THE OFFICE: The Meeting

“I tried to keep Michael in the dark. I should have know that he can do just as much damage in the dark.”

Had last night’s episode of THE OFFICE stopped after the cold open I still would have loved it.  But it continued on for another 21 minutes and the absurdity and laughs kept on coming.  Toby and Dwight teamed up.  Jim took a big step in his career (maybe). Darryl committed corporate fraud. And Michael got stuffed in a cheese cart.  Just another typical day at THE OFFICE.

But we must start with the brilliant cold open.  I don’t know about you, but when I saw Oscar enter Michael’s office I instantly started to cringe.  There was just no way this was going to end well (and yes I know there is a colonoscopy joke in these somewhere). But the innocence and sincerity in which Michael asked about what to expect from his procedure had me in tears.

“In your experience, what should I be expecting, in terms of sensation. Or emotions. Is there anything I can do to make it more pleasurable for me? Or for Dr. Chaundry? My main concern is, should I have a safe word?

Cold Open

But Michael’s colonoscopy was the least of his worries, not with Jim and David Wallace having secret meetings.  Convinced the two were planning a coup, Michael did everything in his power to gain access to the meeting. I’m talking everything, including hiding in a cheese cart.  Kudos to the writers for including a little exposition about Scranton taking on the clients of the Buffalo branch.  It was just the little nod we needed to remind us why David Wallace puts up with the antics of Michael.

Michael was right.  Jim was meeting with David in an attempt to take over Michael’s job, but not without suggesting a promotion for Michael as well.  Not having that knowledge Michael picked up Jim, lifted him over his head and threw him under that big old oncoming bus.  He trashed Jim’s reputation with David Wallace by bringing out Jim’s employee evaluation, written by the jealous Toby, which talked about Jim’s disruptions and the amount of time he spent at reception (harsh, but not untrue).  After revealing to Michael that Jim suggested Michael for a promotion, Michael tried to back pedal with David, but it was a bit too late.  We observed as Jim walked David outside and presumably let him know that things probably weren’t going to go the way Jim suspected.

Jim confronted Michael about what he said to Wallace, and like a child Michael tried to divert attention by changing the subject (“Did you know that Lincoln’s secretary was named Kennedy?”). An angry Jim stormed out of the office but Michael followed explaining that he never put Jim up for a promotion in the past because he didn’t want to lose him…or Pam…and now that baby (ha!).  Jim stood his ground and together they called David Wallace to rectify the situation.  Wallace decided to make Michael and Jim co-managers of the Scranton branch.  A big promotion for Jim, and actually a demotion for Michael.

Despite some of the logical issues I had with this storyline, I can’t wait to see the evolution of this storyarc.  Michael and Jim, on equal footing with respect to control of the branch.  Jim with the ability to override some of Michael’s antics.  How will the office change?  Jim hasn’t really shown promise when it comes to being an authority figure within the office, so will he continue to trip over himself and alienate his co-workers…including Pam? Done right, this could really be a great foundation for the rest of the season.

If only Dwight weren’t so busy playing Columbo, he would have been aware of the power shift going on back in the office.  Always looking for a mystery to solve and someone to exploit, Dwight and Toby teamed up to see if Darryl’s workman’s comp claim was legit.  Toby and Dwight’s bonding moment was hilarious – complete with talk of trains and slaughterhouses – but when they were discovered outside the house after mistaking Darryl’s sister for the foreman himself, the physical comedy was fantastic. Toby should know better than to let that kind of excitement into his life.  It was never going to end well.

While her man was doing his best to better their lives with a promotion, Pam was doing her best to make sure her wedding goes as smooth as possible.  Initially that meant planning a destination wedding to Niagra Falls in hopes of her co-workers not attending.  But Michael gave the office a four day weekend if they went to the wedding. Pam, “People have to decide if they want to come to our wedding, or have to work.”  Unfortunately for the future Mr. & Mrs. Halpert, it looks like everyone is coming.  Including D-Bag Ryan, who bragged that he once had a glass of cognac more expensive than the cost per person of the wedding.  Why is he on the list again?  As for Meredith, since she can’t be bothered to look for the invitation she’s going just going to text Pam the morning of the wedding to get directions (easter egg throwback to THE OFFICE April Fools PSA…anyone?  anyone?). Oh and she’ll have the most expensive dinner on the menu, unless of course there are ribs.

Pam, I haven’t yet had a chance to return by RSVP card, but please know that I’ll be there on October 8th.  I wouldn’t miss it for anything.

Before yous tart getting dolled up for the wedding, a few more fantastic moments from last night.

• Michael: “You and Jim are close, huh?”
  Pam: “Yeah, I think the pregnancy really brought us together.”

• Andy: “If I may be so bold, it’s a lot of fun to let the goldfish take a little swim in the blue cheese. Bon apetit.”

• Michael: “Jim is like Big Bird. He is tall and yellow and nice.” …. “Big Bird doesn’t make the tough decisions.”

• Andy: “I’m int this weird, flirty, nebulous thing with this cousin of mind and it’s a total mind effer.”

• Jim: “So instead you screwed me.”
  Michael: “That’s what she said.”
  Jim: “No.

• Michael: “If you’re lying to me, right now, Pam, your baby is gonna come out a liar. That’s how it works. They inherit things through the breast milk.
  Pam: Please don’t talk about my breast milk.

Are you ready for the new co-managers…of your butt? Do you think Jim promotion will have an effect on the rest of the season? What other strange tidbits of Andy’s life will be revealed next? It seems that Kelly’s obsession with Ryan is on its way back. Are you ok with that? Will you be going to Jim and Pam’s wedding, and if so what would you like for dinner?