Last week’s “Mafia” was an offer we could easily refuse. Hopefully this week’s journey into DunderMifflinLand will have a little more pizzazz. Let’s go!
Jim and Pam return from their honeymoon with candy, which I think is more than generous. Michael pretends to be a character named Blind Guy McSqueezy… sigh.
After the theme song, Michael reveals to Jim that he’s been fooling around with Pam’s mom. Understandably, Jim flips out and wants to keep the news from Pam. As the couple presents Michael with some rum from Puerto Rico, Pam eagerly wants to know who Michael has dinner plans with. Pam runs out screaming.
Later, Michael has a meeting about volunteerism and caring about the community at which Pam flips out and tells Michael what she really thinks about him. The office is horrified when they discover the news about Michael and Pam’s mom, but Michael makes an emotional appeal. Pam is still furious, spurring a showdown between her and Michael.
The situation gets so bad that Michael turns to Toby for some conflict resolution. That doesn’t work, so Michael and Pam have a screaming match in the kitchen that goes nowhere.
Meanwhile, Dwight plants a bug in a wooden mallard to be placed in Jim’s office. Jim outsmarts Dwight by first playing an opera loudly and then giving the duck to Kelly. As punishment, Jim makes Dwight clean Pam’s car. Jim tells Pam that Dwight did it to make her feel better and then cheers her up by reminiscing about their honeymoon.
Quotes of the Week:
Michael: Good, a pact. Although I may have to break it tonight when Helene and I tell Pam over dinner.
Michael: I think you’re underestimating Pam. I think, more than anything, she wants me to be happy.
Jim: Not more than anything.
Michael: I’m gonna start dating her even harder.
I deem this week’s MVP to be Jenna Fischer as Pam. Honorable mention goes to Leslie David Baker as Stanley. He made an art of being a background character in this episode. Every facial expression was priceless.
Bonus points for: Creed’s tears during the opera, Ryan’s fedora and Jim and Pam’s honeymoon inside jokes.
This was a much more solid episode than last week’s outing. I guess Jim and Pam kinda hold the office together – which is why it was so great to see the once mild-mannered Pam go ballistic. It was also nice to see Jim working on being a good husband and trying to support Pam, whether through inside jokes or hot chocolate.
Are we to assume that Pam’s mom is collapsing in on herself like a dying star like Jan once did by dating Michael? It’s easy to understand Pam’s disbelief and hysteria when you’ve known Michael as long as she has.
As for the Dwight subplot, I liked the idea of him bugging Jim’s office. That’s classic Dwight. But him ultimately outsmarting Jim was not only creepy, but out of character – something that’s been a theme for Dwight since late last season. He’s become less dorky and more creepy… and a little clever. I guess he’d learn a thing or two after awhile, but his snarky comments just ring untrue for me. Bring back classic Dwight.
Next week on “The Office:” In “Koi Pond,” it’s Halloween and the office plans a haunted house for the children in the community. And at an important business meeting, Michael falls into a koi pond. Meanwhile, Pam and Andy go cold calling to drum up more sales.
Read more on “The Office” at Urban Living.
