The Office: Casual Friday
By fred | May 1, 2009
(S05E24) Last week Michael (alongside Pam and Ryan) go back to his old Dunder Mifflin, as if the whole Michel Scott Paper Company thing never happened. Except that, of course, he’s still Michael and with that it was obvious that his return wouldn’t be just simple, or low key. He was going to make a show out of it, of course, and he might even want to push things too far, because that is the Michael Scott way after all.
One thing I realized, though, watching this episode, is that I thought the whole MSPC was pure genius, it was the best thing that ever happened to the show, I loved it, and I was of course behind Michael, Pam & Ryan the whole time. That is, after all, how most of those events have been shown to us, how we’ve seen things: through the eyes of the new and short-lived company Michael created.
This week, when Phyllis revealed how hurt she was, how hurt they all had been, because of what he/they did during that time, I’ll be honest it came as a surprise to me. I actually never really took a minute to look at things from their perspective, and it wasn’t Dwight’s angry driving that had any chance of making me realize that, it is true, in his war with the company as a whole, those who Michael went after were also the clients of the very people he always used to think of as his family.
Of course, it’s all relative. I don’t think Phyllis or anyone was actually hurt as much as they just saw some of their biggest clients slip away, and they never liked that. Bringing the family card to the table is just Phyllis’ evil manipulative side knowing how to reach Michael, that is all. Someone like Stanley couldn’t care less about having been ‘hurt,’ all he cares about is to get his clients – and the money that comes along – back.
And if they might have been hurt, don’t think Michael wasn’t, when after being disrespected the way he had been, and asking for support from his beloved employee, those he considered his family, only one of them stood by him and was willing to support him. Being who he is, you can be sure Michael was actually hurt.
Either way, it makes sense they’re not all sop happy to see new sales people coming in and pretty much stealing their clients, and some adjustments were going to be necessary. A few things about this whole situation though :
- Michael is Michael and Ryan is a douche, but couldn’t Pam see how keeping within her own group wasn’t going to be a good idea for the future…
- I’m no expert, but the deal MSPC got was not to get everyone a job, but to have both Pam & Ryan as sales people, and now Ryan is either fired or downgraded to a temp, merely a week at most after wards? Isn’t there a breach of contract somewhere in there, can’t he sue them or something?
- Also, even though we have a new secretary and Pam is in sales, with Ryan gone/a temp and Toby back, it seems that after the creative arc of the MSPC we’re hitting the reset button pretty darn fast. Also begging the question: what’s to come for the season finale?? Troubles due to Pam’s new status? Or Dwight’s betrayal of Michael? Something brand new and completely unrelated to this?
- Loved Meredith’s casual Friday clothing choice, Dwight using urine to send out “secret memos” or Creed’s playing chess.
What did everybody else think?
Posted in Reviews
Shows: The Office
How about Jim and Pams wedding? Surely that will be the finale? Even though they haven’t talked about it that much they have been engaged since the start of the series – i thought Pam would want to get married as soon as possible