The Office - "Junior Salesman/ Vandalism" - Review

I’m a stickler for consistency in a television series. Consistency in storytelling is symptomatic of good writing. When a series like The Office starts to do broader, more unbelievable things, it flies in the face of the very world the series has led us to believe we’re watching. Michael Scott’s antics were childish, and cringe inducing but they came from a believable place. A character like Robert California, on the other hand, could never have ever existed early on in the run. That was a character whose personality appeared to be whatever the writers damn well pleased it to be; you could never pin down who he is was or what he wanted. He was a walking, talking cartoon character, and not a fully realized human being. Similarly, none of Dwight’s friends are plausible human beings or realistically drawn characters. While there’s some amusement to be had here and there, it’s an incredibly bizarre storyline that just doesn’t add up with what earlier seasons have led us to think this world is inhabited with. Even a character like Creed works because his shtick is “I’m the unrealistic person who pops in and does something totally implausible”.  And he works because he was the one guy who was so clearly not realistic that the series was allowed a pass when he did weird stuff or said strange things. You might argue Dwight is like this as well, but the show has done enough groundwork to make it apparent that there’s a real human side to Dwight (remember Season 2’s “The Injury” where he gets a concussion and starts acting very nice to everyone).

The Jim and Pam side of things remains to be very interesting and very true to these characters though, and it almost makes up for when the series is desperately thinking of something for its characters to do. But the series doesn’t seem to have a clue what to do with these characters, who when well utilized are often some of television’s funniest, most memorable individuals.  Pam’s actions in the second of these two episodes in particular don’t have any real logical basis in what we know about her (Why would she go along with pretending that Nate’s mom died?).  Her revenge scheme just doesn’t come from place that’s true for this show, and it feels like a storyline created as an excuse for Brian to swoop in and save the day.

The references to the people behind the camera don’t feel like they’re a good thing. The series pulled out that moment too soon, and it’s now forced to deal with the ramifications of that reveal. The self-awareness of the fact that there is a documentary crew isn’t something the series necessarily wants draw attention to. It’s stretching credulity as is that they would stick at it for nine years.

Stray Observations:

-So, how soon until Brian and Pam kiss?

-“I need you to breathe in my face”

-Clark Duke is often much funnier than the material given to him. He’s so utterly enthusiastic about every piece of acting given to him, even when it’s incredibly pointless or stupid.

-“I was his babysitter. And then his girlfriend”

-“If there’s anything I hate worse than art, it’s crime”

-“I’ll just stay here. By myself. With the money.”

-“I’m saying we should go scorched earth on his face”

-“You’re a terrible person” - Brian Baumgartner is having a great season.
-How pointless did the Jim-Darryl storyline feel? I'd rather they just not show Jim at all, and in stead spend some time with some minor characters. 

Grade: C+