THE OFFICE: Crime Aid
October 23, 2008 by Kath Skerry
Ladies and gentleman, now that’s how I like my OFFICE. Left feeling a little empty after last week’s episode, “Crime Aid” brought me back to my happy place.
THE OFFICE is at its best when it utilizes the power of the ensemble cast and last night’s episodes did that and did it well. From the inter-office banter surrounding the robbery to the scenes as the disaster of an auction in the warehouse, the cast all had their moments (ok well maybe not Kate Flannery but I’m sure Meredith will show up in a deleted scene…she always does).
Michael and Holly are in that blissful phase of a new relationship when nothing matters in the world other than being with your new S.O. It’s all about the stolen glances and kisses. So you can imagine that a thing like locking up the office at night so people don’t break in and steal all your stuff wouldn’t really register on to Michael and Holly’s radar.
To help raise funds to recoup the losses of his employees, Michael concocts Crime Aid (Crime Reduces Innocence. Makes Everybody Angry. I Declare), an auction in the warehouse which is “like Farm Aid. But instead of farms fighting against AIDS, it is us fighting against our own poverty”. Here’s something else he could try….filing an insurance report. But Michael’s employees are dealing with dramas of their own which have nothing to do with their missing office supplies.
When Andy and Angela set a date for the wedding, D-Money starts to panic. Setting the date makes the wedding real – it’s going to happen. These are times when I wish Jim and Dwight were that much closer. If there’s anyone in the office that knows what Dwight’s going through right now it’s Jim Halpert (aka J-Money and T-Money).
Sensing Dwight’s sadness, Phyllis reaches out to him as she is the only one that knows about their sorrdid affiar (well her and the cameras, and us). Dwight doesn’t understand how Angela can choose Andy over him. Phyllis says so much with so few words: “Angela’s not really a risk taker. And Andy’s not really a risk.” Phyllis offers Dwight some sage advice – give Angela an ultimatum. It’s him or Andy. The deadline is set (6:14pm). But when that time comes and goes without Angela’s acknowledgment Dwight is left devastated. Phyllis is once again there for him, this time setting him straight – she chose Andy and it’s time for Dwight to move on. “Okay. Fine. I’ve moved on. Now how did I get her back?”
The dynamic between Phyllis and Dwight was an interesting flavor in last night’s episode. When these two interact it’s usually contumelious so it was a nice change of pace to see them play off each other in this way. And Dwight bidding on Phyllis at the end, even if it was perhaps in an attempt to make Angela jealous, was a really sweet move.
Also disarmingly sweet is the relationship between Michael and Holly. I’ve never seen Michael so happy, not even when he got to spend quality time with Ryan in NYC. Holly allows him to be who he is without judgment, and Michael is a better man because of it. Talk about the perfect couple! It’s clear that these two are M.F.E.O. and nothing will pull them apart – oh perhaps except the CFO finding out about their relationship. (And with that we know have Amy Ryan’s exit strategy from the show…I can’t talk about it – it makes me too sad).
Selfishly the best part of tonight’s episode for me was the return of David Denman!! Not the return of Roy, because that had its issues, but I loved seeing David back. I really do wish they could find a way to bring Roy back to the show – not as a foil for Jim and Pam – but I’d love to have him kicking around the warehouse again. I mean if Ryan can come back after being arrested for defrauding the company, surely Roy could load a few boxes on to the Dunder Mifflin trucks, right?
But the return of Roy was in fact all about Jim and Pam. And before we get into the real reason for Roy’s appearance, can we please talk about the look of pure panic on Jim’s face when Roy showed up at the bar? I don’t think I’ve ever seen John Krasinski look so young. He went from a guy in his late 20’s to a 14 year old kid in two seconds flat. Roy wasn’t there to beat up Jim – he was there to hang with his friends. Actually it was kind of nice to see Roy and Jim share a beer. If the circumstances were different, and Jim weren’t engaged to Roy’s ex-fiance, I could almost see them being buds. When Jim nervously announced to Roy that he and Pam are engaged, Roy takes it well, and offers the couple his best. It seems that at the end of the day, he just wants Pam to be happy. Aw, Roy!!
But when Jim mentions Pam’s drunken escapades with her friends in NYC, Roy slyly mentions that he thought Jim was her friend. Uh oh. Cut to Jim in the car racing to see Pam in NYC. If she left her fiance of ten years for one of her friends, what will stop her from doing it again. Poor Jim, he looks truly worried.
Just as he sees the sign for NYC and the point on no return, Jim (and the writers) make a sharp u-turn and head in the opposite direction. Jim declares that he’s not that guy and they are not that couple. And I declare that the writers of THE OFFICE know exactly what they are doing! Once again the writers avoid another typical TV-couple cliche. And you thought I was worried (ok maybe just a little).
Before we move on from the Jim & Pam stuff I must say this…I MISS JENNA FISCHER! For the love Jim Halpert please tell me we are going to see her more next week. Even when Jim was in Stamford we got to see what he was up to. And yes, I guess we did get too see Pam at her new job at Corporate, but come on, that wasn’t enough. These Pam phone calls just aren’t cutting it. I miss her. I really felt the loss of Jenna Fischer last night in what was otherwise a pretty awesome episode of THE OFFICE.
So many great moments from “Crime Aid” including possibly the best “that’s what she said” ever! Here are just a few of the highlights for me:
– Michael and Holly’s ‘put it all out there with no pretense’ banter: “I’m free tonight. Is that too eager? I don’t care. I’m free tonight.”
– Dwight: She introduced me to so many things. Pasteurized milk. Sheets. Monotheism. Presents on your birthday. Preventative medicine.
– On the robbery: Creed: Nobody steals from Creed Bratton and gets away with it. The last person to do this disappeared. His name? Creed Bratton
– Jim re: Pam’s drunken message: “The future mother of my children.” (P.S. I get that Pam is living the life she missed out on while she was with Roy, but does anyone else feel like she’s regressing? She would have flipped her curly-topped lid if Jim stayed out until 8am drunk and pal’ing around with some random girl. I just get the sense that Jim missed her more than she misses him. That being said, I’m not worried. I promise.)
– The one auction item I would have bid on (assuming a night with Jim Halpert wasn’t on the docket): Creed Bratton. Yeah, it’s all inclusive!
And last but certainly not least “It squeaks when you bang it. That’s what she said”! …and that’s why THE OFFICE is my favorite show
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OMG I LOVED tonight’s episode!! So funny. Roy!! I think we got the best “that’s what she said” ever tonight I’m going to go watch it again.
That’s more like it.
Michael the auctioneer was too funny.
At first i thought Roy was going to reveal he hooked up with drunk Pam in NYC the night before. The subtle jab by him was pretty evil in its own way though.
Dwight was just fantastic at being Dwight. Making a knife with a knife. Pointing to his junk. Air out of Phyllis’ tires. “…And one cent!”
Brian will do your taxes. State and federal! Too funny.
The nerd couple of Michael and Holly is pretty amusing and sweet at the same time.
My only problem is that Pam is still in nyc. Bring her back home already!
I loved Jim turning the car around and saying “No because I’m not that guy and we are NOT that couple”. It’s like the writers were telling us they are not going to go there with Jim and Pam’s relationship. No cliche. I loved it.
Am I reaching?
I loved all the Dwight/Phyllis interaction, especially the way that he needed her help but had to throw in at least one moment of being a huge jerk every time.
Also good:
Michael’s slavery reference
Darryl’s contribution to the auction
The part where Michael brought up sex was cringe-inducing. And it had not occurred to me just how much of a breach of professionalism it would be for the head of a branch to date the HR rep. And this is after he dated his boss.
I am not one to laugh out loud much during any TV show really but Michael’s conversation with himself in the conference room made me have to pause the TV so that I could catch my breath so that I could go on. I don’t remember the last time I laughed so hard. I don’t know what it was but it still makes me laugh when I think about it.
Great, great, great episode. So full of hilarity! Great job writers and Jen Cellotta for directing.
Go MOLLY! Michael and Holly are too precious. I love that she isn’t going to leave, but David Wallace will transfer Holly for dating Michael. This gives the opportunity for more appearances and phone calls, maybe????
Loved seeing Roy again! Jim acted just a little too chicken, though. I had to rewind to hear what Roy said, but what a great line! “I thought you were a friend” lol priceless
nice to see a different couple of actors together in Dwight and Phyllis. It was like they were a little more honest with each other than other characters (like Dwight calling her out for wanting to retain her head of the party planning committee position–although he’ll be the first one to have her removed once they are back together).
Go MOLLY! Michael and Holly are too precious. I love that she isn’t going to leave, but David Wallace will transfer Holly for dating Michael. This gives the opportunity for more appearances and phone calls, maybe????
Loved seeing Roy again! Jim acted just a little too chicken, though. I had to rewind to hear what Roy said, but what a great line! “I thought you were a friend” lol priceless
nice to see a different couple of actors together in Dwight and Phyllis. It was like they were a little more honest with each other than other characters (like Dwight calling her out for wanting to retain her head of the party planning committee position–although he’ll be the first one to have her removed once they are back together).
My favorite episode of the season! I loved every moment of it. I also really liked the Phyllis and Dwight moments- great. And Michael and Holly are just too cute
I know you’ll hate that I will say this, but I almost forgot Jim and Pam are engaged. Without seeing their relationship and banter, Jim tends to fade into the background. It’s disappointing.
Surprised you didn’t mention anything about Michael’s fake Bruce Springstein tickets. Nothing to add?
Ah Courtney, there was so much to discuss that if given free reign this post would have taken you 2 years to read. That’s why I have people like you…you know, to talk about the other stuff that happened.
I thought the Bruce Springsteen stuff was funny, but it was just another filler moment. I thought Michael mistaking Bruce for Huey Lewis was the funny stuff.
And man, between The Office and Chuck, Huey Lewis has gotten major play on NBC this season.
This review is SPOT ON. I’m right with you. Best episode of the season, and perhaps best episode since S2. I’ve not been overly critical of the episodes so far this season in that I haven’t found them outright *bad*… but they haven’t really been good, either. But this episode brought back everything I love about this show. I’m excited about The Office again! 😀
The Office is having a great season so far – it seems to be getting better and better with each episode. I’m really sad to think about Amy Ryan leaving, too – I really hope she comes back in some recurring role at least, at some point this season. I love Holly and Michael together and they definitely have to end up together eventually! 😉 Time for Jan to join Roy and Karen!
It was so great to see Roy back though, at least for one episdoe – wish he had more a part last night, but was glad to see him back all the same. I also totally trust The Office writers in their handling of Jim and Pam, though I totally agree that Jenna has been sorely missed this season – cannot wait for her to be on the show more.
And yes – that was the best TWSS so far!
Oh now how could I have missed Michael’s favorite Bruce Springsteen songs?!
* Three were Huey Lewis songs
* One was Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car”
* Another was “Short People”
This was my favorite ep in a long time. Phyllis and Dwight, Molly, Dwangela… all gold. Loved your review, GMMR.
Truely funny episode! Loved all the quotes and scenes mentioned above…fav episode as a whole this season. It was nice to see an episode directed by a woman (I think the first time?). Some weird stuff – the editing at the bar with Jim and Roy wasn’t great, they kept cutting back and forth quickly and the continuity with expressions didn’t match. I also noticed after Jim supposedly left with the warehouse guys, you could still see him sitting in his chair in the background of the next auction scene.
I miss Pam, too! I think we have a few episodes to go before she comes back, but I hope we get to see more of Jim/Pam together, or atleast more of Pam in NYC. Have we not seen them together since the proposal? Holy crap.
* Michael’s auctioneer skills? hilarious!
* Michael’s “I’ll probably have soup” talking head
* Pamela / Ricola! (you know the episode is off to a good start when you’re laughing so hard at the cold open you have to pause it so you don’t miss anything!)
So I was watching this last night with my boyfriend and there was a funny exchange:
Randi – “Oh wow, guess that’s how Amy Ryan is going to leave the show.”
Paul – “What? She’s leaving?”
Randi – “Oh yea, she is only signed on to do a few episodes, she’s not going to be full time.”
Paul – “Shouldn’t you come with a spoiler alert or something?”
Hahaha. In all honesty, I hope it’s more like previous relationships that mostly happen off camera. They could bring her back every so often to reassure us that they are still together and then bring her back for the wedding episode. That’s what Michael & Carole were like and it worked for the show. I would hate to not see Michael & Holly together. 🙁
Great episode, great recap!
Creed’s line was my favorite – so genius. And of course, I also really loved Jim’s, “No, because I am not that guy, and we are not that couple.” Nice one, writers – way to show the doubters that you’re not going down those cliche roads. That being said, I do wish that we would see more of Pam. Pretty please?
I also thought this episode was really good. The auction was hilarious and Michael and Holly together are great. It was also a great decision by the writers to have Jim not go to NY. I miss Jenna Fischer too. I hope we see more of her next week.
I loved the “auction people off… like the old days” comment and look from Stanley. Also, Ryan’s look of shame when David Wallace entered the room and Oscar’s enthusiastic bids for David Wallace’s vacation house on Martha’s Vineyard.
Oh, and David Denman being back just made my week. I am from Scranton, and whenever people ask me about the realism of the show, I tell them that there is one actor who pulls off Scranton townie, and that is David Denman. Pitch perfect.
This was a great episode. I think I may have to reconfigure my top 10 because of it. Well done
So instead of finishing studying for my physics test tomorrow, I’ll do this.
Since you’re oh so fine, I’ll be the one FREAKING OUT! Yes, I said it. Don’t know why, but I am. Majorly. And having David Denman back was awesome. I miss him sometimes. AND PAM!
Now I get to blame D.Walls (so patenting that) for Holly if she ever leaves. Denial is a great thing.
All-in-all, pretty spectacular episode.
This season has me excited for The Office again! This episode was almost Season Two quality and that makes me a very happy camper.
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