The Office Season 5 Discussion - Page 2

I'm really hoping this "Pam's new friend" stuff is just a bait and switch, because I can't do anymore contrived romance crap. Last season proved that the show can still work with them effectively together sans drama, so just let it develop normally and not with some roadblock everyone sees coming a mile away. Please.

Personally, I think it's totally bait and switch. He'll see that ring in the next episode and that'll pretty much be the end of that.

And, anyway, Rich Sommer is adorable, so I'm having a hard time getting worked up about his temporary presence on the show. Frankly, I kinda couldn't blame Pam...

Don't you do it! Don't you do it!!!

Also, was Jim's reference about having a pain that's "probably an ulcer" a throwaway line to highlight his stress or could it be something else?

Don't fret. Jim wins the hot contest, but just barely.

Like your location, btw. Oh, and, yes. Yes we will.

I figure it's either terminal cancer or a stillborn fetal twin.

Or a throwaway joke about his stress.

He would've felt the effects of a stillborn fetal twin before then, so...cancer it is.

I didn't automatically take it as romance, I just saw it as Pam blossoming a bit in a creative environment and bonding with new friends. Her character was obviously stifled in the office environment, and now she's able to interact with other people who are creative and have a sense of humor.

But, as was mentioned before, even Pam merely broadening her horizons could pose problems between her and Jim. Let's hope they keep it interesting and not sit-com-y.

I don't think the new friend is setting up a lengthy love triangle scenario, but one spectacularly awkward scene where he makes a move on her post-engagement.

"What else do people like about me?"

Unless he turns into a passive-aggressive relationship sabotager. Which would be the Office way.

I loved the bit where Angela softened towards Andy, just for a minute.

This. We've already seen someone make a pass at Pam while she was engaged. Perhaps they're just setting up a bit of parallelism.

Agreed, a rare human moment for her.

And I can't for the life of me imagine what a Dwight/Angela coupling consists of. Nor do I want to.

You're probably right about this. Sounds like something right up the show's MO. Yes, the conflict will be more down to the growing discrepancy between Jim and Pam's ambitions. I hope I hope I hope-a.

Shh... just let Michael Klump rest his head upon your bosom...

Also, as someone who is also working to lose some weight, I was very happy for Stanley's success.

The Office isn't Must See TV for me (I catch it when I can), but I really dug last night's ep. Stanley and Kelly have always been my faves, so I liked that they got some clever bits. And like others have mentioned, Michael tearing up the tickets made me cringe inside. I really love Carrell and Ryan's rapport. She's a great addition to the cast. I gotta say I'm over the Jim-Pam relationship, but I thought the proposal was well played.

Who did Phyllis call after she walked back to the office when Dwight left her? She said a name, but I didn't know if I was supposed to recognize it.

Andy mentioned they haven't had sex yet (he wants to get rock hard abs by their first time).

Nobody's suggesting that Andy would be the father...

No, I watch it. I know who he is and was quite happy to see him show up on The Office. I also know how long he's supposed to be on, but I'll leave you lot unspoiled.

Anyone know how long Ryan is staying around for? Novak's going to be away in Germany for a few months filming Inglorious Bastards so I figure they'll be writing him out within a few episodes.

Well in all fairness that actually is the proper thing to do with Counting Crows tickets.

I love some of the total dick moves on this show. Dwight kicking over the cheesecake and snarling, "Happy Birthday, Stanley!" Or dumping Phyllis in the middle of nowhere to walk back.

Oh and last season with the buddy-up sales contest when Michael says go and takes Phyllis' keys and chucks them under her car.

I think it was David Wallace over at corporate. The top dog. The guy who interviewed Michael, Jim, Karen, and Ryan to see who would take over Jan's job. I think it may have been a season you skipped on. Regardless, it's not that important. Just someone with the power to put an end to the weight-loss insanity.

Good point.

Ok, thanks. Yeah I dug Season 1, got turned off by Season 2 (Michael's antics became increasingly unbearable to watch; which is interesting because I love David Brent's antics), skipped Season 3 completely, and started catching eps here and there last season. Now that all the eps are on-line I may go back and rewatch them though.

You mean she didn't go the Virginia Madsen route!

Also, if you couldn't tell from my avatar, I also loved the rapping scene.

Same here. I bitch about this all the time, but the reason I can stand David Brent's antics is because as horrible as they are, it feels like they're coming from someplace I can recognize in terms of behavior. Michael Scott, not so much. The guy is a cartoon in one moment, and something else when the writers need him to be.

Amy Ryan's stint on the show has brought out a Michael Scott I find much more bearable.

EDIT: But in my case, I kept watching because there was so much in the show other than Scott that I really enjoyed.

David Wallace is the CFO of Dunder-Mifflin.

It's gotta be some freaky-deaky stuff. The episode from season three where Dwight maced Roy pretty much solidified Angela's freak status.

If I recall correctly, during the season finale, Meredith was attacked by the racoon Dwight hid in Amy Ryan's car as a hazing prank. So, I think her face was supposed to be covered with scratches and bite marks. As the summer progresses, her face heals. I think.

McNooj, love the avatar.

How come nobody mentioned the 2 golden visual gags? I didn't think they would top Dwight dumping out the vending machine and refilling it with healthy foods, including hammering a peach into the coil. Then they cut back to the machine later with all the gnats and fruit flies inside the glass and I lost it. They went to the well one too many times by showing Dwight spray the machine out, but I can forgive that.

Kelly did steal this episode though. I'm firmly in the church of Creed as far as background people, but this one was all about her.

Creed had the best throwaway, chopping his 'lunch' into lines like he was going to snort it.

I'm slow getting back here, but I thought this was the best hourlong The Office has done in a long, long while. It was much better paced, and (I thought) pretty darn funny. My biggest beef with the show was Ryan coming back--even for this show, it stretches probability that a former exec. arrested for fraud would EVER be allowed to work in ANY capacity for his former company. Oh well they do what they can to get him back, I guess...it was worth it to see Jim trash-talk him. Ryan deserves it, the bastard!

Count me among those who think Angela is preggers. Why else would she be staying with Andy at this point? The engagement facade has been pushed to the breaking point, yet she won't call it off. Add to that she's gettin' some w/Dwight, so what gives?

Kelly was the best this episode. I will really miss Holly when she goes bye-bye. Hope she returns! I loved her EXTREMELY awkward moments with Oscar & with Kevin ("You think I'm retarded?" spoken in Kevin-voice).

And I wasn't spoiled on the proposal, so I almost squealed aloud when it happened. Here's hoping it works out, and not in a sitcom-y way.

Technically, Ryan works for the temp agency so I guess it MIGHT be possible that he could sneak back in.

If Angela is pregnant, it has to be Dwight's because if you remember, Andy said that Angela hasn't seen him naked yet. Of course that could also mean that she clenches her eyes shut during sex with Andy.

It wasn't explicitly stated but perhaps Michael requested Ryan come back (especially after bad mouthing the other temp receptionist) and put in a good word for him to corporate. Of course if we're being logical I doubt corporate would ever listen to one of Michael's requests, but it could explain it.

It was explicitly stated, with length and detail.

It was? Shows how good my memory is

I suspect corporate doesn't know Ryan's back in the Scranton branch. I doubt the higher-ups know or care which temp receptionist is working there right now, and thus don't vet Michael's selection. This could lead to some fun hijinks later if Ryan's new job is found out...

Of course, that doesn't explain why Ryan is assuming that he'll rise through the ranks again.

"I don't think I fully processed 9/11" probably made me laugh harder than anything in this show yet, and I've laughed really hard at this show before.

Instead of Michael Scott we got a woman 100 times more idiotic. Thanks election!

At least Biden had big ups to Scranton a couple times.

Time for the weekly "Welcome back, Office" bump.

Anyone know if tonight's is an hour-long?

It's a half hour episode.

Jim's critique of Battlestar Galactica had me choking on falafel.

Jim tormenting Dwight by talking about Battlestar Galactica was definitely the highlight.

"She's not a virgin, you know."
"Wow."

Best parts were the Ryan camera-glance when they talked about "problems with corporate" and the Galactica talk. Not a bad episode, but last week's was better.

"You're a thief of joy." and Jim tweaking Dwight about Galactica were tops. And this cried out for a Creed moment that just never came.

It was great.
Great, great lines.

I love Creed at the beginning: "The tall guy got engaged."

I hope none of my friends caught that episode. I'm going to be poked at for a week if they did. Good episode. Amy Ryan fits the show perfectly.

Not much to add. It was definitely a funny episode, but not the greatest ever, as Herc is claiming. I have actually enjoyed the more & more awkward humor on the show--reminds me of the British version, & that's always a good thing.

Jim's Galactica monologue had me in stitches, as well. And I love Holly's character and will be really disappointed when she leaves--hopefully not for good (haven't seen The Wire yet, so I had never seen Amy Ryan before this).

And although it seemed a bit of a cop-out way to end the conflict, that Corporate HR guy was quite the ass. Am I the only one who thinks that when(ever) the show ends, it will be because Dunder-Mifflin goes out of business & everybody loses their jobs? It would seem an appropriate ending for the show.