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The Office: Goodbye, Toby

By fred | May 16, 2008

(S04E14) So here we are, for what will already be the season finale of The Office. And, much like its first episodes, this is a special one : it goes on for a full hour. Of course I’m sure many of you have the same bad memories of the hour-long episodes, but they were not all bad, the last one of them was actually pretty good, and this being the season finale pretty much guarantees - I would imagine - that this one will be awesome as well.

Like everybody else I had many questions about what would happen, and one big wish : that everything stays within the office. I tend to like it better when the show stays there. Other than that, I have faith. The only thing I knew was the episode’s title, and I have to say I’m sad to see Toby go, if he really goes, because he was always such a fun character. Not “fun” per-se, but he’s always miserable and his relationship with Michael with really something to enjoy, at least if you’re not Toby.

Case in point : when the episode starts Michael is coming in early, he couldn’t sleep, just because it’s Toby’s very last day and nothing could make Michael any happier. This is it, the day he goes away, what could possibly be better than getting ride of Toby ? In Michael Scott’s world, nothing. But many many more things occurred during this hour, so much that I don’t even know where to start.

So let me say this : this was indeed a really great episode, I loved it. I really did, even though by the end, things got a little bit “ugly”. Not that the episode turned bad, no, but the events did. And maybe, just maybe, it was a little too much. But we knew something like that was coming, this might be a sitcom, there’s always been a great mix of comedy and drama in this show, and one thing they do really great is indeed blend in drama and emotions. Plus, I’m pretty sure all fans of the show care so much about all those guys, Michael included, that seeing what happens to them makes you feel pretty deeply.

Take Michael. This was going to be the happiest day of his life, and he knew he would never forget about it. Toby, that big evil monster who kept dragging him down and preventing him from becoming the best most fun boss in the world, the one who kept ruining things in the workplace, was leaving. So he was willing to have the best party ever, and because Angela wanted a normal, low-key party, Phyllis got in charge. And, Michael even gave some on “his” money as well. Not really his money, it’s all the birthday checks his Nana sent him. Because she’s getting old, she’s been sending him checks a lot more than once a year, and he’s been cashing them of course. He also hide the money in his shoe, pure Michael Scott’s style, and forgot about it till now.

This led to another of those little plots this show is so good at : portraying real office problems, fights, just the boring daily life of hating your boss or co-workers, getting to build up conspiracy against some of them, and thinking that the Party Planning Committee is actually a really big deal, worth fighting over and shredding your list of vendors (though I doubt Angela actually did that).

Michael was obsessed about Toby and his departure, little did he know that, as he was leaving, someone else would come in. Believe it or not, I too didn’t even think about Toby’s replacement until she walked in ! Meet Holly, the latest addition to the cast, or at least I really hope so, because so far things have gone so well with her that I can’t wait to see where this is going. Of course Michael hated her at first, because due to Toby he felt that everyone from HR had to be evil, because that whole department was “a breeding ground for monsters”.

But, being Michael Scott, as soon as he met her he changed his mind, completely, in fact he declared himself in love already ! Thank God Jim came in to try to calm him down and tell him to take things slow, using his own experience (with Pam) as examples of how things could/should go. Is it me, or has Jim being a lot more friendly and “respectful” towards Michael lately ? Ever since he’s had a taste of being in charge and seeing things blow up in his face, I feel that Jim actually understands Michael more, feels for him, cares even.

Posted in Reviews
Shows: The Office