Tori’s Review: The Negotiation

“I’m gonna kill Jim Halpert.”

Five long Thursdays to think about that statement. Would Roy tackle him? Would Pam warn Jim? Would she cry over his broken body and confess her love? Hell, no. This is not Friday Night Lights. Before Roy could get in one punch, Dwight took him down with an impressive amount of pepper spray.

Back on the comedy track.

While we laughed, I think it was a rough weekend for our Dunder Mifflin buddies. Pam pondered life choices, Roy looked for a new job, and Michael bought a woman’s suit.

Unfortunately, there’s no Wikipedia advice about negotiating a raise while wearing boot cut pants with a hint of stretch to the material. Darryl caught on to Michael’s faux pas and wouldn’t let go. I really enjoy these two characters together, and it was great to see them finally share a storyline.

Darryl’s a no-nonsense guy. He wanted a raise — he asked for it. Michael would be such a better human being if he absorbed a little of this quality. Instead, his ridiculous tactics to not talk about money only resulted in him handing over his measly pay stub for scrutiny — and pictures.

Again, Darryl stepped up and decided it was time for Michael to “get out there and earn, son.” They packed up Toby, who sadly chose a hammering over Kelly and Ryan, and set out to show Jan that Michael wears her pants. Did I get that wrong?

The rest of the office dealt with the (almost) fight of the century! Pam didn’t want to talk about it, but Angela couldn’t get enough of the sordid details. I wish every episode could be forty minutes if it meant we’d get more insight into the bizarre mind of Angela Martin.

Jim tried to find a way to thank Dwight, but all he had to do was — nothing. Forget keeping the secret. Dwight doesn’t care if his and Angela’s relationship is out. The real “thank you” is that finally after more than year, Dwight probably got to third base. It is cute and gross at the same time.

As much as I’m not convinced Roy would go from, “I’m gonna kill Jim Halpert” to “You’re not going to try to go out with him?” in less than a week, I am happy to see Roy leave on a decent note. He is an oblivious oaf, but I have always felt he loved Pam. It’s sad when even he can see she is too chicken to go after what she wants.

I know, I know, I was the one who got up here a few weeks ago and went on about Pam’s big “Oprah moment.” I stand by it. Girlfriend’s just taking longer than I thought. But she did spend ten years in a relationship that probably ended at five, and she’s probably hated her job since about week three. She’s not moving fast, but she’s moving.

And Jim’s not making it easy for her. I know he still loves her, I’m just not so sure he likes her very much right now. She has let him down too many times. Pam is going to have to step up to convince him she is ready for anything more.

In the end, with the help of Jan, Michael learned a little bit of Darryl’s character. When you want something — ask for it. Hell, ask for more than you think you will get. Just ask for it.

Now I just hope some of that will rub off on Pam.

TWSS.

Tori Weber is a Web Producer and writer for a television news station in Orlando, FL. Writing keeps her sane, and ice cream makes her happy. Dogs are good too. Visit her here.

26 comments

  1. Very well put, Tori!
    On the second (or third) viewing, I was stricken by the sadness of Pam and Roy’s farewell. Don’t get me wrong: I’m along for the JAM ride, just where the writers want us, but the admission of a failed relationship certainly struck a chord with me.
    As for Roy’s sudden change of mood, he had had a weekend to think about the loss of his job, the loss of trust with all at Dunder-Mifflin, the loss of Pam, and the lunacy of what he had done. I can buy the idea of his remorse.
    All in all, I was very impressed with “The Negotiation”. It had it all: emotion, humor, depth.
    Can’t wait for “Safety Training”!

  2. Ah, I have missed reading yours and writing mine! Great review, as always. I loved your Wikipedia observation! There is no advice about negotiating a raise while wearing boot cut pants with a hint of stretch to the material!

    Very good insight into Pam as well. When people want to get frustrated with her, they should remember what you said…her relationship with Roy was probably over by year five but it took her until year ten to end it. When you compare her growth this season to that, she is WAY ahead of the game!

    Great job, Tori! :-)

  3. I pretty sure Dwight and Angela were at least on home base by Email Surveillance. Can’t miss the burkenstocks a knockin’

  4. I love how you point out that the surface theme is echoed by something a bit deeper – negotiation is asking for what you want. Darryl’s asking. Michael’s asking. Who should be asking for what she wants? Pam.

  5. Two things to note –

    In the scene where Pam apologizes to Jim in the break room, Jim goes from having no hands in his pocket in one shot to having his right hand in his right pocket in the next instant, virtually a quarter of a second. Clearly a filming error.

    Secondly, if you note in the scene where Kevin and Creed are giving Michael the money he “needs”, there is a tomato in the vending machine. A tomato?? WTF? :)

  6. Good review, though FNL rocks, and is not over-dramatic. I would say Heroes is the better melodramatic show(and by better, I mean its melodramatic, not that its a good show, I don’t think it is, lol. Heroes, not FNL.)

  7. Very well done, Tori!! Since nothing I write here would improve or add anything to what you’ve written, I’ll look for the period button now.

  8. Very good review, thanks.

    Frits: That filming mistake you found is nice, hehe, but that “tomato” could be anything, imo.

  9. Great review!! And nice to see I’m not the only Orlando Office fan…I was beginning to doubt. =)

  10. great review! – the part about Pam letting Jim down to many times was right on

  11. Your recaps rock! Thanks so much! This episode was one of the best all season–laughed my head off and was still giggling about Creed’s “so the big fella pulls out a sock filled with nickels” speech the next day. While the little ribbon of reality is getting dragged in a mud puddle right now, I too am standing by your prediction of our girl’s “big oprah moment.” Maybe it’s been coming at a snail’s pace, but it’ll be here sometime soon.

  12. “I wish every episode could be forty minutes if it meant we’d get more insight into the bizarre mind of Angela Martin.” Touche.
    There have been many Angela moments that I have loved. But the Angela in this episode was by far the most entertaining!
    Awesome re-cap, Tori. As usual. I have missed the re-caps as much as I’ve missed the episodes :)

  13. Great review. Roy & Pam saying there last goodbyes (maybe) hit pretty close to home.

    I agree that Roy is kind of clueless, but he would never do anything to really hurt Pam.

  14. “Girlfriend’s just taking longer than I thought. But she did spend ten years in a relationship that probably ended at five, and she’s probably hated her job since about week three. She’s not moving fast, but she’s moving.”

    wow, that’s so sad. You just described my life. damn.

  15. Thank you all for the nice comments!

    I love writing these reviews and it is great to hear your point of view also.

    Thanks :)

    Frits — I need to look for that tomato/apple.

  16. Is the timeline for all of this really established? I know that Roy attacked Jim on a Friday since Jan said as much on the following Monday, but does that necessarily mean that it happened the day after Pam told Roy about Jim? I’m not so sure. I hate how fuzzy things are time-wise on the show.

    Anywho…I really enjoy reading your reviews :)

  17. “She has let [Jim] down too many times.”

    I agree with you Tori and would take it a step further and say she’s collectively letting the audience down as well. I think most of us are rooting for Pam to break out of that mediocre shell, yet she continually unimpresses with her decisions and actions. I’m sure the writers and building towards [something], but it’s a little frustrating getting there.

    “I am happy to see Roy leave on a decent note.” I’m not so sure we’ve seen the last of Roy and Pam (although I hope so…that storyline has ran its course and then some).

  18. I always enjoy your reviews, but I just wanted to add that in my opinion, Pam doesn’t owe Jim anything and he has no right to judge her while he halfasses his way through his own lackluster relationship. If/when she does decide to speak her mind, I hope part of it entails telling him that he needs to get over himself. Oh, and Friday Night Lights is awesome.

  19. Pam’s gonna have to do something drastic to get Jim, and it will take some work to get to him. He’s pretty irritated with her these days, and rightly so.

  20. Since it was supersized, maybe there weren’t any deleted scenes . . .

    Jim’s comment to Pam in the break room about her finding her way back to Roy was so painful to see. He is trying to protect himself by being slightly mean and he probably also feels betrayed that she told Roy about the kiss. Making Pam feel bad is totally in character and perfect for the dysfunctional way this relationship is progressing. Agonizing to watch, and I love it!

    I also loved Darryl’s confession that while he wanted Michael to get a raise, he just couldn’t keep himself from messing with him. Hilarious.

  21. Did anyone notice in this episode what Jim said after Dwight pointed out the little teddy bear on his certificate?

    “Didn’t think you’d notice…”

    Thought that was hilarious, but Jim said it kind of quiet and with his hand over his mouth, so I wasn’t sure if anyone caught that.

  22. I actually love the way the writers have developed Pam’s character this year. Season three is her year of growth and growth takes time. This show tries to keep things real and I believe all these little lessons Pam is learning are necessary and she will end up much stronger for it (which is what we all want, right?).

    Did I mention that Jenna Fischer is handling the character beautifully, too?

    I’m anxious for things to start rolling with her, too, but I know she’ll get where she needs to go.

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