Episode 1 - Fun Run
4 January 2009
Review
Synopsis: Michael runs over Meredith with his car, cracking her pelvis. He takes all the office staff to see her. While Angela goes with them she asks Dwight to go and feed her cat Sprinkles who is old and ill. He euthanises her much to Angela’s dismay. Michael desperately tries to find a way be liked again and seizes upon Meredith being treated for rabies in hospital (see 316). He organises a charity fun run to raise money to fight rabies. Jim and Pam “come out” as a couple, at least to the camera crew. A double length episode.
The Good: Early on in the episode there is some good comedy. Michael hitting Meredith is a shock and the way he tells the office that “the doctors did all they could” is plausible and quite funny. Even better is Kevin’s silly attempts to prove that Pam and Jim are dating. Twice he tries to clap for something which no one else does which is also fun. Kelly not knowing if Buddha is part of Hinduism is amusingly plausible.
There is so much Michael throughout the episode that some of it is quite fun. His treatment of the Sikh tech guy is fun as is his ridiculous claim that European offices are naked all the time. Once he begins to organise a run against rabies we get some obvious but still pleasant jokes including the giant cheque, Darryl playing with a squirrel and Michael asking for a show of hands by those who know someone affected by rabies.
The Bad: But there is just too much Michael in this episode. Early on there is a real overdose of cuts back to him talking to the camera. His neediness and self justification become tiresome very quickly. Then he begins to behave in ways which are too stupid for a real person which drags the episode down. First is his suggestion that they go back to worshipping animal gods and then there is his fervour about rabies when he knows it only kills four Americans a year. After a while his selfishness and stupidity are more annoying than they are amusing.
He is not helped by the fact that this is a two-part episode without a good reason to be so. I assume the network wanted to encourage viewers to really get into the season by giving them a double helping. But I feel it waters down the episode by stretching it beyond its natural length.
Dwight euthanising Sprinkles is a very unsympathetic act. It’s difficult to know if we are meant to hate him or think it is funny. Neither result is achieved as it just makes him look like a cold, uncaring person. Angela is a figure of derision but we can’t help but feel bad for her. The Office is walking a strange line with those two as they are both unlikeable and this story is more sad than anything else.
Why is it the responsibility of the camera crew to force Jim and Pam to admit that they are dating? It seems like they could have let them have their privacy.
Comic Highlight: Michael calls his new boss Ryan:
M: “So I need a little treat for the gang, something to win their affections back.”
R: “Back? Why is that Michael?”
M: “Well, I ran down Meredith in my car.”
R: “Ohhh. Did you do this on purpose?”
M: “No I was being negligent. But she’s in the hospital, she’s fine, recovering nicely, a tiny little crack in her pelvis.”
R: “Did this happen on company property?”
M: “Yes, on company property with company property, so we are fine. Double jeopardy.”
R: “I don’t think you understand how jeopardy works.”
M: “Oh right I’m sorry. What is we’re fine?”
That’s what I said: A mixed opening episode for season four of The Office. Because of its success it has been rewarded with several double length episodes to start the season. Sadly I think this is a mistake. Alone, the first half of this could have been a really fun episode but it soon becomes bloated with too much Michael and starts to drag.
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