Wendy’s Review: Cocktails

Saturday, February 24th, 2007

I am not a violent person, peeps. But when super-spy Sydney Bristow was still hunting bad guys each week on “Alias,” I secretly hoped for a chance to kick someone’s ass in a red wig and high heels, too. Say what you will about my violent tendencies back then, but I blame J.J. Abrams.

He directed this week’s episode of “The Office” and, as a result, cranked up the action meter on our friends in Scranton.

Jan and Michael take their top secret romance public at their CFO’s cocktail party. Some may think Jan’s exhibiting the obvious beginnings of a nervous breakdown. Michael shares gory details of their Jamaican vacation (who knew Jan could limbo!), while sidekick Dwight’s party conversations are equally appalling (“You know that line on the top of the shrimp? That’s feces”).

Instead of “collapsing into herself like a dying star,” Jan collapses into a bathroom, begging Michael to slam her against the wall. When he refuses (because there is no place to cuddle), Jan learns a hard lesson — no means please don’t.

These two remind me of the Elizabeth Perkins and Tom Hanks characters in ‘Big’ — Jan is an adult who wants rough sex in dark corners, and Michael’s a little boy longing for ketchup fights and to giggle like schoolgirls. But I think they honestly recognize something fragile and damaged in each other. They are wrong on so many levels, and yet I find myself rooting for them. As Dwight says, they’re great together.

At the party, Karen tells Jim she’s basically dated every guy there. Before JAM fans can yell “Karen Fillipelli is a slut,” she tells Jim it was all a prank. He laughs, but I wonder if Karen noticed his lack of jealousy when he thought it was true.

Meanwhile, Pam “Don’t You Dare Call Her Pammy” Beesly has decided to be more honest about what she wants. She insists Roy “do boyfriend things” by coming to happy hour with her and her co-workers. All goes well until Pam drops one honesty bomb too many. She confesses to Roy that she kissed Jim on Casino Night and may have had feelings for him. Oops.

I must align myself with those who saw The Rage of Roy a-coming. The guy got a DUI after Pam dumped him. We’ve seen him act aggressive with Pam last season and with Jim in season one. David Denman does an awesome job of showing what a few beers and a confession like this does to Roy and I believed it. And from Pam’s reaction, they’ve been there before.

Kenny joining in was also telling. Those two quickly slipped into a routine that probably dates back to high school. Pam’s quiet reaction to this is heartbreaking and I question her real motives for telling Roy about Jim.

In classic J.J. Abrams form, we end on a major cliffhanger. Roy’s ominous “I’m going to kill Jim Halpert” sent chills down the spines of Office fans everywhere.

Will Pam warn Jim of impending danger before it’s too late?! Will Creed’s fake ID business reveal he’s really a CIA operative who can give Jim a new identity in Des Moines?!

Before you fear for Jim too much, remember that this is a sitcom. Though catching a few “Alias” reruns might not be a complete waste of his time.

“The Office” supposedly goes on a six-week hiatus before we learn Jim’s fate. I give it until week three before fans are echoing Jan’s painful question … “Why is this so hard?”

But that’s what she said … not me.

Posted in The Office Commentary

38 comments

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I agree with just about everything JimPamFan said. Andy will need to be heavily developed if he’s to come back.

Two things I don’t like: all the loose ends and the now fully soap-opera nature of the show.

Jim is the #2 - we see none of that.

They work in an office - we see almost none of that anymore.

I thought Cocktails was one of the best episodes ever, but I’m concerned for the future. All this character stuff is great, but it’ll fizzle real quick if they don’t get them back in the office playing pranks and going to stupid meetings.
38 | Voltaire Mon. Feb. 26, 2007 at 2:55pm
JimPamFan, I’m with you on Andy. The character served a good purpose, and was hilarious, but was 2-dimensional (manipulative anti-Dwight) and ran his course. I can’t see how Andy fits in with Scranton now.

*Really* hope we don’t have to actually wait 6 weeks. That would be nuts.
37 | UpDawg Mon. Feb. 26, 2007 at 1:54pm
Yeah I think #25 might be right, I don’t think it’s 6 weeks.
On epguides it also says the next episode will air March 15.
That’d only be 3 weeks since the last episode.
36 | God Mon. Feb. 26, 2007 at 11:40am
Wendy,

Once again, awesome recap! The next six weeks are going to kill me!
35 | Kismet Mon. Feb. 26, 2007 at 7:41am
SIX WEEKS?!?!? NOOOOOO!
34 | The Office Fanatic Sun. Feb. 25, 2007 at 5:12pm
Another great episode. And what a cliffhanger!

Honest Pam was great to see, but I think she might revert to her old self after Roy went nuts. Agree with everyone that Melora did an amazing job. Also agree that Jim will be offered some sort of corporate job.

Dwight popping up in unexpected places was a great running gag. And Creed gets the biggest laugh from me for the second week in a row, after his great non-reaction to the bat last week.
33 | DanBoy Sun. Feb. 25, 2007 at 4:16pm
Jim and Karen are too much alike! It hitme in this ep. Her prank was very Jim-like. I agree it didn’t make him jealous at all. It actually made her less appealing to him. In the end these two should have stayed friends. There was a bit of chemistry early on, but somehow that prank made Karen like “one of the guys”

On Jan and Michael, I liked how Jan tried to make up for michael embarrasing her by attmpting to replace it with physical connection in the bathroom. Clearly she doesn’t really see that nothing she can do will make her less embarrassed to be with him in public.
32 | EB Sun. Feb. 25, 2007 at 12:58pm
Great recap, Wendy!!

Do we really have to wait 6 weeks? I don’t think I can wait that long to learn Jim’s fate!
31 | Ileana Sun. Feb. 25, 2007 at 11:02am
Wendy! Awesome awesome review.

“Say what you will about my violent tendencies back then” - holy mother of god, I’m now more afraid of you than ever :) Not that the violent tendencies are exactly a suprise or anything, but, they are now out in the open. Hmm.

Your analysis of Kenny and Roy’s behavior in the bar was right on. Sadly, I know too many guys that would do that :(

Loved loved Creed’s fake ID business. How Dawesome is that?

“In classic J.J. Abrams form, we end on a major cliffhanger. Roy’s ominous “I’m going to kill Jim Halpert” sent chills down the spines of Office fans everywhere.” I could not have said that any better myself. You know, as chilling as that is. Those words were the best word’s I’ve heard in this show since “I’m in love with you” - something big is going to happen very soon (that’s what she said)

Dawesome review!
30 | Jim Mosby Sun. Feb. 25, 2007 at 10:54am
What I think would be incredibly awesome:
Roy going after Jim and trying to fight him and Pam coming in between them and telling Roy not to hurt him because she loves him and she kissed him back. And the whole time, Karen standng there watching.

Haha that would be amazing!!=D
29 | OFFICEFANATIC Sun. Feb. 25, 2007 at 10:15am
Truly spot-on in detailing the Michael and Jan relationship….nice. I think Pam went “all-the-way-honest” with Roy because of his ‘I can read you like a book’-type comment during the bar game. Pam looked both hurt and mad at the same time.
28 | Caterina Sun. Feb. 25, 2007 at 10:06am
I give Melora a LOT of credit for the way she has been portraying Jan, especially in this ep and since they got back from Jamaica. I think her character is very very deep, and actually harder to play well than any other character right now. She makes her so beleivable and complex when it would be so easy for her to become a caricature of extremes, the way Dwight often is.

I can really see her facade crumbling, I can see her desperate and conflicting feelings, even as she tries to hide them from the camera, and her apology, she’s just really tired, in the car, wow, she really made that work and I don’t think that was easy to go from “maybe this was a mistake” to that really well said sorry. I don’t think that character could have been developed nearly so well recently if it weren’t for this fine actress’s interpretation. Go Melora!

I’m glad Roy reacted the way he did. He’s still the same guy he always was, he’s been trying to be someone else to win Pam back but I was pretty sure he’s drop it all once he got her back, maybe not intentionally but inevitably he would sink back into his true self once he got comfortable. I think whoever said Pam was testing him may be right. I find Pam hard to read sometimes. She sure said “It’s over” pretty fast. From expressing how she wants this to work to “it’s over” in a fleeting moment?, as if she was kinda prepared he would go off at her. Definitely seemed like a test to me. I do hope she doesn’t take this as a reason to slip back into passivity, but rather as a reason to keep going with the more forthright Pam.

Jim was SO not jealous of Karen’s past. He has that reaction to the camera when Karen is fixing a guy’s tie, but it’s more of a detached reaction, the same he would have if he saw Angela or Kelly doing that, not at all proprietary.

I loved how they were able to show that Karen really IS a cool, funny person, and yet she and Jim just don’t get each other, even though they are both trying hard. Well written and played, guys. We can see how it won’t work out and not because of Pam, and neither one is the bad guy. it just won’t work.

Dwight was ridiculous as usual, but I do find he is one-dimensional mainly, and I’d like to see the writer’s flesh that out a bit. I am sure Rain can handle it guys! I loved Angela and Oscar’s moment in the deleted scenes over the wings. Another great Creed moment!

Overall I really liked this episode, I think it moved the storyline a little further ahead than some of the others. We now have Roy’s reaction to Jim to wait for, and what will Pam do about it, will she warn Jim, she will have to be honest if she does! Finally?

My prediction right now is that in the finale of the season, Jim will accept a job at corporate being groomed by David the CFO for bigger things, just as he and Pam finally hook up. Oops, we’re together, I’m leaving…that kind of thing.

Is Andy really comng back? I’m fine with him being written out about now. I loved Ed Helm’s portrayal, and yes I have known several Andy’s in my time, male and female, but he is another predictable character and I think we are fine without him.
27 | JimPamFan Sun. Feb. 25, 2007 at 9:09am
As always, thank you everyone for the incredible comments. I am always blown away by the support of us Office fans. We truly are the best fans there are! Thanks again for the kind words on the review. They are fun to do and I’m glad you’re reading them! Happy Oscar Sunday! :-)
26 | Wendy Sun. Feb. 25, 2007 at 9:05am
Dead on with the recap, Wendy!

I really believe Pam was more than familiar with Roy’s rage, which is why I think she told him. It was her litmus test as to whether he really was New Roy, or just Old Roy with facial hair and toned abs.

And his behaviour completely explains Pam’s natures since Season 1. If she was living with a man who goes off like that, it would explain her nature of submission , poor self-image, and timidity. I know this is a comedy, but the writers know these characters and I’m sure they have complete backstories to explain personalities, etc.

Another reason I’m always happy to give Pam the benefit of the doubt. Now she just has to turn that honesty onto Jim.

Great job, Wendy!!
25 | MoxieTime Sun. Feb. 25, 2007 at 6:59am
According to thefutoncritic.com it’s only two weeks of reruns and then we get back to new episodes the week after. So I don’t know why everyone is saying 6-weeks. thefutoncritic has always been reliable in the past, at least.
24 | Jeff Sun. Feb. 25, 2007 at 6:47am
GREAT review Wendy!

“These two remind me of the Elizabeth Perkins and Tom Hanks characters in ‘Big’”

This is the perfect way to describe them. Michael is a little boy, and it is sometimes the only reason I don’t hate him. (like when he tried to kiss Pam in Diwali) His line of, “Why are we going in the bathroom? I thought this is where you liked your privacy,” was so telling. I just picture Michael trying to follow her into the bathroom like a child or dog at home.

I saw Roy’s rage coming too. I don’t think he has ever hit Pam but I also don’t think it was the first time she has seen him like that. I’m glad “Don’t Call me Pammy” is going to be asking for what she wants now.

I just hope she calls Jim and warns him an ass-kicking is something Roy wants to do.
23 | Tori_Weber Sun. Feb. 25, 2007 at 6:02am
Awesome recap Wendy! I loved Jan’s “collapsing into herself like a dying star” line.

I also loved Dwight this episode. I jumped out of my chair when I saw him in that rocking chair! Hilarious stuff.

:)
22 | Claudia Sun. Feb. 25, 2007 at 12:39am
thanks, just found this site lol
21 | John Sat. Feb. 24, 2007 at 11:05pm
for john, i dont want to sound like a jerk, but where have you been? JAM is jim+pam…sort of like brangelina, or frangelina, whichever you prefer….

oh wendy, great recap, but i did think i saw somewhere that the next new episode would be on the 15…not sure, but i think i saw it…..
20 | kim Sat. Feb. 24, 2007 at 11:03pm
A break of at least four weeks makes sense. We know the next two weeks are repeats. The two Thursdays after that are nights the NCAA men’s basketball tournament will be on CBS, so it’s doubtful NBC would put a new show up against that.
19 | billysixty Sat. Feb. 24, 2007 at 11:03pm