Recap: The Office, Episode 5-1

I saw the Pam other-lover storyline coming a mile away. Last season, the show had lost some of the emotional edge that it had in Seasons 2 & 3 because really, this show should've ended when Pam and Jim got together at the end of Season 3. That had been the emotional crux of the show and since that had been resolved, the show should've ended naturally. Of course, that's not how it works in American television so The Office chugged along. But last season struggled to find something to fill the void left by Pam & Jim's relationship. The show tried two different story arcs--Michael and Jan's relationship and the love triangle between Dwight, Andy, and Angela--to produce some sort of emotional resonance but neither worked because everyone hates Jan and no one gives a shit about Dwight, Andy, and Angela on an emotional level because they're all obnoxious (albeit hilarious) characters. While I like the fact that Jim proposed to Pam this episode, I know that the show is only setting Jim up for even more massive heartbreak later in the season when he catches Pam whoring herself out like Angela or something to her newfound college buddy. I can see Jim now, busting into Pam's lecture hall and rushing her new BFF who has a thing for her, a la how Roy rushed Jim in Season 3. It's pretty crap that the show fucks Jim over like this, especially since they introduced the Michael-Holly dynamic, which is something that we can really get behind (how can you not support the possibility of more rap duets from Michael and Holly?) and something that might actually achieve the same level of emotional investment/tension as the Pam-Jim courtship in the first three seasons. I just hope that the show doesn't fall into some kinda Ross-Rachel cycle because that would be just freakin lame.

And speaking of lame, how the hell did Ryan get back on? As a temp? WtF? Combined with the inevitable breakup between Pam & Jim, it's like they're trying to bring The Office back full circle so they can rehash it over and over again.

On the bright side, one element I was glad to see again was the resurgence of the Dwight-Michael-Ryan triangle (..... that's what she said?). Season 4 was wrought with too little of Dwight and what little we did get was emo-Dwight, whining over that ho-bag Angela. I thought he was funnier kissing ass to Michael than he was when crying over Angela so I hope this old dynamic will bring a greater focus on Dwight's ass-kissing adventures.

Overall, it's as interesting as last season's premiere and while I liked some of the elements from past seasons, I wouldn't want them playing it too safe with the show. Hopefully, Kevin gets to bang Holly after all and they shift focus to him because dude is hilarious and he deserves to win one every now and then.