Episode 2 - Dunder Mifflin Infinity
4 January 2009
Review
Synopsis: Ryan returns to Scranton having taken Jan’s old job. He brings new blackberries for the office and announces the launch of the new Dunder Mifflin website which will change the way they do business. Jim and Pam “come out” as a couple to the office while Angela tells Dwight that it is finally over between them. Michael decides to try and win back old clients using gift baskets to show that the old ways still work. A double length episode.
The Good: Pam and Jim have a nice dynamic here. Seeing them as a happy couple is really pleasant after three seasons of build-up. Michael is actually quite sweet with his delight for them and Dwight has a nice line when he says “I think they could both do better.” They share a particularly good scene when Jim asks Pam if the magic is gone now that they are a couple. She says yes it has and they banter for a minute before he leaves and she lets out a very real looking smile of affection.
Ryan trying to deal with people who still see him as the temp is enjoyable. He handles himself well during the episode, trying to be firm with Michael while also showing off to his former colleagues. Creed pretending to be young is fun but is very obvious humour.
The Bad: The Michael storyline is depressing at times and ultimately pointless. His railing against the new ways is sad to see as it is inevitable that he will fail. His speech in the office about new ideas being illegal is stupid and his treatment of Mr Dunder is pretty mean. Watching him and Dwight get rejected by each office they visit, drive the car into a lake and then pathetically demand their gifts back is not fun. Seeing people miserable and hopeless is just not that enjoyable.
As Michael and Dwight escape from the water logged car, Michael has a nice moment when he releases the camera man. But this does reminds us of how the presence of camera men in the show has been completely abused. Earlier we see Dwight and Angela at dinner. Even if the cameras followed them to the restaurant they should not have microphones on in there. The show wants to keep the format of a documentary but bends the rules so it can tell the story it wants to tell. That type of inconsistency does a bit of damage by making the audience think about how the show is made and what is clearly not possible.
Kelly getting dressed up for Ryan is fun but they could have made so much more of her fake pregnancy than they do. There are some nice one-liners sprinkled around but this is a disappointing episode for humour.
Comic Highlight: Michael talking to the camera. “Yeah Ryan snapped at me but there was this twinkle in his eye that I picked up on. Which said ‘Dude, we’re friends, I’m doing this for appearances, I am the big boss now. I have to seem like an ogre. But you know me and you trust me and we like each other and we’ll always be friends and I would never take you for granted in a million years and I miss you man and I love you.’ His words.”
Conclusion: An episode which is sad to watch at times. The stuff in the office is passable but when Michael leaves the office the fun stops altogether.
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