THE OFFICE: Golden Ticket
March 13, 2009 by Kath Skerry
Michael Scott tried his best at being Willy Wonka but ended up looking more like a bad Oompa Loompa in last night’s episode of THE OFFICE.
After devising a marketing plan to place Golden Tickets offering major discounts into random boxes of paper goes horribly awry, Michael sets up Dwight to take the fall with Corporate. But when the mishap is turned on its ear resulting in a financial windfall for Dunder Mifflin, Dwight takes the credit for Michael’s idea. When the lies are revealed, any good will David Wallace had for Michael in light of recent branch performance was seemingly erased setting up a major plotline that will play out over the course of the rest of the season.
Meanwhile, Kevin is contemplating his next move with the woman he met at the Lonely Hearts Party, but when he gets conflicting bad advice from Jim, Andy and Pam, he’s left a muddled mess.
The episode, written by Mindy Kaling, was simply fantastic. “Golden Ticket” wasn’t about the laugh out loud moments as much as it was the humor derived from those all too familiar awkward workplace situations. Ok, maybe your boss is running around the office dressed as Willy Wonka, but most of us have witnessed a colleague throwing another colleague under the proverbial bus. The tension that resulted between Michael and Dwight/Jim/David Wallace was uncomfortably fantastic.
Michael was flat out a bad boss last night. Despite the goofy hat and silly walk, what Michael did couldn’t be masked by his childlike innocence. He messed up. And rather than stepping up and taking the blame he manipulated Dwight’s feelings as well as his allegiance to both Michael and the company, in an effort to save his own ass. There wasn’t a way to spin this one. But Michael took it ever further when he wouldn’t allow Dwight to accept the accolades when the golden ticket idea turned, well, golden. He was prepared to let Dwight fall on the sword but not reap in the glory.
I liked that Jim got pissed last night. I liked that he stood up for Dwight. I can’t wait to see Jim & Pam live happily ever after but I’m equally as invested in the Jim & Dwight “ship”.
Speaking of “ships”, Kevin is on the verge of having a new one for himself, that is if he would stop asking his co-workers for advice. Andy is completely clueless when it comes to women so Kevin should know better. Jim Halpert finally got the girl but only after years of standing by and watching her with another man. His advice is a little tainted by his own experience. And while Pam probably offered the most sound dating advice, she wasn’t really taking into consideration that this was Kevin we’re talking about – perhaps touching on the first date isn’t the best idea.
In the end, Kevin took in all the advice and went his own way…with success. Good luck, Kevin. We’re pulling for ya, buddy!
I really enjoyed the show last night. Lots of laughs and uncomfortably fantastic moments. Here are a few more of my faves.
Knock, Knock…
- Kevin: I don’t like getting advice from more than one person at a time. I’m a textbook over-thinker.
- Michael’s Willy Wonka somersault was hilarious. I can just imagine the number of time Steve had to do that before he got a clean take.
- Michael: Well you know what, Jim? It is not my fault that you bought a house to impress Pam. That is why carnations exist.
Creed: That’s not why.
- Who wouldn’t buy shoes at Shoe La-La?
- Michael: I do want the credit without any of the blame.
Thoughts on “Golden Ticket”. Did you want it to continue on like an Everlasting Gobstopper? (Sorry, I couldn’t resist!)
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I thought that everyone was nicely in character in this episode, unlike certain past episodes (maybe the fact that angela wasn’t in this one had something to do with it…just saying). I LOVED the Kevin storyline, and I think Andy was perfect: combing his experience with Angela with his broken heart, finally allowing us to see some of the pain he’s in. Also, when Micheal put out the fact that Dwight is no longer dating Angela as a reason for him to leave the office–the look on Dwight’s face did lots for me.
Also, I always love a good David Wallace episode 🙂
I did like Jim growing a backbone as well, not just through pranks but by actually saying how upset he is and why to Micheal. Also, his manipulation of Wallace and Dwight to prevent Micheal from claiming credit for the Golden Ticket idea made me really proud of him.
I agree that this episode wasn’t one of the laugh out loud ones… but all the humour in the awkward workplace situations had me laughing a lot last night. There were parts of this episode that just reminded me of why i fell in love with the office in the first place and a lot of that had to do with the things that i found to be missing this season.
Things like the knock knock joke… i laughed when Jim smacked Dwight and then Dwight’s acknowledgment that the KGB waits for no one.
I miss these little Jim/Dwight moments.
And there was a great call back to Dwight’s paranoia about technology coming to life. (this was the funniest and may favourite part of the episode)
Micheal: Why do you have a diary?
Dwight: To Keep secrets from my computer.
I hope the rest of the season has more episodes like this one.
Another solid episode from Mindy Kaling, clearly one of the show’s best writers. My favorite parts were the running knock-knock joke gag, Dwight keeping secrets from his computer, and the list of ideas for inventions that Michael and Dwight listed. Though, I have to admit that I did not love that Michael was so awful last night in all the things he was doing/tried to do to Dwight. I personally prefer it when Michael has at least an ounce of sympathy/giving a crap for other people. Ah well. His actions definitely set up what is to come in future episodes, so he will reap what he sows….
I really liked this episode. Michael dressed as Willy Wonka was hilarious and so was the advice given to Kevin. My favorite line was when Dwight said he kept a diary to keep secrets from his computer! Ha! And Shoe-La-La omg too funny!
I almost always love Mindy Kaling’s episodes. I agree that the plot was great to relate to “real” office moments: a coworker saving their own butt by blaming another. And I loved how it blew up in Michael’s face and got everyone in the office rooting for Dwight. Also, Andy Buckley was incredible in this episode!
This was pretty much the best episode since mid-season 3. Season 5 has been disappointing overall, but what a treat this was… My faith is being restored.
i had the privledge to be on the set when they filmed last night’s episode, and i have to say the cast did spectatularly. Mindy is very talented. One of the scenes that i saw being filmed, but didn’t make it in the episode (hopefully it will be posted) was a play fight between Jim and Pam over Kevin’s dating advice. the scene was thrown out because Jenna thought it made Carol sound like she ate cheetos for lunch every day… i laughed
I loved this episode. From the cold open to the end. Michael dressed up like Willy Wonka dancing around the workplace was so funny. Definitely on of my favorites so far this season.
Yeah, Dwight keeping secrets from his computer was my favorite part. Also loved when MS was talking about the jelly beans. And I loved when Jim was telling DW that Michael had never seen the movie.
Ok, I think this episode is one of my favorites this season. Everyone was so perfectly in character. The Knock Knock jokes were sooooo funny. But my all time favorite moment of the night was when Dwight was getting praise from everyone in the office and…
Creed: Good job Kid
Dwight: Thanks old man
OH MY GOSH! My boyfriend and I played that over and over, that was just the best writing ever on a tv show. I loved it!!!! It was really a great episode. I want more like this from now on. Maybe Mindy should write all of the episodes. Oh and I loved that Andy was back I was missing him from the Valentine’s episode.
“Ding dong,” “Answer the door!” Hahaha! This was a great moment.
Awesome.
Michael swearing by the name of the movie, not the book. That line wrote itself. Mindy shouldn’t get residuals for that.
David Wallace….maybe he got demoted and didn’t tell anyone? Whatever the reason, keep bringin’ him back. He doesn’t know what to do with Michael; I’m surprised that he doesn’t look for any excuse not to talk to him. Has he ever had a successful encounter with him? At least Jan got a glimpse of his salesman savvy with The Client. What has David ever seen?
Poor NardDog…..
I loved the episode last night. It may not be that funniest but still it was good. I also like the scene where Jim stood for Dwight. He was very good at that.