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Episode Recap: Goodbye, Toby
Has it really been a whole year since the last season finale, when Michael, Jim and Karen all competed for the corporate job in New York City? So much has changed, and yet so much remains the same: Michael and Jan might be getting back together (again), Jim and Pam are still a couple and are unengaged, and Toby's love for our favorite secretary will go forever unrequited.
On the other hand, Ryan's gone from the big time to doin' time, which is clearly a huge change. I thought this episode was hysterical, but if I do have one criticism it's that a lot is still left up in the air by the end. It's tough to blame the writers for this: the shortened season caused by the writer's strike no doubt forced them to alter some of their plans and end this year on a more ambiguous note than they had originally planned. Given the choice, I'd definitely rather let The Office play out its storylines in full next year than rush everything to fit inside a single one-hour finale.
For example, we got introduced to Holly, the new HR rep played by Amy Ryan (who apparently cleans up real nice – I didn't realize at first that it was the same actress who played a coked-up mom in Gone Baby Gone). Could she be a new love interest for Michael? She's still under the impression that Kevin is mentally challenged, but what's nice about her is that she's able to finally draw out a more mature side of Michael, one who's able to almost make small talk about Yoda and refrain from saying "that's what she said!" for I believe the first time in the show's history. And there's a really small moment where he takes the microphone at the carnival/going away party for Toby and thanks Phyllis for organizing everything and Darryl for performing with his band. The old Michael would have never thought to acknowledge someone else's contributions, much less thank them publicly. Maybe it is possible for Michael to grow into a better man. Too bad he backslides and is willing to go crawling back to Jan by the end and act as a father to her child (points to all the readers who saw their reconciliation coming a mile away).
It does seem weird, though, that the episode barely touches on Ryan's arrest. While Kelly fantasizes about tormenting him in prison, I think it's more likely than a big chunk of next season will revolve about his trial. Just think of the laughs the writers could get by having the entire staff of The Office take the witness stand. By the time Michael and Dwight get done testifying, Ryan could be facing charges for drug possession as well.
And does this mean the corporate job at NYC is open again? I'm sure I'm not alone in having my expectations completely messed with. I thought the ending would have Jim and Pam getting engaged and moving to the Big Apple so she could go to art school while Jim works an upper-level job. Of course, the show also planted subtle hints that Jim could be getting fired due to Ryan's meddling, or even worse, that Jim and Pam might be growing apart due to her three months away.
Instead, the third plot twist of the show involves Andy hogging the spotlight and proposing to Angela. After she refuses to join him on stage, Andy follows her to her seat (but not before ripping the mic out of Darryl's keyboard, natch) and gets her to agree by muttering, "Okay." Poor Andy – he actually makes Michael look wise and self-aware by comparison.
For that matter, why doesn't Angela have the courage to tell Andy no and admit that she doesn't love him, or even really like him? And why wasn't she able to say it before now? It's not like the woman lacks a cruelty streak: she spends the episode trying to take down Phyllis simply for handling the planning for Toby's party (and doing a ridiculously good job of it). And at the very end, we get confirmation of whom her heart truly belongs to when Phyllis walks in on her and Dwight sans clothes. What's wrong with using Dwight's beet farm? It's very romantic…..
There's still so much to discuss, so I'm going to have to use the Dundies to cover it all:
Best Prank by Jim: Tonight we got the long awaited return of Jim punking Dwight, this time by rigging Dwight's cellphone to go straight to his earpiece. I especially loved Pam's involvement in the prank, and her "I'm confused!" when Dwight tries to set the record straight. And have you noticed how she's becoming more like Jim in general? When Michael insists he wants an anti-gravity machine at the party, Pam just plays along exactly like Jim would have.
Best Creed is Insane Moment: His sudden moment of panic when Holly asks him what does in the office.
Best Michael Seduction Technique: Making Holly a mix CD full of Dave Matthews. I think that only works getting a girl into bed if she's a college freshman and it's still the late nineties.
Best Almost Goof: Did you notice Brian Baumgartner (the actor who plays Kevin) suppressing a laugh when Holly picks through the change in his hand and notices, "this is a button!"
Best (and last!) Michael/Toby Confrontation: Michael explaining that Toby has been cruising for a bruising, and he's the cruise director for the job. And when Toby's gift is revealed to be a rock with a note that says "Suck on this!" Michael tries to blame it on Dwight ("You made me wrap it!").
Best Sad Jan Moment: Her reasoning for visiting a sperm bank rather than having Michael's child – "I need to make this one count."
Best Overall Moment: I know this is going to generate some controversy, but I loved Oscar explaining that Ryan was being arrested for fraud. "But the real crime, I think, was the beard." You said it, man.
Okay, so we didn't get the big Jim/Pam engagement, but it's got to be coming first thing next season. At least I hope so. Until then, life goes on for our Dunder-Mifflin crew. Will Holly ever realize that Kevin is of average (or just slightly below average) intelligence? Will Michael finally be a (sort of) daddy? Will Toby find true love in Costa Rica?
Let me know how much you're going to miss these guys, and since I won't be posting for a little while, have a great summer everybody.
Update: As a number of readers have pointed out to me, the reason why Holly treats Kevin like a child is because Dwight told her he's slow. Sorry for not catching that the first time around (I need TiVo badly).
For more clips and full episodes of The Office and all your favorite shows, check out our online video guide.
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May 15, 2008 11:29 PM
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Re: Holly's treatment of Kevin
As part of the hazing, Dwight told Holly that Kevin was "slow"
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May 15, 2008 11:54 PM
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It's also not the first time Michael has refrained on TWSS.
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May 15, 2008 11:56 PM
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On the hazing, Dwight specifically told her that Kevin was part of a special program.
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May 15, 2008 11:57 PM
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She thinks that Kevin is mentally challenged because Dwight told her that he is.
Jim had the perfect moment - then Andy just jumped in and messed it all up. And Angela's acceptance - file that under lack of enthusiasm. Anyone actually believe they'll get married?
Heidi seemed to be actually warming up o Michael at the end, but by then he had already relapsed his way back to Jan.
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May 15, 2008 11:59 PM
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That very finale seen with Angela and Dwight was pretty unexpected....I really figured Angela was just giving up all hope of love by marrying Andy.
This episode was solid but I did kind of hate the constant "TWIST" moments that seemed to come every other commercial break. It's great to keep the audience shocked, but not to overwhelm with so much stuff.
Good news is, next season will be 28 episodes, so I'm pretty sure that the story will unfold at just the right pace and comedic timing.
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May 16, 2008 12:15 AM
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Liked the episode, up until the last 5 minutes or so, when I felt like it stalled. Michael continuously going back to Jan- how many times can we watch this? Especially after she explained she went to a sperm bank while they were dating!
On to Holly...at first I thought she was playing him on Toby's suggestion. Like "pretend you hate me and Michael will do anything you want."
Then I had an even better thought- wouldn't it be awesome if she was Jan's sister from Scottsdale?!?! They look similar, have the same haircut, wear the same style suit...they never did say where Holly came from, only that she was new to town.
So sad for Pam and angry at Andy- until he pulled the keyboard off the stage. Too funny, all was forgiven.
And you hit the nail on the head with the best overall moment- "The real crime, I think, was the beard."
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May 16, 2008 12:37 AM
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I'm actually relieved by this episode! there were a few cliff hangers, but nothing like last season when Jim asked Pam to dinner and said it was a date.
My overall favorite moment was Dwight and Angela. I had to watch that part like 5 times! But the line about the Beard was a close second.
I don't think Dwight was too far off saying that Kevin is slow... He kind of is...
I'm sure Jim will get Ryan's job in NYC and he and Pam will be together. The message he left Ryan will probably be heard by Wallace and it showed real determination.
Poor Michael. He wants to be a dad so bad that he is willing to be a sorta dad.
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May 16, 2008 2:28 AM
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Oh and Jack, you should work on getting the Tivo over the summer... 
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May 16, 2008 2:28 AM
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I didn't like this ep. that much. For one, I thought Jan's baby should have been Michael's. Now that it isn't, it makes that twist kind of boring.
Also, why didn't Toby let Michael have it? I mean come on! What a let down!
Yet I do love Holly. She could be a great change to Michael.
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May 16, 2008 6:49 AM
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LOVE Holly and Michael together! When she busted out the Yoda, I lost it! Coming into the finale I expected Michael to get back together with Jan but by the end of the episode, I was shocked when it actually happened! She continues to get crazier and crazier by the second! Although, what if the baby actually is his? Maybe she's doing it as some sort of test to see if he would make a good dad? I dunno... i'm grasping at straws here.
I was really sad that the left the JAM relationship the way it did. But I LOVED Dwangela getting it on at the end - I love those two!
The new HR lady thinking that Kevin is slow is SO great.
And I agree that I think Oscar had the most classic line of the night about Ryan's beard. Why don't they give him more of a role on the show? He's funny!
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May 16, 2008 8:36 AM
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Was anyone else with me in wanting the baby to be Hunter's (Jan's assistant)? How funny would that have been? I'm just excited to see where they take it from here.
The beard line was hysterical.
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May 16, 2008 8:39 AM
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gamecockjen - I TOTALLY thought that Jan's baby's was Hunter's at first!!! Gawd, that would have been funny. For some reason I just can't shake the feeling that the baby is actually Michael's... if not, then she is crueler than cruel!!!
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May 16, 2008 8:53 AM
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No one mentions Mose? Sweet, sweet Mose? I LOVE the way he runs!
My favorite line of the night is a tie between Holly's Yoda impersonation and Meredith's very subtle "Thanks for bringing that up" when Dwight said the racoon did not have rabies. Usually it takes me a couple times to watch the episodes to catch lines like that one, but I was glad to catch this one.
I loved this episode. Mainly because I love Michael acting/becoming "human" and Jim giving Michael great advice, which he actually follows. I was worried I wouldn't like Holly or playing a possible love interest, but I think she and Michael had such a great connection and while I hope Toby comes back, I wouldn't mind seeing Holly stick around.
Oh yeah, just thought of another great line, this one from Kevin. "I am totally going to bang Holly tonight... She is so helpful....."
Clearly, Jan having a baby is a last ditch effort to get Michael back, and it appears it has worked, unfortunately. I like her on the show, just not with Michael. I was so dying for Michael to kick Kevin to the curb after Kevin agreed to go get "dessert" with Holly.
And I loved Jim telling Ryan off. I agree, I would have loved to seen a full episode around this (Ryan getting mad at Jim, Jim telling Ryan off, Wallace get involved, Ryan go to jail, etc.) I was worried that Jim would go to NYC to go with Pam and that would start the spin-off show, but I think we avoided that, thankfully.
And one last thing, I was really hoping Michael would have been wearing the "5-15-08 Toby's gone... but who's counting?" t-shirt to the party that NBC is now selling. That would have been icing on the cake.
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May 16, 2008 9:00 AM
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Oscar's beard line was definitely the best of the night.
Coming a close second was Michael saying to Jan, 'You cheated on me when I specifically asked you not to?'
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May 16, 2008 9:13 AM
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