the next time Jan "estimate" him? They are turning him into an idiot.
I am not a fan of "Sexual Harassment", but with Season Two, for every over-the-top moment, there were far more instances of subtle brilliance. "Basically a huge fan of everything Joe Rogan does..."
It's the small things that make The Office great... I hope they don't turn it into this off-the-wall sitcom. The genuis of The Office was that for most of us, it's not that funny at all...
I'm not impressed with Season 3 thus far. How can the man who listed god as his fourth hero ask that the next time Jan "estimate" him? They are turning him into an idiot.
I think Michael knows that you don't actually get "estimate" from "overestimate" in that context. He was tired and upset and mad at himself and probably full of anxiety being around Josh and Jan, so he blurted out something stupid. We all know Michael would rather say something stupid than not say anything at all.
Side note: Josh and Jan... how would we refer to THAT relationship, if it ever got off the ground?
I LOVE Dwight's Speech. It's like one of my favourite episodes. Pretty much anything that Paul Lieberstein wrote. The Inury, Confliect Resolution, Drug Testing...OK, I can't list all my favourite episodes. There are a lot of them.
I think a weak one was The Dundies (it's overrated.) I mean, it had its moments and it was good but it wasn't...spectacular. I don't know why. I think I like all the episodes more or less equally. At first I don't like an episode but then I crave it and watch it over and over again. I crave Boys and Girls a little less than the others, and I don't like watching E-mail Surveillance.
Jash.
Is that meant to be said with a thick Boston accent? Because that's how it comes out when I think of it.
vfdj42 said "I crave Boys and Girls a little less than the others" (o my!)
I have a little clip condensed from Boys and Girls on YouTube, it's 1 min and 19 seconds long and only of Michael destroying the warehouse... Just in case you someday want to see the best bits of the episode :) :
lol, yeah I was going to say something about how that line sounded.... :) wiki link is an awesome touch
Wow, how has this thread laid dormant for so long? Here's some interesting excerpts:
From Yesh on May 3, 2006:
Is it just me or have the last few episodes been...off? Like something has happened with the writers and some kind of magic isn't there anymore? Like from "the carpet" or maybe "boys and girls" on, something's different?
From Dwayne Fart Poop, same day:
I'm sure in the beginning of season 3, we'll see more storylines branch out and bring new light to the characters.
And some blasphemy from vfdj42:
I think a weak one was The Dundies (it's overrated.)
Very interesting.
Interesting that Yesh would identify Boys and Girls as the possible start of a perceived decline, considering that most active NAers now regard it as one of their favorite episodes.
Well, the stretch of episodes after Boys and Girls:
Valentine's Day
Dwight's Speech
Bring Your Daughter to Work
were somewhat down in that Jim was trying to come to terms with the upcoming wedding and they weren't the strongest overall. Of course the final four episodes of the season really ended that stretch.
I thought it was interesting too, mtt. Even though Daoust is right, it's fascinating to see how people viewed the show as it shifted from Season 1 to Season 2.
vfdj42 was voted off for that Dundies comment and tried to sneak back as vfdj43. What an assbeating that guy took.
That's some West Coast gangsta shit, Brian. And you're not even from the West Coast, so...mad props to you.
Now that we've had four-fullish seasons, I think some episodes look better by comparison. The Pilot is pretty much universally hated (especially by fans of the BBC show), but in rewatching it not that long ago it's a funny episode. The problem of course is the exact replication of the script from the original show, but once you get past that, it's no better or worse than any other season 1 episode, and it's a good foundation for the show. Most of the episodes I thought were really weak or off (Greif Counseling), in retrospect look pretty good.
I still think the two biggest misfires in the entire run have been the opening of Gay Witch Hunt, and the entirety of The Initiation (all time worst episode hands down). That said, I've since re-watched both many times and I'd still take those over almost any episode of most other current shows. The Office has set such a high watermark (I'd rank Casino Night among the best 40 minutes of television I've ever seen), that when an episode is merely good it comes as a dissapointment. I like the groove they've settled into in Season 4, and I hope now they can continue with that streak into the next couple of seasons, and hopefully pass on some knowledge and wisdom into the spinoff.
I think that was all a round about way of saying I love the Office, even for its faults it's a unique, interesting, funny, heartbreaking world that they've created, and even if things don't always go how I'd like, I can't ever see not loving being in that world for 20 minutes every week.
The Initiation (all time worst episode hands down)
Ironically, this was the very first episode of TO I ever saw, and it helped hook me on the show.
I think that was all a round about way of saying I love the Office, even for its faults it's a unique, interesting, funny, heartbreaking world that they've created, and even if things don't always go how I'd like, I can't ever see not loving being in that world for 20 minutes every week.
This, as well as your whole post, was very well-said (typed?) and I think summed up a widely-shared opinion here.
your whole post, was very well-said (typed?) and I think summed up a widely-shared opinion here.
Word!
I'd rank Casino Night among the best 40 minutes of television I've ever seen)
Word!!
I'm sorry I have nothing better to offer than to say "word", twice.
The Initiation (all time worst episode hands down)
I enjoyed The Initiation especially in comparison to Phyllis' Wedding ~50% of which I have to fast forward through.
The Pilot is pretty much universally hated (especially by fans of the BBC show), but in rewatching it not that long ago it's a funny episode. The problem of course is the exact replication of the script from the original show, but once you get past that, it's no better or worse than any other season 1 episode, and it's a good foundation for the show.
Thank you for saying that and saying it well. I really like The Pilot, never didn't in fact. If they could recreate that uncomfortable vibe in every episode, I'd always be happy. I actually hate when Jim and Pam condescend to Michael or are too friendly to him. I liked when he was not only their bumbling boss but a menacing presence who held their livelihoods in his crazy hands. Imagine Michael firing Pam for stealing Post-it's now. She'd roll her eyes and walk out. But while that was three years ago, she'd already been there for what, five years? She didn't get used to him at all in five years, but in three more she has him figured out?
And you have come to me for advice. Is that what you are saying, Grasshopper?
Actually, you called me in here.
I really like The Pilot, never didn't in fact.
I'm with you here. I love the first six episodes. Love them. Diversity Day is still one of my all time favorites.
But while that was three years ago, she'd already been there for what, five years? She didn't get used to him at all in five years, but in three more she has him figured out?
This is a very good point, sir. I think Roy kept her 'introverted' and Jim helped draw her out. I don't imagine that her and Jim's friendship had been going full blast those full five years. I'm more inclined to think it took them a long time to develop to the point that they were playing pranks on people in the office and commiserating with each other. If that's true, it might explain why it took her a couple of years to figure Michael out, anyway. Five though is pushing it a bit much.
But while that was three years ago, she'd already been there for what, five years? She didn't get used to him at all in five years, but in three more she has him figured out?
Actually at the time of the pilot I thought she had been there three years.
it's no better or worse than any other season 1 episode
Uhhh... The Pilot is no better or worse than Diversity Day? No way. Diversity Day is vastly superior.
The problem with saying I don't like an episode of The Office is that every episode seems to have at least a few moments that make me laugh a lot, which is really all I ask from a comedy.
I could probably rank S2, and not even the episodes near the bottom would I say "I dislike those".
S3... The Coup, The Initiation, and Phyllis' Wedding strike me as episodes that I'd probably say I don't like.
S4... Outside of Money, The Deposition, and Did I Stutter? which I love, I don't know what to say about the rest of the episodes. I think I'm indifferent to the rest of them.