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[2MuchTV]

"COUPLES DISCOUNT"

02/07/2013 (09:00PM - 09:31PM) (Thursday) : ERIN IS NERVOUS FOR ANDY’S RETURN—The Office pairs off into pretend couples to take advantage of a Valentine’s Day discount at a local mini-mall. Erin (Ellie Kemper) assures Pete (Jake Lacy) she will break up with Andy (Ed Helms) when he returns, but he has good reason to doubt her. Jim (John Krasinski) and Pam (Jenna Fischer) share a meal with Brian, the documentary's sound man. Rainn Wilson, Leslie David Baker, Angela Kinsey, Brian Baumgartner, Oscar Nunez, Kate Flannery, Paul Lieberstein, Creed Bratton, Craig Robinson, Catherine Tate, Clark Duke and Jake Lacy also star.

[lottiedottie]

I hope that's the last we see of Brian.

And fuck Andy, I hope this means he is fired! He is so unlikeable.

[CWBorne]

This whole asshole Andy arc never struck me as necessary; doubly so given that in all likliehood they're going to try and make him sympathetic again at some point before the series finale.

In all honesty the show just seems really dark and mean spirited these days. Andy's worst tendencies were dialed up, Jim and Pam after three seasons worth of no real drama are suddenly having issues, even the employees as a whole seem to have less warmth.

Edited by CWBorne, Feb 7, 2013 @ 9:43 PM.

[futurechemist]

And whatever respect I had for Andy is plummeting. So after getting the company back from Robert California to David Wallce, and presumably earning a lot of good will, he squanders it by not telling David Wallace that he was ditching for 3 months? I know the show has to accommodate Ed Helms' availability, but I'm sure they could have done it better than that. Maybe a storyline where Andy is in Manhattan for a few months at some corporate-branch bridging position where he could only be heard on conference calls?

In any event, why didn't Jim or Dwight get acting manager power while he was away? If Dwight hadn't been forging Andy's signature, they wouldn't have made any sales in 3 months. And on top of that, Andy's business savvy is to try and renegotiate an extremely large and valuable contract after it's been signed? I don't know anymore. As much as I hated the plotline last year, maybe Nellie had the right idea stealing Andy's job the last time he was away. He certainly doesn't deserve to be a manager.

I did love the character moment when Darryl, who was clearly not comfortable pretending to be gay, immediately jumped to Oscar's defense at the homophobic salon.

Edited by futurechemist, Feb 7, 2013 @ 9:42 PM.

[InsertWordHere]

Andy sucks. Is there going to be some twist in the future to make him look better? Even Michael and Dwight at their worst were more bearable than Andy has become. I had more sympathy for Jan of all people than I did for him.

As much as I liked Darryl standing up for the rights of gay couples to get a discount, I thought there would be more of a payoff to that story.

How did David Wallace not know Andy was gone? Didn't he give Dwight the okay to hire Jim's replacement? I was under the assumption that he wouldn't do that unless he knew Andy was unavailable.

[2MuchTV]

The tag totally saved it. Erin sticking up for herself and Andy getting busted--awesome. The brief Darryl/Oscar bit and Nellie's segment saying she couldn't even hold onto a fake boyfriend were also good, though the whole couples discount aspect seemed so short and underdone.

Otherwise, it was just unpleasant and rather depressing.

[queenelvis]

Just a disappointing, awkward episode. The best part was Erin standing up for herself, breaking up with Andy and finally laying one on Pete. That whole "we're not in love right now" speech was gross. Yuck. I used to love Andy, and they've really done a hatchet job on his character this season. Sucks for Ed Helms.

I continue not to be a fan of the Brian thing, mainly because I don't care about this nobody cameraman the writers decided to inject into the final episodes of the season. Boo hoo, him and his wife are breaking up. I don't care! Jim and Pam drama is good, but not like this. I would have much rather seen the DM people at the salon. I really thought the Daryl and Oscar thing was going to have a bigger storyline, like the two of them going to different shops just to see what they could get as a gay couple. But nope. That plot thread died out quick.

I'm not being a perv, but were Catherine Tate's boobs really, uh, big tonight? I know she's a shapely woman, but they were pretty difficult to ignore.

Poor Clark. All the things he had to do for Jan, and Andy killed it within five seconds of coming back.

[cheesecake134]

This is the first episode I've actually watched on NBC since "Goodbye, Michael". I watched "Costumer Loyalty" to see the whole Brian thing, but only on Hulu.

I was slightly lost with some plot points (particularly involving Andy), but the rest of it seemed pretty self-contained so I could enjoy it as a "new viewer". Despite still really not feeling the Brian situation, I liked Jim and Pam's story in this episode. I actually said "Good for you, Pam." in my head when she stood up and told Jim they needed to fight on Valentine's Day. I like that she's wanting to fight for her marriage. The tension is a long time coming, but I do wonder why they held off until the last season. It seems a little late for any real payoff. And I wouldn't be surprised if we're left cold with another "This just reaffirms Pam and Jim's love for each other!" story.

I found myself cheering for Erin too. I've been wanting her to have her own FNB makeover for a while now. She needs a backbone, and I'm glad she finally dumped Andy for real.

[lottiedottie]

The tag was worth cheering for--finally Erin gets a brain and a backbone.

There was no cold open tonight.

[cheesecake134]

Double post

Edited by cheesecake134, Feb 7, 2013 @ 10:02 PM.

[futurechemist]

The tag totally saved it. Erin sticking up for herself and Andy getting busted--awesome.

I missed the tag. So Wallace figured out about Andy?

[Petunia13]

This wasn't a very funny episode at all.

[jopatura]

I'm not being a perv, but were Catherine Tate's boobs really, uh, big tonight? I know she's a shapely woman, but they were pretty difficult to ignore.

I honestly thought she had gotten a boob job. When she was sitting at her desk in profile, I thought those things were going to fall off of her body. If it isn't a recent job, she's been wearing horrible bras until now.

I missed the tag. So Wallace figured out about Andy?

Erin kissed Pete, walked into Andy's office to tell him they are breaking up and as she turns around she says, "You know, I really thought you were dead the last three months," and leaves. Wallace is on speaker phone and says, "What's this about three months?" Scene.

Edited by jopatura, Feb 7, 2013 @ 10:26 PM.

[kariyaki]

Erin kissed Pete, walked into Andy's office to tell him they are breaking up and as she turns around she says, "You know, I really thought you were dead the last three months," and leaves. Wallace is on speaker phone and says, "What's this about three months?" Scene.

Even better, Erin specifically said how Andy was gone for three months. I totally cheered when I heard Wallace on the speakerphone.

And what was with Andy's hair, was that a wig?

[hjohnson]

I continue not to be a fan of the Brian thing, mainly because I don't care about this nobody cameraman the writers decided to inject into the final episodes of the season. Boo hoo, him and his wife are breaking up. I don't care!

See, I think it was the only thing to kick Pam and Jim into actually talking about what was going on between them. Jim realized he wasn't there for Pam (while another man was), they both watched a marriage crumble because of lack of discussion/fighting and realized they did want to make it work. If none of that Brian stuff happened, Pam would continue to be stepped over, Jim would constantly be running off to Philly thinking none the wiser, and something else would blow up in their faces down the road. It was a quick way to get Pam/Jim to bubble over and get fixed before the end of the series.

Thank God Erin finally broke up with Andy. Her agreeing to 'fake it' made me insanely sad. What happened to Andy... not all bosses of DM have to be assholes, I dont understand why they all fall into that.

[Saffron]

I honestly thought she had gotten a boob job. When she was sitting at her desk in profile, I thought those things were going to fall off of her body.

I noticed them when she was sitting at her desk too. Although all I thought was, "How come this is the first time I'm noticing how gigantic her boobs are?"

[wingster55]

I'm convince more than ever that this somehow leads to Michael being brought back in the finale or near it. Steve Carell and the producers can deny it all they want...but I won't stop believing this until 10pm May 16th.

[InsertWordHere]

I honestly thought she had gotten a boob job. When she was sitting at her desk in profile, I thought those things were going to fall off of her body. If it isn't a recent job, she's been wearing horrible bras until now.

I think it was just the style of top she was wearing. Some of the outfits she wore while she was on Doctor Who emphasized her figure in the same way. She's lost some weight since then but not in the chest from what I can see. Not that I spend all my time staring at her rack or anything, sometimes it's hard not to notice them.

I'm convince more than ever that this somehow leads to Michael being brought back in the finale or near it. Steve Carell and the producers can deny it all they want...but I won't stop believing this until 10pm May 16th.

Me too. Even if it's just a video call or something. He was always Jim and Pam's biggest shipper, after all.

Edited by InsertWordHere, Feb 7, 2013 @ 10:46 PM.

[Sister Magpie]

See, I think it was the only thing to kick Pam and Jim into actually talking about what was going on between them. Jim realized he wasn't there for Pam (while another man was), they both watched a marriage crumble because of lack of discussion/fighting and realized they did want to make it work. If none of that Brian stuff happened, Pam would continue to be stepped over, Jim would constantly be running off to Philly thinking none the wiser, and something else would blow up in their faces down the road. It was a quick way to get Pam/Jim to bubble over and get fixed before the end of the series.

That's what I hated about it in this ep. By inventing some easy person to, in seems to me a slightly shady way, "show" Jim and Pam the danger of their situation they avoided writing a more interesting story where Pam and Jim actually played out a conflict organically. Now it was just a signpost that said PAM AND JIM SEE A REFLECTION OF THEMSELVES with "we're going to talk offscreen" being some sort of breakthrough. I assume next week they'll have come to some new agreement about dealing with things that's maybe not perfect but will be static again for a while. Plus why would they even need this? Their fight was coming to a head regardless the minute Jim announced they were ready to move to Philly. (Plus I get annoyed at what seems like a slant towards "Pam's suffering in silence!" view--I don't think she hid her crying from Jim because she was so worried about his stress. I think she was rightly hurt and angry and pride made her cover it up.)

[wingster55]

Me too. Even if it's just a video call or something. He was always Jim and Pam's biggest shipper, after all.

I should probably clarify...I meant the Andy situation. No way three months will be un-punished by Wallace. I'd guess Andy is put on probation, doesn't perform to standards, gets bumped down to manager and Michael is brought in.

[Col Bat Guano]

That's what I hated about it in this ep. By inventing some easy person to, in seems to me a slightly shady way, "show" Jim and Pam the danger of their situation they avoided writing a more interesting story where Pam and Jim actually played out a conflict organically. Now it was just a signpost that said PAM AND JIM SEE A REFLECTION OF THEMSELVES with "we're going to talk offscreen" being some sort of breakthrough. I assume next week they'll have come to some new agreement about dealing with things that's maybe not perfect but will be static again for a while. Plus why would they even need this? Their fight was coming to a head regardless the minute Jim announced they were ready to move to Philly.

Couldn't agree more. Brian was an unnecessary addition from the start. I hope he's gone for good.

[LiberryLady]

Y'all know I'm a hardcore 'shipper. The movies I saw during seasons two and three just to get a glimpse of John Krasinski! However, HOWEVER...I wanted to smack Jim upside his Big Haircut tonight. The fucking NERVE he had to be mad at Pam, for being upset! Gah! And then being a huge baby, and planning to run away? I know he's avoided conflict in the past, but that seemed pretty egregious, even for him. Boo, Jim. Booooo.

[NicoleMN6]

Andy and Jim both came across as awful in this episode. Andy, for obvious reasons. But Jim -- really? You would rather get on a bus back to Philly instead of spend time with your family? Even if he was feeling tense about things with Pam, wouldn't he want to spend some time with his kids? Especially since he's working an extra day next week. And he's pissed that Pam was crying to a friend while he was gone? She obviously didn't even know that Brian was splitting up from his wife.

[OpieTaylor]

It was stupid that Jim got pissed because Pam and "some sound guy" knew about her crying and he didn't - this camera crew has been filming these people for years. Jim is well aware that the camera crew is privy to a lot of things that not everyone knows about or sees. But in Jim's (and the writers') defense, he did acknowledge that he had no real reason to be mad at Pam.

Then it was irksome when Jim wanted to return to Philly early - with no thought about another night of not being with his kids?

I thought Andy looked kind of good with the beard, long hair and Jamaican hat.

[niklj]

Agree. Hated Jim. Hated not Andy but what the writers have DONE to Andy. Still so mad at how they killed what once was my favorite character. And for what? To replace him with NEW Andy (aka Old Andy) Pete?

Also agree with those who said they enjoyed the episodes better without Andy. It was back to old office shenanigans and not these dumb plot points like being on a boat.

Get back on the boat, Andy. Get back on the boat.

[ikar]

Again tonight, we saw a direct Andy- Michael comparison. Jamaican influenced vacation "changes" the man. Both bring back musical instruments. Steel drum > bamboo fish thingy. Andy Bernard, you are no Michael Scott. As the show was short on time this week - no cold open, no end tag- perhaps that prevented us seeing Andy punching the wall outside the conference room. [/circle of life]

BTW I'm glad to see discussion of the Catherine Tate "largesse." I was all, DAMN.

Jim/Pam is just a giant metaphorical clog in the toilet. Here I thought they'd come up with a good final run, but this just seems uninspired so far.

ETA: Imagine if Jim had said, "Well, Valentine's Day isn't over. Let's get you home and you are gonna get the best sex of your life." (instead of scheduling a fight)

Edited by ikar, Feb 8, 2013 @ 2:26 AM.

[Utica]

Jim looked like he was starting down the path to giving up on Pam. There is a touchy argument coming (off-screen) for Pam & Jim. A lengthy discussion about Brian is sure to follow. The last few weeks have created bitterness. Hang in there Pam & Jim, we're rooting for your family to stay together!

[chocolatine]

Go Erin, and go Pam! Although she should have insisted on the bottle of wine - it helps articulate one's true feelings.

Is David Wallace really so hands-off that he wouldn't have noticed Andy being gone for three months? Not a single visit to DM Scranton, not one urgent issue he tried to call Andy about? Baloney.

[Nukerjsr]

Did anyone else see the whole Brian thing as he didn't actually have a wife and just made up this sob story to get sympathy from Pam? Seriously, we don't know anything about this guy and he's just a bit too nice about everything that happens. It didn't come off as "he wants to save Pam/Jim's relationship." Honestly, their relationship never came off as it's in that much danger over everything that happened. But I did appreciate at the end that Pam called out Jim on avoiding a conflict and said she wanted that to actually happen. Otherwise? No idea why Jim is being such a douche. He always had an undercurrent of doucheyness, but now it's really coming out. And uncomfortable Brian wasn't the right way to handle this arc because of how ham-fisted the writing has been with him.

That stuff with Andy was disgusting. Just not giving a shit after coming back from a 3 month vacation, despite the fact that the office is clearly more effecient without him? I never really cared for Erin, but that speech about "you don't love me now" was nauseating.

Honestly, I didn't think the last two minutes of this episode would actually redeem it, but...hell it did. Go Erin. Go Pam. Just please follow through with how you've ended this episode.

[PJWatcher]

Is David Wallace really so hands-off that he wouldn't have noticed Andy being gone for three months? Not a single visit to DM Scranton, not one urgent issue he tried to call Andy about? Baloney.

Oh, there was a mention by Andy that he and Wallace communicated by computer, maybe Skype or something while he was out and about. That also upset Erin as he barely contacted her at all.

Did anyone else see the whole Brian thing as he didn't actually have a wife and just made up this sob story to get sympathy from Pam?

No, because Jim and Pam mentioned having had dinner with both Brian and his wife, Alyssa. In fact, their noticing she wasn't there is what precipitated his breakdown.

Episode, not so great. Loved the tag, though. After Andy making it clear that this relationship was about what made him happy, without considering her feelings, she goes out to tell Pete that she couldn't break up with Andy. Pete tells her it's okay and that he just wants her to be happy. Realizing that Pete is a man who cares about her happiness, she plants a big one on him, storms into Andy's office and tells him they're breaking up because he was gone for three months and there were times she thought he was dead. She leaves, not knowing David Wallace was on speakerphone. Wallace asks Andy what that was about him being gone for three months.