Episode 5 - Local Ad
4 January 2009
Review
Synopsis: Dunder Mifflin buys ad time to promote their new website. Each branch is allowed to add a little flavour to the spots which run in their market. Michael is having none of this and decides to make his own advert. Andy keeps telling Dwight about his relationship with Angela. Dwight is still miserable about losing her and so retreats into playing “Second Life.” The Good: This is a simple episode with a happy ending. Michael’s silly ideas for the advert are harmless and occasionally entertaining. It does make a nice change to see all the employees relatively happy and enjoying themselves. Dwight’s Second Life character being just like him is a fun touch and fits his self confident attitude. It also leads to a nice moment for Jim when Pam discovers he has created a Jim who plays guitar and is a sports writer in Philadelphia. It’s one of those rare moments when we get a glimpse into the private dreams of one of the normal characters. The jokes are pretty gentle throughout. Dwight not recalling the correct advert is passable. The punch line that he thinks it is a cat food (when it should be Kit Kat chocolate) may amuse some. Michael calling Ryan a little bitch when he doesn’t know he is on the phone is fun as is his attempt to motivate the entire office by saying “you are so much more creative than all the other dry boring morons that you work with.” I also laughed at Stanley dressed up as a prisoner in the advert but with his suit and tie clearly visible underneath. The Bad: The story being told between Dwight, Angela and Andy is a weird one. It would seem the show would like us to sympathise with Dwight and be happy for him when it becomes clear that Angela isn’t over him either. However we have no reason to like him, especially after euthanising her cat (401). Andy looks like a complete moron for believing that she is at all interested in him, when she won’t even let him kiss her. In fact it makes him look like an actor playing a stupid part. There is nothing about his cocky, annoying personality that makes it plausible that he can’t read basic human communication. There is a lack of good jokes in the episode. Michael’s advert isn’t really funny which you might have assumed it would be. Looking back on the episode it feels like a lot more fun could have been had if they had shown us them making the advert. Comic Highlight: Jim says the advert is a good idea because no one has heard of Dunder Mifflin. “When I tell people I work for Dunder Mifflin, they think we sell mufflers. Or muffins. Or mittens. And frankly all of those sound better than paper so I let it slide.” That’s what I said: Not a lot to say really. A mildly entertaining episode. Not very funny but not too annoying.
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