THE OFFICE Season Finale: Company Picnic
May 14, 2009 by Kath Skerry
The following contains SPOILERS for tonight’s season final of THE OFFICE. Read at your own will.
And with that, another season of THE OFFICE ends. I’m finding it quite difficult to write with my heart beating out of my chest. I did NOT see that ending coming, did you? Kudos once again to the OFFICE peeps for keeping stunners like that under wraps. (This is me being purposefully vague as not to spoil anyone until after the jump.)
The annual Dunder Mifflin company picnic brought together all the DM branches for a fun day in the sun. It also meant the reunion of Michael Scott and Holly Flax. And just as she was when she first showed up in Scranton, Amy Ryan was superb. I understand Amy is a big time movie actress but she is so pitch perfect for this show that it’s an absolute shame that she’s not a series regular. The chemistry she has with Steve Carell is impenetrable. And she gets Holly. I don’t know how she didn’t win the Emmy last year for Best Guest Actress in a Comedy but she needs to take home the statue this year.
Much to the chagrin of Michael (and OFFICE fans everywhere), Holly is still very much with her Nashua branch boyfriend/co-worker, A.J.. Michael tries his best to be nice but he can’t quite fully commit himself to it. But he does manage to get his “soup snake” all alone when he signs them up to do a skit for the company picnic. The two of them share some intimate moments before, during and after their skit (more of that hot mess later), but Michael managed to hold back. Michael has always been able to keep it together when it comes to Holly. Not to say he hasn’t acted a fool, he has – mostly encouraged by Holly herself. But whether it was a stifled “that’s what she said” on the ferris wheel or not begging her to take him back in tonight’s episode, Michael has always played it cool with Holly. I like to believe that in his heart of hearts he knows she’s the one. Perhaps he believe in the adage “if it’s meant to be, it will be.”
That adage holds so true for the office’s other “soup snakes”, Jim Halpert and Pam Beesly. Tonight in a truly surprising and emotional scene the two found out they were having a baby! Jim and Pam are having a baby! I had to type it twice because I still don’t believe it’s real. Then again, I guess I don’t know if it’s real. We certainly didn’t hear them say the words. The audience was told beautifully through the incredible reactions of Jenna Fischer and John Krasinski. Once again kudos to Krasinski for some especially touching acting. The labored breathing, tear-filled eyes, and voice cracking while he was talking to Dwight on the phone had me a little choked up myself.
With a little Beesly-Halpert baby on the way, I wonder if the audience will ever see the wedding of Jim and Pam. Was this the writers’ way of getting out of doing a wedding episode? Will the twosome come back married in the Fall? I think it could happen. Jenna Fischer has said many times that she’s not sure it would hold true that Jim and Pam would have a big wedding in front of the camera crew. She imagined perhaps us seeing a glimpse of the wedding from afar, with no sound. Maybe a little like tonight’s baby announcement. Of course I’m speculating here, but maybe the writers didn’t want the pressure of another episode dedicated to a wedding. With a baby on the way, they are off the hook a little as we the audience would certainly accept that Jim and Pam got married a little quicker than expected. But for the record, I want a full on cheesy wedding with lots of chair dancing! Do you hear me, Kaling – chair dancing and weddings!!
Angela might not be up for dancing but will she be up for some beet farming? Tonight the stage was set for a possible Dwangela reunion. Yes, please! As someone who has complained that the Dwight/Angela/Andy storyline was left with a few jagged edges I’m all for forgiving and forgetting if it means D and Monkey are reunited.
This mini recap/review is comin’ at ya after only my first viewing of the episode (and maybe my 10th viewing of the baby scene). As we all know there is just no way to catch everything the first time around. Plus, I was moderating a live OFFICE chat while watching so I need a little bit more “me” time with “Company Picnic”. But I have to say that I adored this episode. The baby Halpert news was icing on the most delicious cake. As always THE OFFICE delivered one pretty fantastic season finale which will have fans talking and speculating (and planning virtual baby showers) all summer long. Not to mention the daydreaming we’ll be doing about watching Jim hold his baby. Le sigh.
A few other favorite moments…(more to be added after subsequent viewings).
- Big kudos to Jennie from OfficeTally.com who not only had the privilege of being an extra in this episode but earned a few close-ups! How awesome it that? Congrats, Tanster!
- The awesomeness of Dwight playing vollyeball? His competitive nature coupled with his manipulative ways was a thing of beauty. Kicking the volleyball into the forest – classic!
- The minute the nurse was wheeling Pam away and asked if she could be pregnant I knew how the episode would end. But as I said before, Jenna & John made it so special that I was a-ok with the foreshadowing.
- My only complaint about tonight’s episode was that despite the whole cast being present and accounted for, most were woefully underutilized. No Kelly/Ryan interaction. Hardly any Oscar, Creed…although we did see Meredith flaunt herself once again. That woman would live naked 24/7 if she could.
- It’s nice that Dwight has a best friend – Rolf. Too bad Rolf is mean to Angela! Then again it was out of loyalty to Dwight. I think I like Rolf. Now that Mose is running things over at PARKS AND RECREATION, I hope we see a little more of Rolf next season.
- Oh I take back my earlier statement that I only had one complaint. I have another. This episode should have been an hour long. I’m not an advocate of all episodes being an hour but I think the season finale should have been. Ok I’m done now. (I think).
- Toby and Kendall!! Of course they’re exactly alike.
- There’s really just no way to pull off a Slumdog Millionaire skit at a company picnic. I should know, I’ve tried. But hey I can’t blame Holly & Michael. Torture is always funny. Ruining the lives of the Buffalo branch during their company outing…not so funny.
More favorite moments and quotes right after I spend some time visualizing Jim Halpert holding a baby.
Thoughts on tonight’s episode? I’m expecting some squeeing for sure? Did this episode work for you as a finale? Favorite moments, quotes, etc?
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Woefully underwhelmed. What a let down…
I loved it, but why in the world would they only make the ep a halfhour? i mean, so much excellent content, that could have all been used in a full hour episode….We barely saw Creed, Kelly, Ryan, and a few others….Plus the Andy/Erinn (Errindy? Endy?) and Dwangela scenes had potential to be dragged on… But John Krasinski: Oh wow. And geez Amy Ryan, come back to us! ( Jim should have spiked the ball in Charles’ face too.)
I think i read an interview (i think it was your boy JK) where he said that the show would not slip into cheesy sitcom territory, that basically, there would never be an episode where Dwight was his best man, stuff like that. And i think that is why we might not ever see a wedding episode for Jim and Pam, and I’m okay with that, I guess. I need to watch Casino Night again. I haven’t seen that in a long time, and it was so freaking mind blowing at the time. Thanks for doing the live chat.
so, no… i guess I didn’t see that coming.
but… did I care? Nope.
What a shitty episode. The last two episodes were complete trash. What a waste, after the wonderful mid-season Michael Scott Paper Company arc.
After reading these comments I guess I’m in the minority here but I thought the episode was great. It was a little too shmaltzy at times but still very funny. I think they could have done a lot more with an hour long episode.
I hate that Holly came back because it was a reminder of how awesome she and Michael are together.
I’m with you GMMR, I wish we saw more of the rest of the office cast.
I also like that the writers weren’t afraid of getting Pam pregnant before Jim and Pam were married. There was no pointless conversation about whether or not they wanted a baby. The Office always stays away from the cliches and i love that.
I mean no matter their mistakes I am truely devoted to the office but i have to say…it definitly should have been an hour, I mean season 5 was just such a big season with soooooooooooooooooo soo soo much in it that there was so many things left unturned that really should have been resolved in the finale..I mean after the whole dwight/angela/andy thing there was really no talk between them afterwards so it was really good to see a possibilty of dwight and angela gettting back together :] also kelly/ryan/andy? what is going on with that they really should have gave us something-especially no interaction with kelly since ryan has come back? I mean I was really looking forward to that since his leaving for “Taiwan” was so short…and rolf (so cute with his dwight-ness) ahah i wouldnt have been suprised to see a short little “thing” go on with him in meredith after that cute “tap” when he called her into the volleyball game. it also would have been nice if they threw in a little more creed and oscar….now best for last michael and holly (Molly) soooo cute I loved it-it was essentially perfect except for the fact that theyre really didnt seem to be any confirmation for them to reunite in the next season Holly looked “a little-too-happy” with her new Nashua boyfriend for my taste (moving a little too fast too) AND THE ABSOLUTE BEST PART JIM AND PAM. I STILL CANNOT BREATHE. pregnant? PREGNANT?!?!?!? are we hearing-oh wait no i mean SEEING this right!?!!?!!!?!? omg OMG i really was not expecting this up until now until Dwight tells Jim too take Pam to the hospital oh god..A baby for jim and pam? it really couldnt get better..but BEWARE this does not get the writers off the hook for JAM’S wedding- i expect to be there for all of it ( I even have predictions of Dwight being Jims best man?..i know he has brothers but think about it..I mean he is the first person he called after hearing of the great news of their baby, volleyball game or not) ahah atleast this gets Pam off the hook for her deal with Michael (she promises him if she didnt have a baby in 30 years shed have one with him :p as a joke)
oh yes so much more to write and so little time..i dont know what im going to do..i already CANNOT wait for season 6
on another note though..what about the mysterious “glove” lady michael met from donating blood on valentines day?..whose friends with erin and showed up at cafe disco?..im sure the genious writers have a nice little twist for her worked in somewhere..
well BRAVO to another amazing season looking forward too manyy moree <3
I gotta say I was pretty disappointed in this episode. Too much plot, not enough character moments (No Kelly?? No Creed?? No Kelly-Ryan reunion??). And while I enjoyed Dwight’s stalling tactics, overall the ep just wasn’t very funny. And the fact that Holly is probably moving in with her new boyfriend is really depressing too – I mean sheesh, she sure moved on really fast! And the Holly-Michael skit was just painful, not really painful-funny.
I do agree that the Jim-Pam scene in the hospital was beautifully done – as well done as the proposal scene, IMO – but I was just so disappointed with this season overall that the moment just didn’t mean as much to me, I hate to say it. What a disappointing season… no doubt largely because of the absence of Greg Daniels and Mike Schur in the writers room. Sigh.
I thought that this episode was lovely (though too short). Not necessarily laugh-out-loud funny throughout, but really well-written and well-acted. I knew once she went for an x-ray that finding out that she was pregnant was a possibility, as if you aren’t 100% sure, they will do a pregnancy test. But what a lovely way to show that moment. And a quiet, understated wedding (with some photos or far-away video) sounds about right.
Surprised to see a lot of negative comments. I really enjoyed this episode. The Office has become so much more than a weekly comedy. The characters have evolved over the past 5 seasons to the point where I don’t need a laugh a minute- I’m already invested enough to care about what happens to them. I do think that they should have done an hour long for the finale though-there was so much going on for just 22 minutes. And I have to say- any other show would have me worried about a pregnancy storyline. But The Office writers have proved over and over again that they can be original with usual cliche storylines. Being a fan since season 2 I can’t believe the show is going into season 6 next fall! 😮 It seems like only yesterday that I started watching the show.
LOVED IT! It was short, but full of awesome.
As far as office season finales go, it was maybe the worst, but with competition like Hot Girl, Casino Night, The Job, and Goodbye Toby that’s not necessarily a knock against it.
I enjoyed the episode from start to finish and found it all very funny, but the Jim and Pam relationship kinda bores me. Steady and loving relationships have no juice. I felt happy for the characters, but i was kind of a yawn for me (not to minimize some top shelf acting from Mr. Krasinski).
On a side note–i thought for the first time in it’s short history, parks and recreation out shined it’s older brother the office.
All that said, i thought it was a quality episode and did what the office does best: bring the funny. I’m already looking forward to season 6.
I totally loved this episode, though I agree that it should have been longer to give some of the other characters more screentime. Michael’s ending monologue about Holly made me want to give him a big hug. The prospect of a Jim/Pam baby is going to keep me grinning throughout the summer. When they first went to the hospital, I actually was like, “Oh, they’re trying to trick us into thinking she’s pregnant.” Turns out? I was overthinking that one. John and Jenna OWNED that scene. Somebody give them Emmys immediately! And post the clip online so I can watch it over and over!
The pregnancy scene was epic! Sooo great. Any bets on whether the “Jambino” will be a boy or girl? Personally, I hope girl.
PS– Jambino!!! Awesome name for Jim/Pam spawn, right? AndIHaveWorms came up with it in the officetally.com chatroom . . . . .
bravo!!!!!!!
As someone who started off being a huge JAM fan, I became so jaded on Jim and Pam a long time ago. I actually prefer that we don’t see a wedding, or see it how Jenna described. As someone mentioned above, do I care that they are having a baby? Absolutely not.
I will have to watch this episode again because there were three loud kids in the room while I was watching it, but like Cafe Disco last week, I was pretty disappointed with this episode. I’ve thought that most of the episodes, with a few weak sub-plots, have been really strong since the super bowl. However, these last two episodes really failed, in my opinion. I do think that Amy Ryan is amazing and I actually wish the cliffhanger this season would have involved Michael and Holly, rather than Jim and Pam. That said, John and Jenna’s acting were great and I loved seeing Pam’s competitiveness come out in the volleyball game.
I had a “CAPSLOCK party” with my friends during/after this episode. We were all to effing excited over what happened.
And the Jim/Dwight hug and their hate-hate-love realtionship is the best. 😀
Oh, and John’s acting was superb! It was… excellent to say the least. No words can describe that scene. And the no sound was pfect.
Does anybody know the name of Dwight’s friend, his real name?
I cannot believe that the finale was only a half hour? WTF? To do something that grand as a multi-state company picnic, with all those fantastic characters in one place– I felt undeniably short changed. Yes it was tight. Yes it was quick. But GMMR, you’re totally right, there could have been so much more!
I’m on the same page as you…. doing the 4 hour eps in a row last year was not good. In fact… it yielded some of our weakest eps. But on the flip side? Hour long Christmas and Finale shows have been some of their strongest!
We was robbed. But OMG, I didn’t think I could fall in love with Jim/Jkrans any more than I am but wait for it…… I just did. Prego Pam? Adoreable. Jim holding a baby? Stop my beating heart. Cannot wait!
Samantha – I don’t know his name but it was bugging me where I knew him from. Remembered this morning – he was Charlotte’s pervy shoe salesman in a Sex and the City episode.
“Jambino” might be the best thing I have ever read.
Off the top of my head…What if Jenna Fischer is expecting and instead of hiding it, the writers have decided to make it part of the plot?
Jambino is perfect, just came to me last night during an OfficeTally chat! Spread it around, it HAS to be the official nickname for the Jam baby!
Thank you foggymoontour. I thought thats what he was from.
Just a thought that maybe the season premire will pick back up at the company picnic?? I would like to know who won the vollyball game.
I loved this season finale! It was a pretty unexpected ending, but as soon as they said they were going to the hospital I thought she might be pregnant. I wish this episode would have been an hour long as well. Overall I think it was a great way to end the season though. I can’t wait until the next season starts again. It seems so far away. I hope Jim and Pam are not already married next season. I want to see a big JAM wedding.
diahern: wow, I never thought of that! Good call…I’ll do some research 🙂
I liked this episode. I thought it was very funny, but also heartwarming. The only problem I had was with the fact (like most of you said) that they only gave attention to a small group of characters.
I loved Michael’s monologue at the end…and I hope it comes true! It sounded an awful lot like the Jim/Pam romance…
Speaking of which, the last seen where Pam (may or may not have) found out she was pregnant was some of the best acting I’ve seen, ever, of any show, movie, or play I’ve seen. Such emotion!! There weren’t even any words heard!
bubblewrap, you hit the nail on the head. I completely agree with you!
Bubblewrap -Yes! Exactly…
Andrea -Thank you! Share whatever info you find out!
OK, this first comment is EXTREMELY important and so far I haven’t seen anybody call out JK on this (haven’t read every word of every comment). Why does Jim not KISS the mother-to-be? A REAL kiss on the lips, not a peck on the cheek. Why is it that every supposedly “intimate” scene between them only has them hugging or kissing on the cheek. It is so awkward, like the actors don’t want to do it or something. Yes, the scene was AWESOME, but that was a very important detail that was missing. Other than that, Kras knocked it out of the park. Especially the phone call part and the tears. But, for “soup snakes” they show very little affection.
The silence between Michael and Holly, where he was going to, but didn’t tell her what he had planned to say…..Casino Night—-, anyone? The silence wasn’t quite as long, but still a big chunk of time with a lot of plot but no words. You know that he realizes how it can’t be now for him and Holly. But her reaction of “I can’t wait (for next year)” says it all. That was a great scene. Michael’s summarization of their situation….The Notebook?
Now we leave the door open for the return of Holly (when Amy Ryan’s schedule permits) and yet Michael can pursue other interests (Blood Drive lady?)
It would have been so overly cheesy if Michael had broken up AJ and Holly. Glad they made it realistic.
Loved:
Ryan batting down the ball to concentrate on his phone call
Pam being a jock (not believable, but I still loved it)
Jim and Dwight’s hug!
Dwight asking Pam which hand she writes with and talking to her like she’s 3…”back off, Dwight”
Dwight kicking the ball in “anger”, then cheerfully saying “I’ll get it!” and taking miniscule steps to try and stall
Jim and Dwight working together to stall corporate (working together on anything is pure magic for those two)
The more I watch, the more I’m realizing that my favorite two “couples” to watch are:
*Michael and Pam
*Jim and Dwight
When those “couples” work together it seems to make me the happiest.
“OK, next on our to-do list: Song Parodies….”
“Yes, OK. My Stumps. It’s My Humps, but a guy with no arms and legs….”
Can’t wait til next season! Mark my words, Jim and Pam are already married. Will they tell people at work that she is PG? I hope not. Remember when Jim didn’t tell the office that they were engaged and Pam made him tell everyone? That didn’t get a great round of applause or anything. They will NOT tell anyone that they are expecting. Who figures it out first? Maybe Creed?
Toast with Jam – I am guessing that maybe they didn’t want to start making out with the doctor right there. Also, for some couples, holding each other in an embrace feels closer than kissing.
Did I say they should make out? A kiss on the lips would be a reaction that the doctor would expect. Not a deep tongue kiss, just a real kiss.
I agree with tessa, Jim and Pam’s embrace was much more loving than a kiss could be, for what their relationship is. Different couples show their love for each other in different ways. Some will kiss on the lips at every opportunity, and some will save that for their private times ;). I like the fact that Jim and Pam have ways besides a kiss. I think it shows that their relationship is more than just a sexual attraction (though I’m not saying that couples who kiss all the time aren’t, you understand), in a way that is perfect for the television medium. But at the same time, there is that kind of intimacy as well. Remember when Jim told Dwight all about how he felt in the first few seasons, then got up immediately to go kiss Pam? And what about Casino Night?
Also (not to turn this into a manifesto), but I feel like it’s more in character for Jim and Pam to be less exhibitory with their relationship. They’ve always been somewhat more guarded in front of the cameras (I always thought Jim puts on more of an act for the documentary crew than he lets on) than, say, Michael.
Lastly, if you found the scene in the doctor’s office to be “awkward” … ? I can only assume I misread your comment.
ONE OF THE OFFICE’S BEST EPISODES ! ! ! !
YOU DESERVE ANOTHER GOLDEN GLOBE GUYS ~ ! ! !
This episode was horrible…the ending was the most horrible, who at that moment cared about Jim and Pam, the whole episode was about Micheal, and then at the end they pulled that outa they’re ass, just like they pulled the paper company getting bought out, outa they’re ass, the whole 2nd half of this season has been LAME, its like they are scraping the bucket for something left. How is a baby gona make that big of a difference in the next season, what are they gona have, just episodes where Pam is pregnant and sick or something, or is the baby just gona be out the next season and they just gona carry it around everywhere. totally lame, they wasted all the good things in the middle of the season and should have had one epic season finale where dwight interupts angela’s wedding, and holly shows up heart broke and ends up with micheal, the season finale should have been totaly epic, this was LAME
dwighty- i have to disagree. jam is like, the main reason many people watch the show! also, the episode was really great, classic the office. albeit it couldve been llonger, it still kicked alot of ass. showed people that even though micheal can be a bad, jerky boss , he has a good heart. i hope he reunites with holly, because then micheal would truly be happy 🙂
great hopes for next season? YES. with a JAM wedding in the fall [ spoiler i read] and a little JAM baby[ need a NICKNAME! ] [ what about sperm and jam? spam? ] plus i heard ryan comes back into it near march with a ‘tropic thunder ‘ – like entrance, [ hes getting plastic surgery so what could it be? ] season six is sure to be one to remember in the history of the office.