Wednesday, May 16, 2007

"The Job"

So it's finally here; the season finale to the third season of The Office. It's been a long year for Dunder-Mifflin and a lot has transpired. Let's recap, shall we?

At the beginning of the season we learned that Pam broke off her engagement to Roy ..... (Okay, this could get insanely long and detailed. Let me simplify):

Pam breaks off her engagement to Roy, but does not act on her feelings for Jim.
Jim leaves Scranton to work for the Stamford branch and makes a fresh start.
Oscar is outed by Michael and takes a long 'gaycation' from Dunder-Mifflin.
Roy pines for Pam.
Pam pines for Jim.
Jim pines for Pam, but is distracted by his cute coworker, Karen.
Dwight tries to steal Michael's job (and fails).
"Toby" kills a bird.
The Stamford branch closes.
Jim and Karen become an item.
Stamford joins Scranton.
Pam meets Karen.
Michael gets dumped by Carol.
Michael goes to Jamaica with Jan.
Michael and Jan become an item.
Andy sabotages Dwight.
Dwight resigns and goes to work for Staples.
Michael convinces Dwight to return.
Andy goes to anger management.
Oscar 'Returns' to DunderMifflin.
Karen learns Jim still has feelings for Pam.
They talk it out (much to Jim's dismay).
Ben Franklin hits on Pam.
Phyllis marries Bob Vance; Vance Refrigeration.
Pam, hurt by the sight of Jim and Karen, gets back together with Roy.
No one comes to Pam's art show (well, almost no one).
Ryan gets sent to the annex with Kelly after dissing DM in front of Michael.
Pam tells Roy about her kiss with Jim on Casino Night.
Roy freaks out.
Pam dumps Roy.
Roy tries to "kill" Jim, but is pepper sprayed by Dwight.
Roy is fired and apologizes to Jim and Pam.
Jim is uncomfortable and keeps his distance from Pam.
Andy returns from anger management and is shunned by Dwight.
Michael almost jumps off the roof pretending to kill himself.
Dunder Mifflin faces the crisis of "the water mark".
Phyllis is flashed.
Michael breaks up with Jan via voicemail.
Michael gets an opportunity for a promotion.
Everyone vies for Michael's job at the beach.
Pam walks on hot coals (who ever thought THAT would happen?).
Pam gains courage and confesses her feelings and frustrations to Jim ("I really miss you").

So there you have it, folks. Keeping it simple still takes a while as 22 episodes are not an easy thing to scale down. The question is, 'What will happen next?'

THIS WEEK:

This weeks episode is called "The Job" and should be the climax of the season (that's what she said). Here's the synopsis by NBC:

The office is still buzzing from the events of their day at the beach. A job opening in Corporate pits coworker against coworker as Michael , Jim, and Karen all head to New York for final interviews. In Scranton, Dwight's new regime institutes sweeping reforms, Pam plays an interesting role, and Jan comes in with exciting news.

The cast keep saying something "big" happens with Jan and Michael and that we should take that literally. (Whatever that means). I also can't wait to hear Jim's reaction to Pam's confession. I know they filmed two separate endings to the finale involving Jim/Pam/Karen. So let's hope for the best, but expect the worst.

LAST WEEK:

This season has gotten consistently better for the last few months. Each show seems to top the previous one. Last week's "Beach Games" was no exception.

Hilarity ensued as Michael put the employees through his 'Survivor'-like beach games. The Sumo suits were absolutely hysterical. The way Jim waddled in his suit was beyond words and the image of poor Andy Bernard floating away in the water was just too damn funny (and kind of sad).




The highlight, of course, was Pam's speech. Pam has done a lot of growing this year and after doing the coal walk she finally mustered up the courage to speak her mind. She said everything I have been wanting her to say all year and even confronted everyone about not coming to her art show. Then she told Jim how she felt.

Besides the fact that the speech was extremely well written, it was also brilliantly delivered by Jenna Fischer. Jenna deserves many snaps for her performance in this episode. She brought tears to my eyes and made me laugh at the same time. John Krasinski's performance was noteworthy, as well. People often overlook the art of listening, but he did a stand up job (sitting down).


The speech itself was perfect. It wasn't whiny or sappy. It was just very truthful and dignified. In fact, the speech was so well done that even if Jim and Pam do not reunite by the end of the season, I will be satisfied based on Pam's speech alone. Go Pam! Go Jenna! Go writers!


"Beach Games" was just wonderful all the way around. Here are my favorite quotes:

Stanley: I would rather work for an upturned broom with a bucket for a head than work for someone else in the office besides myself. Game on.

Andy floats away in his sumo suit.
Angela: I don't understand what you want from me?
Andy: Angela, it's pretty simple. Look at what I'm doing and go tell somebody it!
Angela: Sorry. Bye, Andy!

Pam: I shouldn't have been with Roy. And there were a lot of reasons to call off my wedding, but the truth is I didn't care about any of those reasons until I met you. And now you're with someone else...


Man, I just watched that scene again and my heart just pounds every time. I get so nervous for her. That's a testament to a great show, right there.

Here's to hoping for a great season finale! Remember it's an hour long and starts EARLY (7pm Central/8pm Eastern).

CayceAquaSheep

PS) Special thanks to 'memento_icons' and 'lavitaestbella' at LiveJournal for the wonderful icons.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

We are agreed... Best blog ever! Your quip: "Ben Franklin hits on Pam" made me laugh out loud. Another great episode! But aren't they all? I love your office blogs... the pictures, the quotes, the Cayce version of events.

You'll have to tackle me in order to buy season 3 before I do... We've been watching our 1 and 2 dvds back to back, and it makes us jones for the 3rd installment!

Pam and Jim better get to it! I don't know what I will do???

Cheers and kudos... and all that good stuff.

<3 - Sara

Anonymous said...

Love the recap! Very Cliff's Notes of you. I'm actually not on the same page with you on Beach Games - not one of my faves this season...but that's probably because the whole JAM thing is really low on my list of reasons why I watch The Office. I'm really looking forward to the finale, however. It will be a long, lonely summer without my favorite show about a reality show about a mid-market paper supply firm.

Anonymous said...

...
Karen learns Jim still has feelings for Pam.
They talk it out (much to Jim's dismay).
***Ben Franklin hits on Pam.***
Phyllis marries Bob Vance; Vance Refrigeration.
Pam, hurt by the sight of Jim and Karen, gets back together with Roy.
...

And this is the reason why I love The Office so much.

-specialcamper

Anonymous said...

great recap

-accordingtolulu

Anonymous said...

Yay...a review/recap of the season that's not bitching about it. (I loved it because it wasn't solely about Jam - plus there was more character development - especially among the "secondary" characters.

"No one comes to Pam's art show (well, almost no one)."

That made me sad. Who came? Roy, Oscar and his partner for some reason, and Michael - Michael ended up actually making Pam feel BETTER too (I love when he shows emotion). But then he does THIS: "Michael almost jumps off the roof pretending to kill himself." Ugh. Sorry...just rambling.

~sophistiquated

Anonymous said...

Yay, fun! Excellent summary of the season.

semby