High Praise Indeed

*** Spoiler Alert ***   If you are a fan of "The Office" and have last night's show sitting on your TIVO or VCR, just waiting for you to see it, STOP READING right now and go click one of the links to the right and visit any of the exceedingly brilliant blogs I visit every day.  Come back after you've watched the show so you can nod your head and marvel at my wisdom and perspicacity.  Then go to dictionary.com and look up "perspicacity". 

Really.  It's a word.

                                                  *******

Last night's season finale for "The Office" contained some of the most elegant, brilliant comedic and dramatic writing I've ever seen on television or anywhere else.  This is not just the best show on television, now.  I think it just might be one of the best shows EVER on television. 

I know.  That's sort of over-the-sky praise.  And my Dad, who  waited for both Wayne Gretzky and Bobby Orr to pass the ten-year mark in their careers before grudgingly conceding they might be "great players" (and is STILL reserving judgement on Tiger Woods "until we see how he does in the long run"), would not approve of such gushing after a series has only been on the air for two years.

Sorry, Dad.  I think it may be just that good.

Here's what I said a short while ago about The Office, and I only repeat it to make a point about this week's show:

It is ... a charming, tender story of an ill-fated (possibly?  probably? maybe?) inter-office romance.  In fact, I'd argue that it's more about the two supporting characters and watching their souls try to connect than it is about the office itself and the boss-employee relationships.  I find The Office to be utterly sweet, utterly positive, hilariously funny, and brilliantly written.

Now ... in last night's finale, the romance between Jim and Pam took centre stage.  I've been sort of terrified that the writers might do anything with this, because we can all rattle off shows where the second the couple got together, things went south - Moonlighting, Cheers (although Sam and Diane got together, then broke up, then together, then not ... so a tough call) and Friends (after a while, the Ross/Rachel thing was just frustrating).

For non-viewers who, for whatever reason (and I can't think of one) are still listening to me blather on about a show they don't watch: Pam and Jim work in the office of a paper company.  Pam is engaged to a guy in the warehouse.  Jim loves Pam.  They play and laugh and flirt and brush against one another and it's just delicious to watch, especially if you've worked in office settings.  Where I've heard that kind of thing might happen.

ANYWAY ...

One of the things I love about this show is how they are able to surprise me even when I am braced for a surprise.   That is not easy to do.  I'm neither a stupid man, nor am I totally unfamiliar with storytelling techniques.  I don't get smoked often.  Certainly not time and time again in a five minute stretch.

So last night, on an office Casino Night, Jim ended up out in the parking lot with an attractive superior (Jan) who was frustrated about (doesn't matter here), and you just knew these two were going to hook up in desperation and all sorts of things could happen - discovery by someone else in The Office ... horrendous awkwardness ... discovery by Pam and some sort of repercussions on their friendship/romance ... I was ready for anything ....

... except nothing, which is what happened.  Jan simply asked Jim if he was still going to transfer to another branch (an earlier decision by Jim to escape the pain of unrequited love) and Jim said "Yes".  Had he told anyone?  No.  Aren't there people who should know?  Well, maybe one.  Okay, I see where this is going ...

So he takes Pam aside after her fiancee abandons her at the party, and you're ready for a scene where he says he's leaving and she either gets angry or cries or .. what?  I'm ready ... you can't surprise me ...

... and instead of even mentioning the transfer, he says to her "I love you.  I need you to know that."  DAMN you, writers,  I wasn't expecting that.

OK, but now he's said it, she'll acknowledge she loves him?  She'll cry over her predicament?  She'll ... what?

Get angry?  DAMN.  Again, not expecting that ...

So he goes back inside and she retreats to another room and we see her on the phone, saying "Mom ... he's my best friend ... this will ruin everything ..." and Jim comes into the room ... he's obviously going to plead his case, or tell her about his move and say goodbye ... or ...

... or kiss her tenderly.  DAMN.  And she's already said he's just a friend to her, that she can't do this, she's engaged, so obviously now she has to ...

... melt into the kiss.  DAMN.  Fade to black.  See you next season.

Okay.  I give up.  What an amazing show.

Comments

[Gerah]

Oooooooooooh yeah.

And remember I said this is my one and only "DON'T YOU DARE INTERRUPT ME" show that I watch?

...So Jeremy leaves during commercial to make a snack, (as usual), and misses the WHOLE SCENE where Jim tells her he loves her, and then Jeremy walks into the TV room with his ice cream when they're talking afterwards and my mouth is dropped and Jeremy says "What'd I miss?"

GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!

[Rob]

I assume, then, Nils, you haven't seen the British original (a two-season, plus a two-episode Christmas finale), starring Ricky Gervais (who is executive producer of the American version)?
Because, if you had seen it, you would be saying *it* was the best show, ever, on television. As good as the American one is (and it's grown into its quality; it started out as a weak copy of the British version), the British version is head and shoulders better.

[Nils]

Actually, Rob, I own and frequently revisit the Ricky Gervais series - and I have said before it's also among the best television shows in history. The climactic moment in that series, at the conclusion of the Christmas Special, led to the single, most perfect, "don't-bother-with-a-reunion-special-because-you-cannot-improve-on-this television series finishes in ... well, ever.

So I certainly wouldn't take anything away from that series, although I'll gladly take you up on the challenge of calling it "head and shoulders" better than the American (which was developed and is still guided by the British originators). Obviously, these are subjective calls, and as always, when I say "this is the best TV series in history" there has to be an unspoken "for me" in there.

I do think the American version added some texture to the setting and characters that enhances things ("for me"). Dwight's romantic liason, Michael and Jan's hideously awkward "friendship", the office nemesis in Toby ... the creepily evil Creed ... all are a delight. ("for me")

But I will concede that "for you", the British version is head and shoulders better than the American. Personally, I'm glad to have seen both.

And Gerah, my daughter came home and said "Oh - I forgot to tape "The Office" .. was it a repeat?"

Poor girl.

[candace]

I commented on someone else's site that I literally gasped when he kissed her. I had my hand over my mouth after he expressed his feelings. I was so utterly unprepared for either of those events.

It was ust wonderful, wonderful acting with an amazing script.

[Rob]

I just read elsewhere (Salon has an article on the finale) that Steve Carrell wrote that finale script. That guy's a talent, for sure.
The tension between Pam and Jim was so integral to the success of the show. It'll be interesting to see how they (the writers) handle next season when... what happens? Do other characters take more center-stage?

[mamaloo]

What's really so remarkable about the show/writing is that each one of those characters is so fully fleshed out. And, I'm loving each and every one. Darryl, always baiting Michael, Dwight living in a totally sperate reality from everyone else, his secret and slightly kinky relationship with the overwound Angela, mild mannered and mildy slacking BJ can't extricate himself from the totally cluelessand hyperactively boy crazy Kelly who dresses like a parody of a late 70's office worker, Creed who is apprently a homeless mung bean sprout eating pothead kleptomaniac and on and on and on and on.

Each tiny moment is filled with a solid laugh. And each character could walk off the set and exist in real life.

Yes, this show is gaining momentum like an avalanche in an early thaw.

[wordgirl]

I taped it but am saving it for tonight when Mr. Half and I can settle down with a beer and watch. Even though I detest Pam's Neanderthal fiancee, I've been doubly afraid that the show would "jump the shark" if the writers allowed the romance between Pam and Jim to ever be realized. I CAN'T WAIT!!!

[candace]

Well, *clearly* "ust" is quite the strong word here.

Let's change that to "just".

[Squirl]

The Office usually comes on at 10 and I don't usually stay up that late. I saw the British version a few times and really liked it. I also like Steve Carrell. One of these days it'll all be out on DVD and I can watch it without the suspense.

[Susie]

Oh, I like mamaloo's review. I watched, and enjoyed tremendously, and said, "It's about damned time."

[kalki]

That kiss? It made my week. (Is that sad? You know what, I don't care.)

[William]

I think some of the best parts of this show are the moments inbetween words. Acting in silence is exceptional.