150 replies to this topic

[2MuchTV]

"CUSTOMER LOYALTY"

RELATIONSHIPS ARE TESTED - Dwight (Rainn Wilson) tries to prevent Darryl's (Craig Robinson) move to Athlead. Jim (John Krasinksi) is forced to miss Cece’s first recital when a big investor exits his new company, to Pam's intense disappointment. Nellie (Catherine Tate) exposes Pete (Jake Lacey) and Erin (Ellie Kemper). And we start to see behind the scenes of the documentary. Jenna Fischer, Leslie David Baker, Phyllis Smith, Angela Kinsey, Brian Baumgartner, Oscar Nunez, Kate Flannery, Paul Lieberstein, Creed Bratton and Clark Duke also star.

Wow. After "30 Rock" made me cry in a good way, this show brought me to tears in the other. Geez, and I was already thinking it was depressing even before the final Jim/Pam scene. SO not what I needed, show.

[edisonrules]

Why couldn't the documentary crew show Jim footage of the recital?

[OhhhCocoa]

They really got me for once.

I spaced out halfway through the Jim/Pam fight, because we all knew it was coming and it played out about as unpleasantly as I thought it would. I was expecting it to end with Pam crying, and then she said "Brian" and I looked up confused. And you guys, they got me so good.

I don't even remember what else happened in the episode, honestly.

[GilvearSt]

The last five minutes were really good, but not funny. Still though it worked for me and for those last five minutes this has become my favourite show of the season. The stuff that really matters to me are the key relationships between Jim, Pam and Dwight so it was nice to focus on Jim and Pam and what Jim's new job means for them. And I didn't see that ending coming with more documentary crew reveal. I loved it.

The rest of the episode was less good. Toby being gross all over Nellie at work was so wrong. Pete and Ein are just boring Jam retreads and Dwight was too out there.

[lz1982]

I still don't understand why we had to sit through three years of repetitive Andy/Erin angst, if the writers were then going to break them up almost immediately.

Really liked Jenna Fischer's performance this week.

[GirlInAVolvo]

I wish I could've been surprised by the camera crew reveal, because that would've been one highlight in this bizarre episode. Unfortunately the description (at least on TWC) totally gave it away.

It was nice to see Jim and Pam actually discuss their problems. We've been watching them be smug and avoid their real feelings for a long time. I had come to despise Pam but I almost felt bad for her at the end. BUT was there a too-close vibe between her and "Brian"? Or am I just too used to everyone on this show being so horrible to each other that I can't handle someone just being nice?

[OhhhCocoa]

BUT was there a too-close vibe between her and "Brian"? Or am I just too used to everyone on this show being so horrible to each other that I can't handle someone just being nice?

I got that vibe for a second, but I don't think (I REALLY HOPE) that's what they were actually going for. I would chalk it up to the fact that these guys have been following Dunder Mifflin around for 9 years, and we know they've always been especially fond of and invested in Pam and Jim's relationship. It's reasonable to assume Jim and Pam are pretty friendly with the crew and that they are somewhat close (although that's not the best way for actual documentarians to roll). I told myself it just came off as overly friendly because we've literally NEVER seen Brian before and he was acting as if he had known Pam for years, which, really, he has.

[BogoGog24]

This was probably one of the strongest, if not the strongest, episode all season long. Great cold opening, not too much filler like other episodes, and for the first time really ever we saw Jim and Pam have a serious fight. Erin returned to normal intelligence, which is always nice. They finally made a mention of Andy after so many episodes of hearing nothing about him and Pam's mural again. And of course seeing the documentary crew is always a treat too. Really great episode. I just wish the show could be this consistent all the time.

[NiceGuyEddie]

This was probably one of the strongest, if not the strongest, episode all season long. Great cold opening, not too much filler like other episodes, and for the first time really ever we saw Jim and Pam have a serious fight. Erin returned to normal intelligence, which is always nice. They finally made a mention of Andy after so many episodes of hearing nothing about him and Pam's mural again. And of course seeing the documentary crew is always a treat too. Really great episode. I just wish the show could be this consistent all the time.

Well I wish it would've been been just a little more consistent and maybe shown us Pam's warehouse mural, because this is actually a different mural in this ep - some kind of "city job" apparently. We've never seen nor heard anything about Pam's warehouse mural after all that build up in that ep a few eps ago, which still really bugs me.

[windy31]

Well I wish it would've been been just a little more consistent and maybe shown us Pam's warehouse mural, because this is actually a different mural in this ep - some kind of "city job" apparently. We've never seen nor heard anything about Pam's warehouse mural after all that build up in that ep a few eps ago, which still really bugs me.

When Pam was talking about the city mural they showed a shot of her standing on the scaffold working on the warehouse mural. It was brief during the VO. And the photo next to the mural was the staff with the house of complaint cards.

[NiceGuyEddie]

Wow, I totally missed that! I'll have to re-watch that scene when they make it available online tomorrow.

[ddawn23]

The cold open had to be one of the best Jim/Dwight pranks ever. I couldn't stop laughing. I loved the clips of Jim setting up the prank both for the attention to detail in Jim's old clothing and hair, but also for the realization that the documentary crew must have been sitting on that footage for six years.

I still don't understand why we had to sit through three years of repetitive Andy/Erin angst, if the writers were then going to break them up almost immediately.

Twice. They were together for all of three episodes in season 6 before Erin found out Andy had been engaged to Angela and dumped him over it. Oy.

[windy31]

Wow, I totally missed that! I'll have to re-watch that scene when they make it available online tomorrow.

Let me warn you, She doesn't have much done. It looks like she's hardly worked on it but I bet there will be a last episode reveal.

[Hopeless]

I'll admit I don't normally pay a whole lot of attention to this show these days (I still watch it, but it's often just background noise), but this episode got me. I really don't like Andy (and especially how he treats Erin), so I'm all for her to dump his world-sailing ass for Pete. The cold open prank was classic and awesome; and I loved Dwight getting his comeuppance from Darryl for being a jerk to minimum-wage workers.

But the Jim and Pam fight killed me -- it was so realistic, and so, so sad. It's been a long time since this show made me cry (since Michael left, probably, and rarely before then). Beautifully acted (I'm a girl, so Pam's breakdown was all too real), and I liked the interaction with the documentary film crew. I am hanging on to my confidence in the show writers to fix them. But kudos to them for making me realize I could still be invested in this relationship.

[pivot]

I am glad Pam finally said something to Jim tonight. He has been such an ass this season.

Can someone tell me what the tag on this show was my DVR cut it off?

[whywatch]

The tag was Darryl repeatedly watching an uploaded video of Dwight getting hit by the milkshake.

[pivot]

Thanks! It was driving me nuts.

[Holliday]

But the Jim and Pam fight killed me -- it was so realistic, and so, so sad. It's been a long time since this show made me cry (since Michael left, probably, and rarely before then). Beautifully acted (I'm a girl, so Pam's breakdown was all too real), and I liked the interaction with the documentary film crew. I am hanging on to my confidence in the show writers to fix them. But kudos to them for making me realize I could still be invested in this relationship.

You've summed up my thoughts exactly Hopeless.

I really liked everyone in tonight's episode - even Toby who I still think is the Scranton Strangler. I'm just dreading the return of jerkface Andy. It's been nice without him.

[queenelvis]

Beautifully acted (I'm a girl, so Pam's breakdown was all too real)

Jenna Fischer was pretty amazing in that scene. The part where she kept saying, "Yep. Yep." just tore my heart out. It was so simple and not at all overdone, just like she couldn't process what was happening to her life. All she wanted was a "BEESLY!" and instead, Jim dumps on her because he had a shitty day.

Toby has reached super creeper status. I mean, I laughed but he was super skeevy in this episode. I'm guessing from Nellie's flustered reaction that the two haven't even talked since they kissed, which makes Toby's infatuation even weirder. I guess he's the type of guy who's lead on by one kiss. Poor Nellie. I never thought I was going to say that, but they've made leaps with her character this season. I like her now.

I liked that Kevin just cut the chase and called out Pete and Erin. And I loved how Phyllis said that Andy was vanilla, and that Pete likes to get "weird." Yeah, Phyllis would be able to tell that in a man. Actually, I enjoyed that entire scene, including Oscar's little feminist rant and his solo clap.

Really good episode. I have really high hopes for whatever the writers throw at us next.

[LiberryLady]

I know there was 21 other minutes in the show, but you guys! You guys!!! We finally got to see the Camera Guys!!!

Taking my excitement to their long-dormant thread. (WHICH I STARTED, SEVEN WHOLE YEARS AGO!!!)

[BogoGog24]

How could Toby be the Scranton Strangler if he was on the jury for the trial? I don't think the Scranton Strangler is any known character. If it is, I would guess that it's Mose because he hardly ever speaks which makes him kind of strange and secretive and he lives with Dwight, who knows lots of weird ways to kill people.

[Utica]

How could Toby be the Scranton Strangler...

Toby once suddenly took-off to Central America. I doubt he did that just because his feelings for Pam came out. Perhaps he was paranoid about being caught (if he was the Scranton Strangler). I can't remember the timeline of the Scranton Strangler murders. Did the killings stop after he left the country?

This series's tension is headed for a happy finale resolution: Jim walks away from the Philly job and chooses Pam, Cece, and DM-Scranton.

Edited by Utica, Jan 25, 2013 @ 1:40 AM.

[MHCBadDude]

But the Jim and Pam fight killed me -- it was so realistic, and so, so sad. It's been a long time since this show made me cry (since Michael left, probably, and rarely before then). Beautifully acted (I'm a girl, so Pam's breakdown was all too real), and I liked the interaction with the documentary film crew. I am hanging on to my confidence in the show writers to fix them. But kudos to them for making me realize I could still be invested in this relationship.

Yes to all of it. Pam has been pretty understanding and tolerant about Jim starting this business in Philly. If Jim was just doing it to support his family, he could be doing that in Scranton. Pam has been taking care of their family so he can pursue a career he enjoys doing. As soon as they had Pam saying in her TH that she was excited for Jim to say, "Beesly!" I knew it wouldn't happen. I guess the ending was a better alternative than her telling him and getting no reaction, which is what I thought was going to happen. The last scene was so sad, because all Pam wanted was to tell Jim her good news and get that reaction from him. Instead she got a fight that was a long time coming.

I didn't get a romantic vibe from the sound guy at all. It seemed like a friend comforting another friend.

Jenna Fischer was pretty amazing in that scene. The part where she kept saying, "Yep. Yep." just tore my heart out. It was so simple and not at all overdone, just like she couldn't process what was happening to her life. All she wanted was a "BEESLY!" and instead, Jim dumps on her because he had a shitty day.

The yep, yep got to me. Sounded like she wanted to avoid her voice cracking and having Jim hear how upset she was.

Toby has reached super creeper status. I mean, I laughed but he was super skeevy in this episode. I'm guessing from Nellie's flustered reaction that the two haven't even talked since they kissed, which makes Toby's infatuation even weirder. I guess he's the type of guy who's lead on by one kiss. Poor Nellie. I never thought I was going to say that, but they've made leaps with her character this season. I like her now.

He's an official creep, but Nellie's reaction shots were hilarious.

I liked that Kevin just cut the chase and called out Pete and Erin. And I loved how Phyllis said that Andy was vanilla, and that Pete likes to get "weird." Yeah, Phyllis would be able to tell that in a man. Actually, I enjoyed that entire scene, including Oscar's little feminist rant and his solo clap.

Oscar trying to start a slow clap actually had me laughing out loud.

Edited by MHCBadDude, Jan 25, 2013 @ 1:54 AM.

[chocolatine]

I am glad Pam finally said something to Jim tonight. He has been such an ass this season.

I admire her restraint - if it were me, I would have chewed Jim out, hung up on him, and not talked to him again until he apologized in person, with a big bunch of flowers. What an ass to make fun of her smartphone incompetence seconds after letting her and Cece down. Apparently he's never too busy to snark.

[crazymadness]

How could Toby be the Scranton Strangler...

I was doing a rewatch the other day and I personally think it's Gabe. That's one weird guy.

[ikar]

One of the best "cold opens" ever. Plus it actually made Jim appear to still be part of the Scranton crew. Though I didn't think they got the S2 hair right.

And speaking of hair- Meredith's wig was hilarious. She looked like an early 70s sitcom extra.

Kudos to the show for elevating a long-time 1st assistant director, to be the director of tonight's ep.

This series's tension is headed for a happy finale resolution: Jim walks away from the Philly job and chooses Pam, Cece, and DM-Scranton.

I sure hope not. If this show wants to do something special in the next 11, I hope it gets more creative than that.

Edited by ikar, Jan 25, 2013 @ 2:15 AM.

[Utica]

I was doing a rewatch the other day and I personally think it's Gabe. That's one weird guy

Gabe wasn't even in Scranton, PA during the early Scranton Strangler murders.

[LiberryLady]

Nope, ikar, they didn't get Jim's season two hair right - it looked like it had product in it. But I appreciate that they tried to give us a glimpse of the hair wings I loved so much.

[crazymadness]

Gabe wasn't even in Scranton, PA during the early Scranton Strangler murders.

Actually, Gabe showed up in "Sabre" which was two episodes before the first on show mention of the Scranton Strangler ("The Delivery")

[OpieTaylor]

This series's tension is headed for a happy finale resolution: Jim walks away from the Philly job and chooses Pam, Cece, and DM-Scranton.

I now think this too. I think Jim is going to give up this other company when he realizes that he's missing things like Cece's recital and that he and Pam are fighting. And the way Dwight was desperately trying to change Darrel's mind about leaving DM, and how he wanted everyone to sign loyalty oathes - I think TPTB are setting the show up for everyone pretty much staying at DM and life will go on there as we've known (and mostly loved) it for all these years.

I agree with the others that Pam's/Jim's fight was heartbreaking - it was so realistic - and Jenna did an awesome job in that scene.