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This was easily one of the best office episodes I’ve seen in a very long time! Brilliant stuff. “Left side of the list attack!” – I cried.
Jono (#181): Very well-said. I agree entirely. You take “Email Surveillance”, “Office Olympics” or some other random episode from season 2, and watch it right after “The List”… well, there’s simply no comparison. And I mean that literally–the season 2 and season 8 episodes are so dissimilar that it would be impossible to compare… like comparing apples to… some fruit that nobody’s ever heard of. It really is like a different show today. I don’t like it anywhere near as much as season 2, but it seems there are people who do, so I need to learn to accept the show’s totally new tone and direction.
I CAN’T believe someone finally mentioned Michael by name! I loved when Pam said that:)! I thought The Office wouldn’t be able to survive without Steve, but this episode is making me doubt that. I wasn’t happy when I heard Andy would be the manager, but he did quite well. I’ll still be skeptical until I see more episodes. I loved many of his lines! I can’t believe Angela is already pregnant. I hope Dwight’s the father. I wish the episode would’ve been longer because there was so much going on. I thought Stanley was way out of character with his new catch phrase. Some things that I really loved were: Dwight’s new daily routine, Dwight’s lists, Dwight stopping people from planking, and Kevin’s warnings. I’d really like to know how Robert talked Jo out of her job. I find that extremely difficult to believe and I’m going to miss Jo. I don’t know what to think of him yet. His creepiness is a little funny, but I didn’t like how he called certain people losers. I don’t think this episode had many laugh out loud moments, so I hope future episodes will be funnier. Good job B.J.!
This episode was fairly solid, but I feel like its a whole new show. It has lost has “reality” vibe and now just seems like regular sitcom. I feel the story arcs have gotten out of hand as well. I miss the old days where it actually felt like that were in a boring office selling paper products. The show is getting too “big”. Instead of being a show about office workers and the minutia they have to endure, its a show about eccentric personalities that happen to work at an office.
I loved this episode. Gotta lot of laughs out of it and that’s what I’m here for. Andy had a lot of great moments like chins up, his door knock, his pizza party reaction, and defending the Office. Dwight’s getting back to his usual self again. And the cold open was spectacular. Also, I believe Gabe didn’t even have any lines. So win win. The only thing that bugged me was Stanley’s catchphrase. Instead, I think they should bring back Andy’s “Nerrfffin” line and make it his catchphrase. He’s said it at least three times and every time he did it was freaking hilarious.
@Moseley – It was nit-picking, anyway. Andy was just searching for something nice to say about all the “losers”.
I’m just shocked nobody has mentioned his comment about Erin being his “confidant”. Hmm…does that mean they are having some alone time? Let the teeth grinding begin!!
@176 – I think he meant Stanley has consistently high sales, not consistently highest specifically.
I was surprised how much I enjoyed this first episode of the 8th season. The episode had to incorporate a lot of information to get us up and running with the new situation at DMS and they achieved that in the most time efficient manner. I like the idea that they just want to get over with the transition and get things on a normal track for the season…don’t dwell on the past just get to the new and developing dynamics in the show.
I liked Andy as manager better than I had expected to if he ended up with the job. Robert California could be a very interesting character. I love James Spader, but I wasn’t sure about this character as a full time addition…judging from the first episode I think he will be very interesting.
Just a few of those unanswered questions from my last post:
1- What did Robert say to Jo to convince her to give him her own job? (I guess they’re trying to keep him as mysterious as possible, behind the scenes.)
2- Why did Robert choose Andy, the worst salesman at the branch, as RM?
3- Where was the footage of Angela’s sham wedding? Was the best man, the (state) senator’s assistant, crying uncontrollably during the entire ceremony, and then did Oscar give a knowing look to the camera from the crowd? And what was Dwight’s demeanor?
Oh, and one more from the episode itself. Stanley consistently has the highest sales in the branch? Jim reached the commission cap a few months ago, and Dwight makes enough sales to buy the friggin’ office park! And Stanley does better than either of them? (Note to the showrunners: If you’re looking for a Story Continuity Consultant, I’m available!)
Even though it was never addressed in the episode, I’m thinking that Robert is working out of the conference room temporarily so he can evaluate Andy as the new RM. Once that’s done, he will move to Tallahassee (unless he also talked Jo into moving Corporate to Scranton!).
And as Gabe was once Jo’s lacky, he is now Robert’s. I’m assuming he is there to assist Robert in his evaluation, and will leave when Robert leaves. Then Gabe may be dropping by from time to time, with or without Robert, throughout the season.
And Jordan is apparently pursuing a career at Dairy Queen or In & Out Burgers (where she belongs!).
This was a good start to the season, but if ever an episode needed an hour to sort out some loose ends, this was it! Too much was crammed into 22 minutes of airtime, and too many unanswered questions.
If this episode is near the top of next summer’s Survivor Poll, something will have gone terribly wrong.
“The List” made me laugh several times, but at the same time it saddened me. This isn’t the same show that hooked me with classics like “The Dundies” or “The Fire”. It has lost its sense of being rooted in reality, and I can no longer identify with any of the characters as “real” people. When “The Office” is only about silly laughs and no longer aspires to really satirize the daily slog of life, what’s the point?
An enjoyable episode, but so weird without Michael.
Shocked: Angela is already married to the senator and preg (hope it’s Dwight’s).
Loved: Dwight’s book of pre-planned lists; Meredith’s idea that the list is “who we’re supposed to do it with” and Jim’s “That’s not it”; Dwight delighted that his name is on the left side; Andy’s heartwarming stand of defense for his fellow employees; Jim’s list.
Did not love: Stanley’s “shove it” line and hope it does not become repetitive; Gabe back in Scranton.
I haven’t laughed that much during an office episode in quite a while. I hope the rest of the season is as strong as this one was!
Overall not a bad episode. Stanley’s one liner kind of got old even after one use but I thought Kevin’s WARNING! was hilarious. Something I don’t get though is why Gabe is back. In last season’s finale Jo said that Gabe was going back to Florida with her and he left but now he’s back like nothing ever happened. I’m surprised that they didn’t even give an explanation on why he’s back.
I liked it. I don’t think the show will ever be able to live up to the belly laughs from some of the earlier seasons, but it’s a really high bar. Even a just-decent The Office is better than most of the crap on TV.
Pam was great – I’m roughly the character’s age with 2 small kids and what she said about how she used to be cute and interesting and a little funny, and now she is just a fat mom…that hit home so hard. I don’t know, maybe it all seemed like a little much with how much she was crying throughout the episode, but it really felt authentic to me.
@154 — you’re not wrong! I remember that they didn’t mention Michael after he left either (I hear a deleted scene did, but I haven’t seen it). It irked me they didn’t even acknowledge him after he left. :( I loved the reference to him in this episode!
I liked the episode too, but see Andy starting to act like Michael a bit. I’m curious to see where the season goes!
162: No, Angela is not pregnant in real life.
As for people complaining about Stanley’s catchphrase – I think the idea is that it’s supposed to get dumb and overbearing after one use. The Office is (smartly) going back to the archetypal American office it was in s2, and we all know that guy who runs a moderately funny thing into the ground.
I don’t know if anyone has mentioned this or not, but I really love how Andy earned the respect of his co-workers at the end of the episode. I know Michael was well liked, maybe even well loved by his co-workers, but I’m not sure he truly gained their respect. I’m glad Andy is the new manager. I think Season 8 is off to an exceptional start!
Exquisite episode from start to finish. :)
I loved that Stanley now had a catch phrase and tried to give his one-liner, now that Michael Scott has left, who always thought/wanted Stanley to be the funny black guy.
Eh, I didn’t think the premiere was funny. Much of the cast was way out of character. Really? Stanley with his line?
Pam was a caricature rather than a character. I enjoyed Robert California’s character at the end of Season 7, but I felt like he is acting more “over-jerkish” rather than “over-confident” in the Season 8 opener.
I enjoy Andy as manager, but I’m disappointed by the writing and directing of this episode. Hoping for a better season!