Total Number of Ratings: 3
RECAP: 'The Office' Season 6, Episode 2
Thursday, September 24, 2009 11:51 PM
All is back to normal at the start of this episode, so clearly it's time to move the pieces around, and see what happens.
Cold Open
Apropos of nothing else in the episode, they find another way to have an awkward Oscar scene. Michael calls him into the office to ask for tips on his upcoming colonoscopy. If I have to explain, it won't be funny.
Act I
The meeting for which the episode is named takes place right away, as David and Jim wish to meet sans Michael. Michael says it's OK, but feels left out (a running theme). He then comes up with various methods with which he can enter the conference room (a running theme). In doing so, Michael threatens Pam's unborn child. I mention this because it is a horrible thing to do.
Darryl is concluding a meeting with Toby, and they "dap," indicating comfort and familiarity with one another. Dwight hears that it's about Darryl injuring himself, and being a suspicious lad, he calls Darryl on it. Darryl brings up Swedish Universal Health Care, which is a HOT BUTTON TOPIC in the world today. Dwight, being both racist and untrusting, convinces Toby to go on the hunt for evidence against Darryl, and Toby really likes mystery novels, so he goes with it. Makes sense, right?
CREED MOMENT: Creed asks Michael if the meeting is about him. Michael says no, and Creed leaves. For the rest of the episode.
A third storyline formulates when Pam is trying to get people to confirm whether they're going to the wedding or not. It seems they planned the wedding in Niagra Falls so they people wouldn't come, but Michael agreed to give a 4 day weekend to everyone who goes. Yet still, they will not confirm. This is a real life hell by the way, and makes me far more stressed out than it makes me laugh. Kelly won't go unless Ryan does, and so it goes on.
Nearly unbidden, Nard Dog admits to falling sales due to an impending incestuous relationship with his cousin. Andy's only purpose seems to be a toy for the writing staffs torturous pleasures.
Act II
Michael plays Trojan Horse with a cheese cart, and Andy wheels him into the conference room. Andy does a respectable job selling the three instant cheeses, and when he leaves, Michael is where he wants to be, just in time to hear the end of the meeting, gaining nothing.
Dwight and Toby find out about a mutual love of trains while on a stakeout at Darryl's when they think they've caught Darryl doing manual labor, finding that it's a large black woman in a green jersey carrying large sacks of dogfood. Some insults are screamed, and it's revealed that it was not Darryl. Dwight drives into some trash cans. These people have historically bad driving habits.
David shortly meets with Michael to discuss the meeting in which Jim proposed he be made a manager. Michael, feeling threatened (a running theme) reads David Toby's quite biased evaluation of Jim (since Toby hates Jim, because Toby loves Pam). Immediately David learns that Jim's plan was to promote Michael, and move Jim into that spot. Michael is conflicted, yet not brave.
We look out the window as David, standing by his silver BMW 7 series, apparently gives Jim, standing next to a red Subaru Impreza sedan, the bad noews. Michael, from inside, admits some amount of culpability to himself.
Act III
Jim confronts Michael, rippin' mad, about sabotaging him, and Michael's deep inability to relate to other people makes him avoid the conversation. I wish this didn't feel so real.
Darryl, and his surprisingly similar sister confront (2 confrontations in one act!) Dwight and Toby. There's some delightful play with the conventions of political correctness, and Darryl's going to file a complaint against them! Oh how the tables have turned!
Michael is forced to call David and flip flop his decision, but David is pulled over for talking on his cell phone (which I suspect isn't a law they actually enforce, at least where I live).
Toby and Dwight go down to the warehouse to apologize to Darryl, who immediately offers Toby a "dap" because they're somehow tight still. But Dwight has his Agatha Christie moment (is that right? Are there those moments?), and figures out that Darryl didn't hurt himself on the ladder but by using the lift in an improper manner. Neither will back down, and Toby ends up with paperwork. Will this plotline come back? Only time will tell.
Jim tries to confront Michael seriously, which is like trying to argue rationally on a message board, and David calls back. Michael showcases his verbal foley skills, and David offers them a co-managership, where Jim and Michael are equals, both running the Scranton branch. Thus the tone and conflict is set for the season. Dwight screams with turmoil at this new development.
Credit Gag
Pam can't pin down Meredith, but she definitely wants the ribs at the wedding. Pam and Angela almost have a moment, but Pam offends her by moving Angela's bag, and the planets are back in alignment.
It wasn't a particularly funny episode, but there are some nice plot developments, you know, if you're into that kind of thing.
I thought that the show was decent. I would like to think that this show is being used to set up the comedy for the rest of the season. I definitely could see this being the end of the line for Jim. He gets frustrated with Michael and leaves for the other job offer that he has. His character has run his course in the office and maybe we see some new characters move into the Jim/Pam relationship role on the show.
You're right about it being not overly funny, BUT I really did like the call back to the idea that Jim is not all that great at being a manager. The last time he was in charge it was a disaster. I like the fact that at the end of the day, Michael is kind of good at his job, and Jim is kind of good at his, but no good at Michael's.
It's better that Jim isn't Mr. Perfect.
I know I'm like probably the 1000th person to say this, but these last two seasons the magic of the show really seems to be gone.
I remember watching the older episodes and laughing hard throughout or there'd be 3-4 really good spots that would get me. It just seems now I find myself either just smiling or having a short "ha!" moment.
It also seems like the writers have grown bored with the characters or are writing the episodes to run really dry, which IS the tone of the show, but there is just something that doesn't seem to be clicking and it seems like even some of the actors are tired of playing their parts.
Respond
This was more of a plot episode then a joke episode. The jokes were heavy in the Dwight/Darryl story, and I fond myself laughing at that. I'm interested to see where the Season goes. With Scrubs over, the Office is the only comedy show I've been watching for a while (Well that and HIMYM, but that's not on HULU). But I did like the episode and look forward to the drama that happens up the wedding.