Episode 9 - Dinner Party
4 January 2009
Review
Synopsis: Michael creates a fake overtime assignment in order to trap Jim and Pam into coming to dinner. He also invites Andy and Angela while Dwight feels slighted. At dinner Jan and Michael’s dysfunction is laid bare for all to see and Dwight arrives uninvited with his ex-baby sitter.
The Good: Michael engineering a dinner party is consistent with his character and specifically his behaviour this season (see 404). There are also a few jokes which should make you smile. The ones I smiled at were Jan taking Pam’s wine and saying that it will be great to cook with. Michael’s tiny plasma screen TV and using the word afterbirth instead of aftertaste. The Rome joke (see Comic Highlight) and Jim deliberately guessing incorrectly at Michael’s clues, just to see him get frustrated.
The Bad: This episode bases its comedy around cringing. It is a style of comedy which focuses on embarrassing or inappropriate behaviour. I personally think it isn’t funny. I find seeing people in distress not the least bit amusing. You may disagree and see real humour in this portrayal of Jan and Michael’s relationship.
But for me this is about the most uncomfortable twenty two minutes you could imagine. Michael and Jan are decent actors and so their portrayal of two damaged co-dependent people is all the more disturbing. The following is a list of things which you may have laughed at but which I found sad, depressing, disturbing or just not funny: Jan having an office and a work space in Michael’s condo. Her useless candle business which Michael hopelessly promotes despite clearly not believing in it. Michael’s tiny bed which she forces him to sleep on. A reference to them filming their intercourse (at least consistent with 322). Jan’s completely unjustified paranoia about Pam. Jan’s former assistant Hunter singing about having sex with her. Jan putting down Michael’s humour, berating and generally emasculating him. The implication of her poisoning the food and Michael running for ice cream like a child. Their horrible argument which leads to her smashing his TV with a Dundy and Michael getting three vasectomies all on Jan’s whims.
The other characters hardly curry much sympathy from this either. If Andy were a real person then he would realise that Angela is not interested in him. But he has no definable character and so his actions have no meaning. Jim and Pam have suffered Michael’s behaviour for more than three years now. As this episode descends into deeply uncomfortable territory I can’t help but look at them with derision. At some point they need to stand up for themselves and just leave. Or have the guts to tell Michael to break up with Jan. Pam has already tried once (322), so not trying again makes both her and Jim look pathetic. Their glances at the camera and general revelling in other people’s problems makes then look unkind.
Why would the cameras be present in Michael’s home? I know it is the formula of the show but it heightens the inappropriateness and lack of reality in Michael and Jan’s behaviour.
Comic Highlight: Jan implied dinner will be in three hours time. Pam looks incredulous and asks for clarification. Jan informs Pam that in Spain they often don’t eat until midnight. To which Michael adds “When in Rome.” That’s funny on two levels (you know, because they are not in Spain and neither is Rome).
That’s what I said: The worst episode of The Office I have ever sat through. I have tried to be objective and look past my dislike of uncomfortable scenes but here it is not possible to do so. This is one desperate scene after another, each one more saddening than funny. This has the potential to really turn off some viewers, so it is not good for the show.
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