This week the characters of NBC’s The Office took on The Amazing Race. Alright, it wasn’t anything like The Amazing Race, but what do I know? I got my information from Michael Scott. Instead, at the suggestion of Andy (who will now be known as Doompadee Dumbass), Michael decided to pair up the sales team for a little “friendly” competition. Stanley took “The Kid” (Ryan), Phyllis (I love her) teamed up with Karen, Doompadee kissed Michael’s ass, and Dwight was forced to work with Jim.
When you take away the pranks and bobble-heads, Jim and Dwight are just good salesmen — and surprisingly — a good team. It was great to see this dynamic, and it was even better to see it peppered with “Kickstart My Heart” by Motley Crue, and a good old slap in the face. “Seven out of ten attacks are from the rear.” Dwim’s talent and promises of superb customer service helped them lure their customer like a Margarita Karaoke Christmas Party. Good thing Kelly wasn’t distracted by a bag of candy and actually answered her phone.
Even more beautiful than love between Dwim, is love between Dwangela. Ms. Martin must be spending too many late nights playing Carcassonne or Battle Ship with Dwight and Mose, because she missed a very important corporate deadline. “Is it a big deal? Is it, Kevin?” Luckily for her, her Dwight in shining armor saved the day and drove the tax forms she forgot to mail to New York and hand delivered them. Little did he know, his act of chivalry to save her job would doom his own. A true love tragedy. It was worth it, though, just to see Angela glow with pride — and actually smile!
Have I mentioned I love Phyllis? I do. Not in the way Michael loves Jan, but it is still pure and true. If there is one person rooting for Jim and Pam — more than Jim and Pam — it’s her. This week she planted a beautiful seed. She “accidentally” let it slip to Karen (nice hair) that Jim had a thing for Pam. “He was hung up on Pam for such a long time. I didn’t think he’d ever get over her.” Karen had no idea that her seemingly baggage-free boyfriend is actually carrying around an entire “Booze Cruise” and a “Casino Night”. I don’t think she did it to be mean and in the long run, she did Karen a favor. Karen needs to hear the truth and she isn’t getting it from Jim or Pam.
Karen, being the no-nonsense girl that she is, asked Jim if it was true. “Did you ever have a thing for Pam?” Brave girl. Jim? Not brave. “Pam? Did I ever have a thing for her?” Rehearse much? I picture him practicing in front of a mirror at home, wet hair, with just a towel around his waist (artistic license), “I’m sorry, did you say a pan? Oh! Pam! No, I’ve never noticed how the sun catches her hair. Alright, I had a crush. Small. Tiny.” Please. He left out the tiny fact that she was engaged when he “told her about it and she didn’t feel the same way.” You don’t tell an engaged woman you have a “crush.” You get drunk at her wedding and sleep with a bridesmaid like any other good friend. Yes, the seed of doubt has been planted. Hopefully, it will bloom by Valentine’s Day.
Now, back to Doompadee Dumbass. When Double D realized he wouldn’t be able to win Michael over with poor sales skills and cracks on the Schrute name, he decided to plant a seed, himself. Unlike Phyllis, this was done out of hate. Doompadee D went from lovable dumbass, to just plain ass in one episode. Michael is still a little wounded from Dwight’s antics in “The Coup” so when Doompadee brought up Dwight’s secret trip to New York, Michael became suspicious that Dwight was after his job again.
Michael: I want you to think about it long and hard.
Dwight: That’s what she said.
Michael: Don’t you dare. I want to know what you were doing this morning by the end of the day.
This put Dwight between a rock and an Angela. He had two choices: go down as a traitor, or go against his “Lady’s” wishes and out them as a couple. Much like most of the Bush administration, he gave up his job at Dunder Mifflin to “spend more time with his family.” “In other words, I’m quitting.”
Tune in next week! Will Dwight get his job back? Will Michael’s broken heart be mended? Will Karen be able to wash out that hairspray? All of our questions will be answered! And, if not, as a wise man once said, “Boobs.”
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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.
Great recap. Whatever happened to Andy? He used to be cool. Jerk.
I loved this commentary! It made me even more excited for next thursday than I thought was possible!!!!
Andy was an ass, but Angela could have defused the whole situation by letting the Dwangela secret out. Is keeping that secret really more important to her than keeping Dwight around? Apparently it is…
Ohhhhh!!! Did you see that look Angela gave Andy at the end of the episode? He is a dead man. A jerk, and a dead man.
Boobs.
I think they made Andy out to be more cool than he was by “kindly” attacking Dwight in the beginning. When he was in Stamford he was an ass, and his light is just starting to shine through in Scranton.
this seems to put me in the minority now, but i love andy. i think he’s hilarious and a great addition. a bit of an ass, yes, but that’s certainly something i can learn to live with.
Sabateur!
“Andy (who will now be known as Doompadee Dumbass)”
I love it! I couldn’t have said it better. This was a great recap. Jim slapping Dwight is my favorite Office moment…well at least for now.
All I have to say is that I hope Andy drowns in that chocolate river he was so desperately trying to avoid. Maybe, if we get lucky, Angela will push him in.
Even after this discourse… I still like Andy. He adds a dynamic to the show that makes it even funnier and more awkward. I can’t wait for the glorious return of Dwight, though. It’s not a matter of “if” he’s coming back, but “when” (and more importantly) “HOW”. You better watch your back, Andy. 7 out of 10 attacks are from behind…
Well, I certainly hope Andy doesn’t fall into a chocolate river or get shrunk down to 1/8 his real size. I love Ed Helms! Of course, Angela is going to kill him. But I still love him.
Great Recap Tori :)
I thought this was a great episode. While yes, I think Andy was a complete ass, how many people know someone at an office who will stop at nothing to get what they want. That is Andy Bernard, aka Dompadee Dumbass, to a tee. I like Ed Helms and Andy was a great character but I believe his time is numbered. Probably in no small part because I believe Angela is going to make sure of it.
Hell hath no fury like an Angela scorned. Andy won’t know what hit him.
“I’m sorry, did you say a pan? Oh! Pam! No, I’ve never noticed how the sun catches her hair.
Hahaha. Oh, Jim.
Great recap!
And yes, Andy Bernard is definitely no Dwight K. Schrute.
Congrats on your first recap, Tori! I have a lot to live up to next week when it’s my turn! :-)
That was really good….It sort of gave me a different perspective on the episode…I never thought about the fact that Phyllis told Karen what she did to break them up ultimately. I just assumed Phyllis was being her gossip-y self. Haha
Thanks Tori. Awesome recap.
Wow! Great recap!:)
Great recap–it gave me almost as many laughs as the episode itself! And I love Andy’s new nickname. ;)
Great job with the recap, Tori! :)
great recap, but why the bush admin comment? keep it real, like the show. no need to mention demicans or republicats shortfalls. they are both worse than dumbass andy any day.
bushwhacked – I made that comment because of Dwight’s line that he was quitting to, “spend more time with his family.” It’s a joke that so many of the Bush admin have used this excuse when stepping down.
Thank you all for the nice comments! It really means a lot :)
The “spend more time with my family” line can be used for anyone. Sports stars, entertainers, other politicians etc. not just the Bush Administraion.
Great recap, right up until you couldn’t resist making a political statement against Bush. “The Office” is a wonderful 30 minutes each week of being free from all of the political crap about all of the crooks in Washington, and I for one would like to keep it that way. Stick to the subject please.
WOAH.
Everybody’s opinions are duly noted. Please focus subsequent comments on the rest of the recap; otherwise risk the Delete Button of Doom. Thanks!
Rock on, Tori! Excellent review for an (dare I say it?) excellent episode. I had my doubts about Season 3, but now they are cooking with gas! Like you, I hope Valentine’s Day is momentous for more people than just Jim and Pam. I like the direction this is headed and that is not something I thought I would ever say about Season 3. Come back soon, Dwight!
Wow–awesome recap! I hope you’ll be doing one for every episode! (And I cannot stop laughing about Jim practicing the, “I’m sorry, did you say a pan…” speech in front of the mirror!)
did anyone get nostalgic when DD mentioned the Superfriends to Michael and with the “super power of lateness”, Michael mentioned Hawkman? ROTFL! Just like pulling the masks off of villians in Scooby Doo, Hawkman always arrived just as the rest of the superheroes were wrapping up their mission at the end of the show. classic.
light_ng – Thank you for bringing that up. I, sadly, didn’t get the Hawkman reference. Now I understand what he meant.
Angela’s face was actually quaking with rage.
Andy, you will soon reap the whirlwind.