Great Moments with Michael & Dwight

One of these days I'll get around to doing an actual blog. 'Til then, enjoy the good ole days with this video.




Cordially,
CayceAquaSheep

Has it really been 10 months?

Man, it's been a good, long while since I've updated WOW. (Yes, I abbreviated my blog title). The reasons are twofold:

The main reason why I haven't updated WOW is that no one ever seemed to really read this thing. I would spend hours on each entry (because I'm a perfectionist) only to have no one care. (I'm really not looking for pity here, though. I'm over it). I would spend an hour or so each Friday night making screen caps from the previous night's episode. I'd have to make a lot more than I ended up using, so that my writing could just flow and then I'd insert pictures accordingly. Then I'd spend at least an hour constructing the written portion. Then another hour editing and trimming it down. It was exhausting, but also very rewarding as long as I knew people were reading it. In the end, though, I think I only really had two reliable followers. So, after a while, it just didn't seem worth the time anymore.

The second reason is because, in my opinion, the show's quality has been slipping. I don't know if it's because Greg Daniels has been out a lot working on his new TV show with Amy Poehler and Rashida Jones called Parks and Recreation (he also took one of the best writers of the show with him, Michael Schur, who occasionally plays Dwight's bearded cousin, Mose) or if the writers are just getting too comfortable and not taking risks (man, that makes me sound pretentious or something; as if I could come up with anything better. That's so not how I meant that to sound).

For the first three seasons, the show had such a realistic quality to it. That was the whole brilliance of the show to me. I could relate so well to their environment.

Michael wasn't as sweet or as ultimately vulnerable as he is now. You felt bad for him in a way, but you also loved to see him squirm and be taken down a notch from time to time. Now Michael is so sensitive that you just end up feeling sorry for him ALL the time. I miss the old, roll-your-eyes-at-him Michael Scott who was mean to Dwight and thought he was better than everyone else. You know, like a real boss.


Dwight's character has also morphed. He has always been dweeby, but in the earlier days there was a subtle tinge of insecurity under his breath, probably stemming from a deep need for Michael's approval. Dwight always thought he was smarter than everyone, but he was still gullible enough to fall for Jim's pranks (Now they almost get along. What's that about?) The newer Dwight is kind of hardened and stern. He's too confident, which takes away his likability and his whimsical dorkiness that we all know and love.


Angela has aslo changed. I really don't think the old Angela would have found it so easy to two-time Dwight & Andy. She's always been the moral (and judgemental) police and I really feel like even if she had been two-timing them we would have seen some sort of dilemma going on in her mind a couple seasons ago. Do you remember when she started opening up to Pam about her issues with Dwight in season 3? I really liked that. Now she's just kind of wicked. They've even got her licking cats? WTF?

Andy is still fun, but I kind of liked his arrogance and desperation in the beginning more (pre-anger management). I don't have a lot to complain about with Andy, though. Ed Helms is just too adorable not to love. Who knows? Maybe Andy will have another meltdown in the near future. That would be awesome.


Did I mention that Ryan used to be cool...and kind of cute? I loved him as the temp before he became a dillweed at corporate. He was so uncomfortable around Michael. My favorite Ryan moments include the scenes from The Fight where Michael gets Ryan's cell phone number and calls him all day using various celebrity impressions including Michael Jackson and Mike Tyson. Another favorite was in The Fire where Michael tries to give Ryan business advice and Ryan outsmarts him at every angle. Then they have that horribly awkward scene in Micheal's Sebring where Michael tries to bond with him and Ryan looks like he's about to vomit from the uncomfortability factor. That was comedy gold. I miss that.


I'm still a big Jam fan, but I have to admit I was more excited by them before they became a couple. I was so elated when they finally did get together, don't get me wrong (and I don't think the writers could have waited any longer without it getting old), but now there's just something missing. Maybe that's only due to the fact that the focus has been taken off of their storyline in recent months. I still enjoy their scenes together, there's just not enough of them, in this hopeless romantic's opinion. Occasionally their perfectness as a couple seems a little unrealistic to me, too, but that's just me being nit picky. A good fight between them at some point might liven things up, as long as they eventually make up. Even before they became a couple they'd have little arguments or a day where one was upset by the other (i.e. Halloween, The Fight and Boys & Girls). Those little spats always made the good times more poignant. Can't have the sweet without the sour, as the saying goes. Overall, I still love Jim and Pam, though, and I always will.

I suppose what I'm getting at here is that what used to be the little foible of each character has now become that character's shtick. All those little idiosyncrasies that made the characters so rich are now über exaggerated and stuffed down our throats, whereas before, they were very subtle and, therefor, very real. It's like they're trying to appeal to the masses now by taking all the intelligence and subtlety out of the show.

Having said all this I still love the show. It will always be special to me. It got me through some rough times and lodged itself right into my heart. For that, I will follow the show to it's end. I still look forward to it every Thursday, but my enthusiasm has waned a bit in recent months. Hopefully Mr. Daniels will come back to save it soon.

Until then, maybe I'll turn this blog into a Greatest Hits kind of situation rather than a weekly review. I think that would be fun, don't you?

Let's start out with a little reminder of the good ole days:




Sincerely,
Cayceaquasheep

"The Deposition"

Okay. So it's been five months since The Deposition originally aired, but it has to be said that there will be no review in honor of what was the writers' strike. They went on strike and, apparently, so did I.

So even though I thought The Deposition was a terrific episode I could not write the review. The bleak, wintery strike put my favorite show on hold and threw my writing muse out the window along with it. Luckily, the inspiration is slowly creeping its way back into my spine and something tells me that by April 10th it will be back in full force.

So, since there's no review, I'll leave you with these pictures to honor its memory; a memory montage, if you will. Enjoy.





Pam: Every time Michael's in a meeting, he makes me come in and give him a Post-It note telling him who's on the phone.



Kelly: What has two skinny chicken legs and sucks at ping pong? ...I'll give you a hint: It's not my boyfriend. I think it's a guy over here.




Jim: So you're asking me to defend your honor against Kelly? ...Bring me players.






Toby gets no luv from Michael.
Who can resist those Basset Hound eyes?

Toby's Revenge.
Lawyer: Mr. Scott, who is this other woman, Ryan? You refer to her as "Just as hot as Jan, but in a different way."






Michael: Hey David? ...I think you're a nice guy too.

Cordially,

CayceAquaSheep

"Survivor Man" Review

All play and no work makes Survivor Man a dull episode.

Okay, so it wasn't THAT dull (it's The Office; it's never bad), but it was certainly my least favorite of the season. Too much time was spent with Michael out in the wilderness and not enough on the good birthday fun going on inside the office.

The episode did have its moments, though.



For starters, I enjoyed Dwight's hidden weaponry. All that stuff was great.

Dwight: People say, "Oh, it's dangerous to keep weapons in the home or the work place." Well I say, "It's better to be hurt by someone you know accidentally, than by a stranger on purpose."

And all the birthday stuff with Jim was fun, too. I loved that Pam was having fun with the idea of Jim being assertive and "shaking things up a bit." Too cute.

Jim's notion of having a communal birthday party didn't even sound like a good idea to me. I was definitely on the side of the other employees. Anything to get me out of actually having to do work.

Kevin: Yeah, I work hard all day. I like knowing that there's going to be a break. Most days I just sit and wait for the break.

Right on, Kev.


Even practical-minded Oscar didn't like the idea.




I also loved that, during his one day in power, Jim slowly evolved into a more Michael-like position. It kind of gives you an idea of how Michael became the character that he is.

After all, it's gotta be tougher than one might think to try and play moderator to an office full of picky employees. You can't please 'em all. Although, I think Jim's social skills would carry him further than Michael...or at least make him a more tolerable boss (and a cute a one at that).


Jim: Yup, Phyllis called me Michael. And I will always and forever be haunted by that fact.









Some of the scenes with Michael in the woods were fun and some fell flat. I did like the pants tent scene. (I'm embarrassed to say I didn't get the joke until earlier this week when someone mentioned it online. My mind just didn't go there for some reason, but obviously I think it's hilarious now).


Michael: Well if you take a look at this, I tented my pants. I've made myself a nice pants tent shelter.

The mushroom scene was pretty awesome, too.



Dwight: I will let harm befall him. I will even let him die. But I will never let him lose his dignity.






But the scene that really MADE this episode for me was the bonding moment between Jim and Michael at the very end. That was so adorably funny. Jim confesses his birthday mistake and Michael admits to having tried it himself at one point in the past. (Okay, actually this whole conversation is totally worth posting and it says it much better than I ever could. So here goes):



Jim: You did do it?
Michael: Uh huh. Yeah, just wait. Ten years, you'll figure it out.
Jim: Well, I don't think I'll be here in ten years.
Michael: That's what I said... That's what she said.
Jim: That's what who said?
Michael: I never know. I just say it. I say stuff like that, you know, to lighten the tension...When things sort of get hard.
Jim: That's what she said.
Michael: Hey! Nice. Really good. Bravo, my young ward.


For that scene alone, I can't dislike this episode. I don't know about you, but it certainly left me satisfied and smiling.


Cordially,
CayceAquaSheep

"Branch Wars" Review & WGA Strike

Silly string and a ‘Finer Things Club’ in one episode? The irony behind these little absurdities proved to be rather irresistible indeed.

When I initially saw the promos for Branch Wars I have to say that I was not too thrilled to see Jim, Dwight, and Michael sporting fake mustaches and warehouse uniforms. “How far can they take this without it being completely ridiculous?” I thought. Then I saw the episode.

If it weren’t for Jim’s level-headed disapproval of Michael and Dwight’s cockamamie scheme to “panty raid” the Utica branch, this episode would have been a little too over-the-top, but thanks to attentive writing by Mindy Kaling and clever directing by Joss Whedon the scenes remained somewhat grounded and were delightfully thrilling to watch.

In no other TV show will you hear hilarious lines such as Dwight’s “You’re making me spray!” and “I think I cut my penis on the lid!” and have it be completely believable and true to character. I love that Dwight thought absolutely nothing of setting off actual bombs at the Utica branch and that it only took Michael 10 seconds to approve of the notion, as well.


Jim’s attempts to avoid being implemented in the ordeal all together were pretty hilarious, too; especially when they involved Karen. In fact, my favorite line came from Michael in the scene where Jim tries to duck out of sight in the car while Karen is a few yards away.

Michael: Take her to a motel. Make love to her, Jim…Just climb on top of her and think about Stanley. …Jim, if this is it for me, promise me something. Host the Dundies?


(See how Mindy slipped in a reference from one of her own episodes?).




The scene with Karen and Jim near the end was so enjoyably awkward. I felt bad for both of them, actually (well, more so for Jim, but…). He reacted rather boyishly to her confrontational interrogation and kept accidentally putting his foot in his mouth.

For example:

Karen: Thank you so much for coming to Utica, and breaking my copier, and telling me how well things are going in your relationship. Really, thank you.
Jim: [slinking out of the room] Alright, you are welcome.

(I loved the way Jim slipped out of the room at the end).



I also loved that the whole purpose for these futile shenanigans ended up being due to a failed bluff by Stanley to earn more money. Brilliant.





Pam’s ‘Finer Things Club’ was also great fun (and what a great opportunity for Toby, eh)? I loved the montage of Pam, Toby, and Oscar dressed in different outfits and eating themed food to the various books they had been reading each month. The French berets were the best. Did you notice they were eating crepes?



Andy trying to get into the club was painfully fun, as well. The deleted scenes show that Pam, Oscar, and Toby decided to put him on a wait list, which seemed to please Andy to no end. (Also in that scene, did you notice that Pam was using the same teapot that Jim gave her in the Christmas episode from season 2)?



I loved Pam’s pity-invite of Jim to the ‘Finer Things Club’ and I loved even more that Jim fouled up his opportunity by putting on an Irish accent for “Angela’s Ashes” and then not even bothering to read the book; calling the somber novel a “fun read”. The disdain on Toby’s face at that line was terrific.





Toby: What was fun about it for you? Was it the death of the twins?
Jim: No, that wasn't fun.

In any case, I’m sure Toby is none too pleased to have Jim pry his way into the club he had so happily shared with Pam. Oh, and Pam shaking her head in disapproval at Jim and mouthing the words “I’m Sorry” to Oscar was great.



Overall, I’d say it was an amusingly fun episode, which seems to be a forte of Mindy Kaling’s. (Think of episodes she wrote like The Dundies and Diwali). We need these silly episodes every now and again. They help lighten the mood of the show. After all, Office hi jinks are always fun as long as they come in small doses.


***************
As we all know, the WGA (writer's guild) is on strike. Steve Carrell and Rainn Wilson have not shown up for work this week (as they are members of WGA) along with producer Greg Daniels. The writers will not cross the picket line. Here is a picture of writer Gene Stupnitsky (who has graciously replied to a couple of my MySpace messages) and Ed Helms picketing, courtesy of ricksterbot: Click here for the image.

I support this strike 100%, but I can't say that I'm happy the show has been put on hold. Greg and Rainn said the episode that was scheduled to shoot this week was the best episode either of them have ever read for the entire series. So that's a little sad and frustrating because I'm so anxious to see it. But who knows how long this strike will last?

The WGA Strike of 1988 lasted about 6 months and cost the industry $500 million dollars (source). If we have a repeat of that this time around, Season 4 of The Office may well be over come Thanksgiving Thursday when we run out of episodes. In the meantime, there are two episodes that have already been produced and are scheduled to air; this week's "Survivor Man" and next week's "The Deposition".

So lets keep our fingers crossed for a positive outcome for the WGA and hope that it wall all end soon. VERY soon.


Cordially,
CayceAquaSheep