The Office Redux: It’s All Going to be OK
February 16, 2007 by Kath Skerry
For those of you who need some talking off the ledge this morning….trust me when I say that it’s all going to be ok. Not-so-fancy Old Bessly had a temporary set back in deciding to get back together with Roy. But come on, we didn’t even get a whole episode in before we saw the reemergence of Roy 1.0. I give them one more episode before they are done for good.
And do you really think Jim and Karen are MFEO? Come on, the girl can’t even pull off a good prank. Again, the demise of Jim and Karen has begun. Jim needs to end things with Karen because they aren’t right for each other, and NOT because of his feelings for Pam. Same thing with Pam and Roy. They will be ok. Do you really think the writers are not going to put Jim and Pam together at some point in time. They are smart people. They read the boards, and hell they might even be reading your comments here. So tell them what you want, but just always remember this…Greg Daniels knows what he’s doing.
I’m still kind of surprised that depsite what’s going on, Jim didn’t show up to support Pam. Maybe it’s because he was shielded from knowing about the event (see deleted scene #1). Who knows, but I was kind of bummed out. And poor Pam. She took this big risk in leaving Roy for Jim (come on you know she did) and look how that blew up in her face. But she soldiered on and pursued her art. Now she has her first showing (which has to be a big deal for someone with the self esteem issues of Pam Beesly) and it goes all wrong. Mark my words, Gil and Oscar’s conversation had a major impact on Pam, and might just be the catalyst to get her back on the path of the Fancy and New. I did however love that Michael appreciated her art. That was a sweet moment. Anyone else super excited that he had a candy bar in his pocket. Whew!!
Ok all JAM stuff aside, last night’s episode was A-MA-ZING!! So frakkin’ hysterical. The bat, Jim the Vampire, the perfect use of Creed. And Meredith finally gets a very funny scene that had nothing to do with her alcoholism…FINALLY (yeah, GD, we love love love Meredith and want to see more of her, but she needs to be more than the office drunk. Been there, done that. Let the woman shine…she’s so funny). Oh and FYI – the funniest scene of last night’s episode ended up on the cutting room floor. Head over to NBC.com and check out Meredith’s Pam/Roy joke. It’s beyond hysterical!!
Michael speaking in Ryan’s business school. Yeah, we know it was going to be a disaster but I found myself really feeling embarrased for Ryan, and I don’t really even like Ryan. I do however love Ryan’s girlfriend, Kelly Kapoor and Kelly was fantastic last night. I can’t wait to see what it’s like for those two to sit next to each other all day. Maybe Ryan will finally admit to himself that he is smitten with Kelly (because we all know he is). Oh and YAY! to Ryan’s desk finally being free. Halpert pack your bags and move your skinny ass over there pronto. If you and Pam aren’t going to be insta-couple, I at least need you to start sharing your trademark “we are saying so much with our eyes” looks.
I’m still not sure I buy the fact that a bat/vampire themed episode directed by Joss Whedon was a coincidence, but hey, I believe what they tell us. Maybe it was just fate. Well done Whedon. Abrams you’re up next week. Whatcha got for us?
I agree on all JAM counts… I wanted to be mad last night, but couldn’t. It’s so painfully obvious that Pam and Roy aren’t right for one another and that he doesn’t get her. And Jim, poor thing, he’s trying SO hard to pretend he doesn’t care, I just don’t believe a word. I think it’s gonna blow up before the season ends – perhaps with Karen and Roy discovering the truth about what went down on Casino night. Hmmm… because does Karen even know that Pam and Roy were engaged? Interesting…
Bat Jim – SO. Funny.
And Angela, prostrate on the floor. LOVE.
Can somebody help a girl-without-speakers out? I’d love to know what happened in the deleted scene that GMMR is referring to!
Deleted scene: Karen sees the flyer for Pam’s art show. She looks out of the kitchen and looks at Jim with Pam in the background. She goes to take down the flyer (so Jim wont’ know about it). But Oscar comes in and she stops.
Meredith tries to tell Oscar a joke about why Pam got back together with Roy. Oscar says he doesn’t like gossip. Meredith tells him the sexually charged, profanity laced punchline anyway (the punchline is one you can understand without speakers)
Okay, here’s what I think will happen…Oscar and Gil’s words about courage and honestly will really hit Pam (as well as her annoyance with Roy 1.0) and she will finally confess her true feelings to Jim. Jim will be conflicted because now he has really commited to his relationship with Karen. Jim will move to his old desk and he is now the ball in his own ping pong match between Pam and Karen. He will have views of both adoring women. Feisty, flirty Pam would be a good thing…maybe she’ll even bring out the hot, red shirt.
John Kras has said in a recent interview that “Karen may be the better choice for Jim, you never know” so this means there is some “choosing” to be done. I don’t think Jim ever thought there was a choice before. So…this is all good. I think the fight for Jim is on.
I couldn’t make out Meredith’s punchline either. Maybe I’m too pure : )
Last night’s episode made me (and my husband) all misty at the end. I just wanted to show up at Pam’s art show and talk to her about her work (and I wanted Oscar to break up with Gil).
And I’m glad Ryan got taken down a peg or two. What Michael said to him back at the office represents all of Michael’s redeaming qualities. He’s a good boss because he cares about people, and people are his company.
I hadn’t even considered that Jim might move back to his old desk! That has me pretty excited!
I was sad that Jim didn’t show up either.
Karen’s prank acting is pathetic. Well done Rashida.
What is the Jim Mosby chant? “It’s going to be okay” (BTW, where were you last night Clare? I needed you!)
Overall, just another ‘dark’ feeling episode, but, I’m convinced the darkness will be there until Jim and Pam see the light. To me, things feel off center again, just as they did the first few episodes of the season. But though ‘dark’, I still laughed – I absolutely loved Kelly and Meridith last night.
Michael is a champion in my eyes after what he did for Pam without even realizing it. He is going to be the savior of JAM. I am totally convinced. He’s a great salesman, deep down inside he’s a helluva great guy, and he’s armed with a ton of knowledge that can help cure our JAM craving. He’s going to sell some JAM soon, and, everything is going to be okay! 🙂
Great show! Loved it! It showed how Karen and Jim have no chemistry and Roy 1.0 is back….The JAM wheels are turning!
First viewing was agony. Second viewing without the JAM goggles? Much better. JAM lives, folks. Keep the faith.
Michael acquitted himself nicely. He’s a tool, but he’s our tool. 🙂 I’m glad it was Michael who encouraged Pam. That was the perfect tone.
Very funny episode, but no JAM! Hopefully they are building up to something good. In Jenna’s blog about this episode she said something about while reading the next script she gasped – and said that she “thinks we will be very pleased”. If they filmed these episodes in the correct order…I think that “gasp” episode is next week. Yikes, I can hardly wait.
Also – that was an important deleted scene – don’t you think? Sneaky Karen, very sneaky…….wonder if we’ll ever find out if Jim chose not to attend or not?
i really hope they take advantage of the fact that part of pam’s art is now in the office for anyone to see & comment on (coughjimcough). i wouldn’t be surprised if he happened to notice it & talk to pam about it…just saying (or wishing, haha)
Loved this ep, there were so many laugh-out-loud funny moments!
Angela’s drop & roll reaction to the bat was hilarious – and what was she mumbling when she was on the floor? I couldn’t catch it, but it was cracking me up! And the plastic rain bonnet because of all the falling poop!
Dwight’s reactions to Jim’s vampire “symptoms” were priceless!
Kudos to funny Meredith (in both last night’s clip and the deleted scene). I agree – give her more story!!
And Pam. Poor Pam. She’s so expressive with her body language and her eyes. I felt so bad for her. But yay Michael! See, when he doesn’t try so hard, he can be normal and such a great guy. I loved the interaction between those two last night. So sweet!
And Roy? Ugh. No me gusta! “Your art was the prettiest art…of all the art.” Nice.
Kelly, Kelly, Kelly! Can’t wait to see you & Ryan sharing office space!!
I don’t know why, but I keep thinking of that line from Men in Black 2, when Tommy Lee Jones sticks his finger in the globe, and the aliens start yelling and screaming “All is lost, all is lost….!” That is so where I am right now with JAM. Even when Karen leaves DM, Jim and Pam are never going to be together, because it would actually make us happy. The next 6 episodes are going to torture. Greg, Greg, Greg, can you feel the pain? All is lost. Or, I could just be PMSing. Either one.
dada95835,
I think Angela was saying the rosary during the bat scene. I may be wrong.
dada9535
Someone wrote this about what Angela was saying during the bat scene…
She is lying on the floor mumbling to herself. I turned the volume all the way up and you can hear her say “God, This is Angela Martin, please don’t let that stupid thing come anywhere near me.”
Just another awesome part of a great episode.
These are the things you miss when you only watch the episode once. TiVo…I’m coming…I promise.
Jim-Karen, Pam-Roy, Kelly-Ryan….the only MFEO couple in the office are Dwight & Angela! He’d do anything to save “Monkey” from the bat. And yes, the plastic rain bonnet was hilarious. That she has one around, for whatever reason, is even more hilarious.
We KNOW that the only reason Pam stays after Roy leaves the art show is her hope that Jim will show up…
IMO, this was one of the funniest LOL episodes. It’s right up there with The Injury. Dwight’s reactions to Jim’s turning into a vampire were hilarious and when he put that gas mask on and went after the bat and caught Meredith’s head in the garbage bag, I nearly fell off my couch laughing. This was matched only with him climbing up on Pam’s desk and sticking his butt in her face and then falling off when the bat flew out of the ceiling.
This was also a great Michael episode. When he started ripping pages out of that student’s text book like he was in Dead Poet’s Society I was in stiches. The candy bar thing was hilarious and his reactions to all the questions were so in character, “Real business happens on paper, write that down.” and they all immediately start typing in their laptops, it’s as good as it gets people. I loved how he came into Pam’s art show and just made her feel better by wanting to buy her picture for the office. Did anyone else notice that Pam was rocking the artist look with her purple t-shirt, black jumper and low side pony-tail?
I have to agree with all the comments regarding JAM. This episode just illustrated how Jim and Pam are with the wrong people and it’s hopefully a forshadowing of what’s to come. Karen was so unconvincing as Jim’s pranking partner. It just didn’t feel right watching her prank with Jim and Pam having no part in it. There are no talking heads from Jim saying, “All her idea too, she is so great.”. Pam is such a natural and I really miss seeing that dynamic. Hopefully this will all change soon.
Roy was way too eager to show Pam how much he’s changed and it was clear that she could see right through him. Bringing his brother to her art show undoubtedly brought back memories of him leaving her at the hockey game and I was glad she turned him down when he asked her to go home with him. This is likely to be the nail in the coffen of the Pam/Roy relationship (no pun intended).
Yeah, the Angela praying scene was hilarious. I also loved in the Merdith/Dwight scene how Dwight screams “Be still woman!” We kept rewinding and watching that scene and then my fiancee kept saying that to me, even this morning!
And how much more do I dislike Karen after that deleted scene??
I’m not as optimistic that JAM is going to happen before the season finale as you guys are. I think Steve Carell set up a challenge for the writers in “Casino Night” (which won him a WGA award) by having Jim confess his feelings for Pam. I think the rest of the writers–yes, Greg Daniels included–are just not up to the follow-thru. If they really were the geniuses I used to think they were, they’d have found a way to give us Jim/Pam angst that didn’t overwhelm the balance of the show. How many of us had to watch the show TWICE–once to ease the JAM tension, and then again to see the rest of the episode? If we’re so strung out on JAM angst we can’t focus on the rest of the show, that’s just bad writing. And I thought the Joss Whedon/vampire storyline, while funny, was a little self-indulgent. *shrug*
What saved this ep for me was Creed and Meredith. I rejoice to see them with actual speaking parts again. The ensemble, not JAM, will make this show memorable.
As for the deleted scene “explaining” why Jim didn’t go to the art show, that’s up there with the deleted scene about Andy going to anger management class as one of the most bone-headed editing decisions I’ve seen. The directors need to give us this information if they’re going to write story arcs at all.
I sound like all I am doing is kvetching, but I did actually like many parts of this ep. Michael was hilarious, Ryan totally got what he deserved, Kelly was cuter than Paris Hilton’s purse doggy, and Dwight stole every scene he was in.
LOVED this episode.
Strangely enough, I was glad that we got a bit of a break from the JAM tension this week- it’s been exhausting! Having said that I’m really hoping that we get some sort of breakthrough next week to hold us over while we’re in rerun hell…
I think we should start a petition to get Meredith more air time!
My theory on why Jim didn’t come is he never got a chance to see the flier… the kitchen was locked up all day with the bat in it and that’s where the flier was, right?
I’d HOPE that Jim would show up had he known about it… because first and foremost he and Pam are friends right? Ah… I just want some freakin’ happiness and flirting, even if they can’t be together right now – stop making it so damn painful!
LOVED the episode
just one thing, i grew up near scranton (harveys lake!) and the scene of ryan and michael driving… looks nothing at ALL like scranton
they didnt hide that it was california very well hahah
Well, you know next week everyone goes out for cocktails, and we all know how Pam gets when she has been drinking (see “dundies”). My guess is that something somehow happens when everyone has been imbibing…..someone says something, or better yet, someone kisses someone, and someone else sees it and gets all pissed off. You decided who which someone is and who the other someone is. Can’t wait!!!!!
kate flannery was right about the scene between pam & michael. it was so sweet & genuine! it brought tears to my eyes.
Now that I’ve thought about it some (and seen the deleted scene with Evil Karen), I really think that Jim did not know about the art exhibit. We never saw him even acknowledge it. I think what will happen is that he will eventually find out that Michael bought Pam’s “Office” picture from the show. That’s how he’ll find out and he’ll be upset that Pam didn’t let him know about it. He’ll use that as another reason to not talk to her. “She obviously didn’t care enough about me to even let me know her show”, etc.
I felt so sad for her, standing there all alone, then checking her watch & waiting for Jim to show up. And then when Oscar’s BF (Gil?) made his comments….I agree, she needed to hear that though. Maybe it was cause her to look at her life and to go after what (who) she really wants.
That’s not to say that Jim would have gone if he had known but I believe he would have made an attempt. It was made clear that he was not doing anything that night.
Yeah, we’re beginning to see the old Roy again now. I knew he was under there somewhere. Now that he has ber back, he’ll get back into the comfort zone and go back to his true ways.
The Michael / Pam scene was so sweet though. I do love how they let him show his human side and redeem himself pretty often. Otherwise, he would just be ridiculous. How sad that one of her drawings was of a stapler.
By the way, they really should have left just that snipet of Karen and the flyer in the show. It was only about 5 seconds long and it was very important to the story.
‘Dwight the Vampire Slayer’ was hilarious too! That parting shot of Jim looking back at Dwight over his coat collar was so great!
My favorite part: “There are four types of business: Tourism, Food Service, Railroads, and Sales….and Hospitals / Manufacturing….and Air Travel.”
Classic Michael!
I don’t want to spoil anyone, but i don’t think the people you want to kiss will be kissing. Unless it happens after…ok, i’m going to stop. I may have to eat my words though.
cam3150, although i don’t think Jim got to see the flyer, i still think he would have been able to overhear her talking to Roy about it, and Roy mentioning it, since he has overheard things from her desk many a time. However, maybe he didn’t go b/c she didn’t personally invite him, or maybe b/c Roy was going, or that he interpreted it as her not wanting him to go, etc. etc. I’m not sure, but i figured he would have known somehow.
Or maybe you could be right: that he didn’t know at all.
How can you all forget Mr. Handell? That is what makes The Office so amazing; it is always hilarious from the opening minute. Loved it.
cam3150, i don’t know why, but this made me giggle! “How sad that one of her drawings was of a stapler.”
Poor Pam. She draws what she sees. She needs to get out more. Or start drawing Halpert. 🙂
I agree with Gil and Oscar.
Being truthful and straightforward is not one of Pam’s strong points, and a guy who doesnt know her, and a guy who’s been gone for half the season could tell.
She needs to get her act together.
Pam is with Roy. Jim is with Karen.
Kelly is with Ryan (hahaha!)
Well, of course we all want to see Pam with Jim.
But as the episodes of The Office develops….I look forward to seeing what’s the intention of Dwight and Angela.
Those two are “another couple” that I found intriguing.
How did they manage to hook up & keep it on the downlow?!
Hmmmm…..
God bless The Office (usa version)! I love Thursdays..again!!!
Also, god bless GMMR website…thank you for all the insights!
Loyal reader,
Mary Ann
I love all of everyone’s perceptions and ideas!
I thought that I might have picked up from Jim during his talking head that he is PISSED about Pam being back with Roy. I’ve seen him sad before…I’ve seen him aching and longing…but Thurs was flat out fed up pissed. And I think that if he DID know about Pam’s show he didn’t go on purpose because he was more disappointed in HER that she took like, 18 steps backwards in going back to Roy. The whole art school thing was a huge step forward for her in her independence…Fancy New Beesley.
The part about this idea that I like the most is that Jim’s feelings and reactions still come from his view of Pam, not himself. He didn’t go NOT because he just wanted to be with Karen, NOT because he didn’t want to see Pam with Roy, but because he thinks that she’s going to fall right back into all her old self-sacrificing ways, which would include giving up on her dreams including art school. Why should he support her in something that she’s gonna give up?
Wow! I guess I really read a lot into that yawn of his with Pam & Roy in the background saying I love you to each other! I am REALLY looking forward to what the writers have in store for us! I still can’t believe just how much they can fit into 20+ minutes a week! Sheesh! Thank The Lord for the deleted scenes to carry us through to the next episode!
Hey!…someone mentioned something about rerun hell? Are we coming up on another lull in new eps? Oh please God, say it isn’t so!!
i hope it doesn’t happen at the end of the series, like on the last episode so we don’t even get to see them together and the whole time it’s just pain and agony!