The Office"Money"
Original Air Date: October 18, 2007
Lauren - TwoCents Staff Writer
The Office ended its run of hour-long episodes this week with "Money", written by Paul Lieberstein. I hate to break it to you Dunderheads, but the reviews for Season 4 thus far have been not so great. Our little mid-range North-Eastern Penn. based paper company can't seem to catch a break as TV Guide jeers Jim and Pam for being dull, Slate says Ryan is a one-dimensional villain, LA Times thinks Michael's antics are over the top, and pretty much everyone agrees the hour-long format hasn't done the show any favors. Now, it will take a lot to make me stop loving this show, but I have been worried that Jim's little quip about the magic being gone in "Dunder Mifflin Infinity" has become a self-fulfilling prophecy. But that's the thing about The Office; just when I start to have doubt, they hit me with an episode that leaves me smiling, satisfied, and wanting more.
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The Office
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Original Air Date: October 18, 2007
Lauren - TwoCents Staff Writer
The Office ended its run of hour-long episodes this week with "Money", written by Paul Lieberstein. I hate to break it to you Dunderheads, but the reviews for Season 4 thus far have been not so great. Our little mid-range North-Eastern Penn. based paper company can't seem to catch a break as TV Guide jeers Jim and Pam for being dull, Slate says Ryan is a one-dimensional villain, LA Times thinks Michael's antics are over the top, and pretty much everyone agrees the hour-long format hasn't done the show any favors. Now, it will take a lot to make me stop loving this show, but I have been worried that Jim's little quip about the magic being gone in "Dunder Mifflin Infinity" has become a self-fulfilling prophecy. But that's the thing about The Office; just when I start to have doubt, they hit me with an episode that leaves me smiling, satisfied, and wanting more.
First let's recap: In the cold opener, Michael has taken on the attitude of Meryl Streep's character in "Devil Wear's Prada". Pam explains that he's watching at the office and clearly relates to the character. But then Michael comes in acting mellower, apologizes for treating Pam poorly and says "I want what's best for you, Menouska." Pam realizes he meant "Mo Cuishle" which means Michael's watching Million Dollar Baby, then grimly says, "He's gonna try to kill me." It was funny (as long as you get the reference), but far from topping last week's brilliant bouncing box cold opener.
Jan is redecorating Michael's place, and Michael doesn't have the guts to voice his money concerns to her. Meanwhile Jim discovers that Dwight is running a bed and breakfast. Oh, excuse me, "agro-tourism" business. Pam calls Dwight to jokingly inquire about a room, but the next thing you know, Jim and Pam have made reservations at Schrute Farm.
Michael acts a bit mysterious as he leaves the office and boards a bus supposedly for improv class. But the cameras follow to reveal Michael working at a telemarketing center. The center seems oddly familiar as Michael sits in a useless meeting with the boss, who no one really likes or listens to, teasing Michael about never making a sale. The humiliations stack up for Michael as he is chewed out by his boss for not following the script and makes a sales call to a certain Mr. Hudson.
Jim and Pam drive to the Schrute Bed and Breakfast, a quaint little farm and farm house with themed rooms, beet wine, and a wild Mose running alongside the cars. Schrute Farm doesn't seem to be a great place to sleep, though, as Jim and Pam are kept up all night by the outhouse door flapping in the breeze and a weird wailing sound that turns out to be Dwight (clutching a cherub figurine only Angela would love).
The next day, Michael, Dwight, Jim and Pam are exhausted when Ryan comes in on a Red Bull wave. Michael was supposed to give a presentation using PowerPoint, but it's clear he never even opened the software. The truth comes out about Michael's second job, and, after a spirited "whoever/whomever" debate, Ryan tells Michael to quit the telemarketing job or he's fired.
Kelly now has a thing with Darryl that Darryl observes only goes on when Ryan's around. She approaches the relationship with her usual selfish/jealous/immature style, but when Darryl tells her to "access her non-crazy side" she doesn't quite understand his "game" of telling her what he's actually thinking.
Andy continues his, um, courtship of Angela by moonwalking past her desk, and, more effectively, giving her a cat he found in the warehouse (Garbage, is that you?).
The office knows about Michael's money troubles, and Creed gives him the advice to declare bankruptcy. So Michael literally declares "Bankruptcy!" Oscar sits down with him to actually look at the debt Michael's racked up with purchases of useless items. Oscar also breaks the news to Jan over the phone that Michael is broke. Jan starts criticizing Michael, but Michael hears a train and then leaves the office.
After witnessing Andy give Angela a cat, Dwight is as down as ever. Pam and Jim try to cheer him up by posting a positive review of the bed and breakfast on the internet, but fall short. When Angela gives Andy permission to ask her out, Dwight runs out of the office. Jim finds Dwight crying in the stairwell and confesses that he was completely torn up over Pam when he left Scranton, and he wouldn't wish that on anyone, not even Dwight. Jim leaves the stairwell then gets a determined look on his face as he walks back into the office and straight to reception to kiss Pam.
Jan speeds into the parking lot and then runs to find Michael at the train yard. Michael explains his plan to just run away from his debt. Jan tells him that he can't run away from his problems. She then tells him that he was the only one who was there for her when she was fired, so she's going to be there for him.
Dwight emerges from the stairwell, sits at his desk and proceeds to push Jim's stuff back to his side of the desk as he calls a client.
I don't think "Money" is going to be remembered as a particularly funny episode. But after the borderline absurd antics in the last three episodes, it's a welcome reminder of why I fell in love with this show; it's ability to juxtapose quirky comedy with real human emotion. There's no other show where in one episode you have something as ridiculously weird and funny as Mose running alongside a car like a golden retriever coexist with something as touching and heart-wrenching as Jim telling Dwight he knows what it's like to suffer from a broken heart. Cartoon- caricature Michael finally took a break this week and clueless, insensitive but somehow always well-meaning Michael was back, and it was good to see him. There were no cars in lakes, no kidnapped pizza boys, just normal (well, almost normal) people at a boring job interacting with each other. That's all this Office Fan wants. That and maybe ice cream.
Favorite Quote: Pam: Jim's just really passionate about Italian food.
Jim: Yep, I'm very passionate about Italian food. In fact, um, I'm in
love with Italian food.
Favorite Moment: Jim and Dwight in the stairwell.
Overall Episode Grade: A+
great review
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