I think the not-so-good seasons coincided with Toby taking over as showrunner. Greg Daniels returning should be a nice way to end this show.
It'll be somewhat bittersweet for me. Absolutely loved this show and it'll always be something I can turn on, but the past few seasons only had a few bright spots. I'm glad they at least got to end it on their terms and weren't cancelled.
They lost the entire point of the show after the first few seasons. It got way too carried away. Some people like that though, and it's still been successful regardless.
The first three seasons of this were brilliant IMO. Starting as early as season 4 though, I thought it started going downhill quickly and I stopped watching at some point in season 5 I think.
One thing I'm curious about though is what the writers did with Jim and Pam. The tension between them was obviously a major draw in the first few seasons, and when they finally got together and got engaged, they were built up as the perfect couple that would never split. Did the writers ever do anything interesting with their characters? Starting in season 4 and carrying through into the 9th season now, constantly reinforcing that relationship has to get pretty stale. And did they focus too much on the relationship and not let them stand on their own two feet as characters?
Season three is the best, in my opinion. 'Gay Witch Hunt' is an Office classic. I did not mind season four, but only because of 'Survivor Man' and 'Dinner Party'.
One thing I'm curious about though is what the writers did with Jim and Pam. The tension between them was obviously a major draw in the first few seasons, and when they finally got together and got engaged, they were built up as the perfect couple that would never split. Did the writers ever do anything interesting with their characters? Starting in season 4 and carrying through into the 9th season now, constantly reinforcing that relationship has to get pretty stale. And did they focus too much on the relationship and not let them stand on their own two feet as characters?
They've remained interesting characters. You don't need love triangles and infidelity to flesh out the characters, especially in a comedy. You may not be referring to that, but I believe that.
If it were, I'd have given up on this show a very, very long time ago. Anyway, good episode. I enjoyed it more than anything from last season. However, the show does miss Michael Scott and I hope he appears in some form for the final season.
They set the stage for just about everyone. Dwight will spend a season trying to one up Dwight Jr, Creed has dementia apparently, Andy will hate on Nellie, Jim will look to join his buddies start up, Oscar will date the Senator...I'm sure I'm forgetting a few but you get the idea.
Dwight tipping over on the bike was pretty good, as well as his quote about real men walking on flaccid rope. And I was almost in tears when Meredith out of nowhere said "hey new Jim, sit on my face"
"Don't teach my cat french" was my favourite line of the episode.
Also, and granted I didn't watch last season much, they really seemed to be trying to shape Andy into a Michael Scott character, not only in his absurd ideas, but in his complete confidence that he's right and a willingness to be completely petty with people he dislikes.
Good episode, that scene with Dwight repeatedly falling off the tight rope outside the garage went on a bit too long.
I like Ellie's hair. Btw are Kelly & Ryan off the show permanently? Not that either one of them add much here and there but just curious. They're probably still better than those two new kids.
EDIT: I knew that Jim Jr. looked familiar. He was in a sitcom a couple seasons ago called Better With You. It was avg but not bad, his acting was nothing special, he played the dumb lovable bf but it was a lot funnier than it was last night. Also, he looked completely different, looked like a guy rather than like a boy in yesetday's episode. I guess that's what makeup artists are for.
was good, not great.... the best has passed us. the golden era of office has come and gone. Still amusing, but will never be the same. i'm stoked for colbert on the halloween episode.
Don't see how the creed scene was forced but anyway the start of the episode was probably the worse I've seen. I'm hoping they do better next week. Oscar with the Senator seems like a good story line.
