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Episode Recap: The Chair Model
Although it’s not exactly a remake or anything, this episode borrows a crucial plotline from the Christmas special of the original British version of The Office, in which David Brent (their equivalent of Michael Scott) starts to feel the desperation of loneliness and signs himself up for an internet dating service. Although the American version of The Office is usually described as being wackier and less dour than its predecessor, it’s interesting that Michael Scott is still holding onto his delusions of meeting and marrying a supermodel, while David Brent managed to find some measure of love and acceptance with a woman that his friends made fun of (one of the best moments of character development in the British version was Brent finally telling off his bullying “friend” Chris Finch when he insulted his date).
Could it be that the American remake isn’t as light-hearted as we’d always believed it to be? Certainly Michael comes off as almost a monster in this episode, displaying just about zero empathy in any situation that doesn’t concern his own well-being. Early on he has a pathetic moment when he admits that the real reason he wants to meet women is to have children and start a family. He’s scared of how old he is already, and worries that if he doesn’t meet his soulmate soon it will be too late (and for once I was correct with one of my predictions: he apparently dumped Jan after realizing their relationship was beyond repair). But right after he demands that his employees solve his problem by recommending single women to him, he’s confronted by Andy and Kevin over the parking lot situation and can’t bring himself to care because it doesn’t affect him.
Michael doesn’t think to repay his employees’ kindness towards him or even listen to what they’re really saying. Likewise he blows his date with Pam’s landlord by not even pretending to be interested, even telling her their conversation “was like talking to the sweet old lady on the bus.” I almost wanted to cheer when she told Michael off. Sure he’s miserable, but until he can grow up and learn to act like a decent human being, he deserves it.
And I have to admit that I didn’t like the joke about the chair model being dead at first: it seemed like a cheap bit of cruelty out of Family Guy (yeah, I never really liked that show – feel free to send me hate mail). But they did have it pay off in the end by having Michael and Dwight visit her grave. Is this a sign that Michael is genuinely trying to become a better person – however misguided – or that he’s still stuck in delusion and the endless worship of unattainable women? I know which way I’m voting.
But let’s talk about the big twist of the episode instead of wallowing in misery…. Kevin’s fiancé broke up with him! Kidding, of course. Jim has the ring ready, and an engagement could happen before the end of the season. Even more shocking, he bought it a week after they started dating. Now there’s a man who knows what his heart wants. I wonder what he’s waiting for in that case. Most likely it would just look weird if he proposed so soon, and he might be a little bit paranoid after Pam was engaged to Roy for so long despite being completely wrong for him; he knows she loves him, but he just wants to make absolutely sure she’ll say ‘yes’ when he pops the question. Now I’m just hoping that the show’s writers don’t decide to emulate Friends and every generic mid-90’s sitcom it inspired that used the following template for relationships:
1. Boys meets girl, falls in love with her
2. Shyness/various contrived circumstances prevent him from declaring his love for her
3. Girl finds out about his feelings from a friend
4. More contrived circumstances prevent her from telling him that she knows
5. Both boy and girl are paired with other bland love interests
6. Boy and girl briefly get together in a very special episode
7. Boy and girl break up after a misunderstanding gets blown way out of proportion and neither says the obvious things to correct it (in another very special episode)
8. Repeat until series finale
Hopefully the creators of The Office are too smart to fall for this formula (please note that these are not spoilers – I have no connection to the powers that be at NBC and I don’t know how this will all turn out) and resort to breaking up Jim and Pam as a cheap way of holding our attention. I know it isn’t always easy to make a couple in love as interesting as two people flirting together, but it can be done.
All in all, I laughed out loud more than a few times during this episode, even though it was one of the darkest I can remember. Let’s hope that, like David Brent, Michael finds some shred of self-awareness soon.
The Dundies:
Best Insensitive Michael Moment: His attempt to back away slowly from his less-than-flawless date, which almost works before the cashier at the coffee shop calls out his name. Runner-up: Referring to Oscar as the “Oscar Meyer Weiner Lover.”
Best Kevin Moment: Admitting that winning back his parking space made him feel good for the first time since his fiancé broke up with him.
Best Creed is a Creepy Old Man Moment: His unexplained obsession with hoarding office chairs.
Best Clueless Andy Moment: Dancing by himself to no music in the parking lot.
Funniest Overall Moment: Michael calls up Kevin’s friend “Wendy,” only to realize that he’s actually calling a Wendy’s restaurant. Then he places an order and forces Dwight to go pick it up. And his reaction to Pam’s offer to set him up: “What’s her name, Burger King?”
Check out full length episodes of The Office and more at our online video guide.
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Apr 17, 2008 11:09 PM
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So many amazing lines tonight- dark or not.
Andy: I lost the penny from my loafer!
Michael: I should, but I shornt...what part of shornt don't you understand?
Kevin: The 5 Families...schtick that he basically barks at the camera
Clearly the Oscar Mayer Weiner Lover line was in the top lines category.
Michael: thinking that the hot woman at the coffee shop just didn't know how to describe herself...never thinking that it MIGHT NOT BE HER! Loves it!!
I had heard from Ausiello or someone that a "big event" was coming. At first I thought it was just moving in together...clearly there's more to it than that. I heart Pam and Jim so much!!
This was my favorite ep in a looooong time. It kinda rocked.
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Apr 17, 2008 11:27 PM
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Granted the majority of my favorite parts were in the last 7 or so minutes but the interaction between Pam and Jim in this episode really made it for me:
-Jim jokingly inviting her to move in with him, but being totally serious.
-Pam standing up for what she wants (again- yay Pam!) by saying she doesn't want to move in with someone until she's engaged then teasing him that he hadn't asked her yet... OMG! Awesome!
-Jim basically telling her he's going to propose, just not saying when... leaving her to wonder if he's kidding or not... GENIUS, and so classically Jim.
-The fake out proposal and "I hate you"...WOW.
They are shaping up to be the TV couple that finally gets to be in love, happy and entertaining.
Bravo writers- now I realize I missed you more than I thought had.
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Apr 17, 2008 11:53 PM
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omg I screamed out loud when Jim started talking to Pam about proposing and then popped out that ring! and I seriously doubt they'll run this like other sitcoms. Judging from the choices Ausiello gave us my guess is that they'll *spoiler(ish)* elope in the season finale...but that's just me trying to live vicariously through Pam  and I really started cracking up when Jim dropped to his knee to tie his shoe haha
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Apr 17, 2008 11:54 PM
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I doubt Michael and Jan are over. She's still on his cell phone, he listed her "good" qualities for Pam's Landlady, and Melora Hardin is too funny to let go. They moved Jim out of town for half a season, Ryan hasn't been in the show since before the strike--I wouldn't assume Jan's bodily absence for a single episode means they are over.
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Apr 18, 2008 12:45 AM
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so just a few notes...
me and michael have the same phone. somehow this makes me happy and sad at the same time. as well as surprised that this has any effect on me at all
Also, michael's wallet that he pulls out at the coffee place has a bejeweled border.
andy's socks match his tie when he's dancing. i love these little details
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Apr 18, 2008 12:52 AM
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OMG!!! Loved loved loved the Jim and Pam stuff, not only because they are working toward getting engaged, but because it seems real! It really isn't like Friends! The writers of The Office really are better! Yah!
And Michael and Jan may be "broken up" right now, but they aren't over. This isn't the first time they've broken up. Probably won't be the last either. They are too good together.
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Apr 18, 2008 1:36 AM
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Jim, break my heart! Seriously, I'm never a super hopeless romantic type of person, and I just turn into butter when I watch Jim and Pam together.
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Apr 18, 2008 2:55 AM
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Please, please, please, Office writers, do not plan a Ross/Rachel marathon, ignore the Lorelai/Luke ridiculousness. Let Jim and Pam be in love. Let the audience enjoy it. Last night's Jim/Pam moments were the biggest smile I have had on my face since Jim returned from New York last year and said ''It's a date.'' P.S. ''I lost a penny from my shoe'' and the Wendy piece - brilliant TV. If this is what B.J. Novak comes up with when not acting on the show, leave his character in N.Y.
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Apr 18, 2008 6:55 AM
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This episode and the one before it I think are going a little too far with Michael's craziness and stupidity. They're getting dangerously close to making him a cartoon character. But they're not quite there yet. They have to tone it down a little. Though, his childishness does somehow make sense where relationships are involved. I love how he still believes he deserves a really hot woman to date, and should consider nothing else.
What I really like about this show is the fact that it now makes use of every character in the ensemble, even if only for a single reaction shot. And even those shots play off the characters so perfectly, displaying how developed they are. Toby's single reaction to Michael's get-me-a-date tirade said "Oh my God this is so inappropriate, but that's what you get with Michael" in one second. Plus, Kevin's victory was a nice moment. It was funny because the owners didn't think it was a big deal at all, but in another short second it was a little touching for him to admit it felt good after his break up.
As for Jim and Pam, I found myself thinking Jim's got to calm himself down. Now, I realize he's been in love with her for a while now, but to pick a ring right after their first date is just asking for something to go wrong, isn't it? I suppose with these two, you can consider their entire friendship prior as part of dating. But, dating and wanting to date is two different things. Take it easy, there, Jim. I guess it says a lot about the real-ness of these characters that I think so much about this stuff. One other realistic thing I liked was the fact that we actually have two people talking about marriage before the actual proposal. Usually on TV and movies, engagements are a shocking surprise to the bride, as if she never saw it coming. In real life, people discuss this stuff beforehand. The proposal is a way of formally doing it, but it doesn't always come out of nowhere.
Please excuse my looong comment.
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Apr 18, 2008 8:33 AM
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Honestly, I thought it was a pretty weak epsiode beside the Jim & Pam stuff. But their stuff was completely adorable, sweet, and amazing so it more than made up for it. Really looking forward to the rest of the season now!
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Apr 18, 2008 8:38 AM
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LOVE JIM HALPERT!
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Apr 18, 2008 8:58 AM
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OMG, I am embarrassed to admit this... but I got honest-to-goodness GOOSEBUMPS when Jim pulled out that ring in the confessional shot right after his seemingly joking comments to Pam up at the desk! And as I realized that the tingly feelings on my arms were actual goosebumps and why I was getting them, I said to myself (outloud even!) wow, I am truly pathetic to do this over a TV show! But then I thought, that's how good these characters are! The writers just made me adore Jim & Pam so much!! And the fact that they are getting them together now in such an awesome way after Jim was so adorably pining away for her for so long... I say goosebumps are completely deserved and not at ALL a crazy overreaction! Right? Someone? Anyone?!?!?! tee hee
Plus, I agree with everyone who mentioned how hilarious they still are even though they are all googly-eyed & swoony over each other! The shoe-tie knee thing, and Pam just calmly saying "I hate you" and continuing to walk was so funny and so "Jam"-ish that I was cracking up, but then you know the ring is right there in his pocket the whole time and she has no clue... jeez, GO WRITERS!!! You are SO doing this right! I am adoring every second of it!
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Apr 18, 2008 9:11 AM
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So much squeeeeee last night - woo hoo!
I love me some JAM! They just get better and better!
I totally agree with the best line being Oscar Meyer Weiner Lover. Also the Wendy's phone call was HIGHLARIOUS!
When I heard Michael say hot redhead or whatever I totally thought he was gonna be dialing Meredith's extension!
Kevin's facial expressions when he was talking to the camera about the 5 families getting together also cracked me up.
I also thought the storyline about the chair model dying was pretty outrageous. I think Michael should have met HER at the coffee shop and have HER say the same lines Michael said, (including trying to get out of the date altogether when coffee guy says her name).
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Apr 18, 2008 9:18 AM
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Am I the only one who was concerned about the face that Pam made after Jim walked away? I hope she doesn't freak out about being engaged so soon after Roy.
Please the office stick with brilliance not melodrama. Ps Way to go BJ Novak. Excellent work scribing.
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Apr 18, 2008 9:21 AM
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