The series was going downhill long before Michael Scott left
(If you don’t believe me, just remember even “Goodbye, Michael” has a really
terrible sub-plot with Will Ferrell and Andy trying to make a sales pitch). But
his absence made it even more apparent just how the series had lived longer
than it ought to. The series is at its best when its people staving off boredom
in the workplace or dealing with awkward work situations, and those rarely seem
to be the focus anymore. The episode “The Target” where a bunch of the cast
builds a tower out of customer complaint cards is an example of the small scale
stuff that it could get a lot of mileage out of, but now shies away from.
By comparison, “Lice” feels like a stunt episode. It
provides a really contrived way to create humor. May be if it had some big
laughs, the show could get away with the premise. Happy Endings is a series with really contrived scenarios but it
gets in so many funny jokes that it doesn’t matter. The Office, however, is not good (especially in recent years) at these situations.
We know Pam is going to get caught, and it’s going to end up
badly for her. We can similarly see how Darryl’s breakup is going to end up
failing. And the third storyline with Jim playing basketball with an, admittedly, great cameo
from Dr. J feels so disconnected from everything (while also not being very
funny) that it feels like an afterthought.
When Cece ends up getting lice, Pam accidentally ends up
bringing it to the office, and almost everyone gets it (except Dwight, who ends
up wearing a hazmat suits, and a few others). Everyone blames it on Meredith
and Pam wants to tell her but doesn’t want to people to judge her. But then
Meredith shaves her head to get rid of the lice, and there’s simply no going
back. When Pam’s mom, on speaker, reveals that Cece has lice, everyone flips
out on Pam, but Meredith, always being the one looked down upon by the office,
asks her for a drink and an unexpected connection is made.
Meanwhile, Darryl breaks up with Val, claiming he doesn’t
think it’s worth it with him working in Philly. But when he plays the sympathy card
with fellow liceless co-workers Nelly, Phyllis, and Kevin, they tell Val that
she should take him back. And so she does, much to Darryl’s chagrin.
It all feels very pointless, which isn’t a bad thing in of
itself. But this just isn’t a very funny episode of a series we know is capable
of being much, much better.
Stray Observations:
-The cold open with Jim biting his lips was similarly
pointless and unfunny.
-“How would I feel if I was home, and she was off in the
city… go carting with John Stamos”
-Darryl’s smile after his breakup - totally sold by Craig Robinson
-Dwight thinks that for 15 years, no one would be friends with him because
he had lice when he was a kid.
-“The only thing that got me through it was pie and Brandi…
the singer”
-“This won’t help him. This is muffin not cake” – Great delivery
by Phyllis
-Of course, Creed got lice. How is that not surprising?
Also, his reaction to getting partnered with Pam: “Oh, stuck with the weirdo”
-Catherine Tate’s monologue about being single was very,
very funny.
-“I was re-entering the dating pool… then Kevin asked me out”
-The Erin-Pete thing continues to brew. Andy still hasn’t
returned. What do you think of that?
Grade: C+
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