Episode 1 - The List
23 February 2012
Synopsis: New branch manager Robert California has become new Sabre CEO with Andy as his branch manager. Erin gets left with Robert's note book and sees a list of his employees' names written in two columns. Everyone becomes concerned over what the list means and when Robert takes one group to lunch the other group become paranoid. Pam is pregnant (with a boy) as is Angela.
The Good: The new era for The Office begins in mixed fashion. I guess you could look at the encouraging signs from this episode and hope things are going to get better. Or you could look at the worryingly familiar signs and assume that nothing has really changed. I'm more with the latter but I won't deny there were some good things going on here.
Robert California didn't shine as he did in the season finale. Doubtless it will take time for the writers to work out how best to use him and that's fine. The plot with the list of names was ok. We've had so many new bosses that it felt a bit familiar. Remember DeAngelo's inner circle (723)? However at least there was some logic to this. For a start he is the CEO and he has this weird psychological control over people so it's natural that people would care what he thinks. He also picked a group of "winners" who are the most productive workers in the office (aside from Kevin). His honesty was also refreshing. Instead of a Michel-like justification of his actions he just came out with his assessment of everyone as either winners or losers and challenged them to prove him wrong (or right). If he continues to be a straight talking boss that could be good for the show. It could be.
The choice of Andy as branch manager is far more precarious a decision. I'm 95% sure I won't like it but at least Andy's attempt to vouch for his fellow workers felt more authentically affectionate than when Michael did similar things.
As usual Jim and Pam could be relied upon for the simple and effective emotional stuff (also see Comic Highlight). Pam's emotional vulnerability made some sense as she fretted over being in the losers camp. Jim's final note for her with his own winners and losers (his family v everything else) list was touching. Again simple and effective.
The Bad: What makes me doubt that this really is a new era is that so much of what was on display was the same stuff we have been seeing for the last three years.
Andy as branch manager feels disconcertingly like a Michael Scott replacement. He cares too much what other people think of him and talks around a problem rather than being direct. I worry that the writers will just try and replay Michael plots with Andy taking his place. The fact that his co-workers don't really respect him is a difficult situation too.
Dwight continues to lack proper definition. As far as we know he is still a law abiding citizen and good employee yet he physically attacks the "losers." Why would he think that was a good idea? What would that accomplish? Later he sprays water at Creed to brag about his status. I can understand the bragging but why spray water on Creed? That didn't suit Dwight, it was fine for Kevin.
Similarly why on earth would Stanley make up a catch phrase? That makes no sense. His whole character is built around not caring about his co-workers and wanting to avoid all silly shenanigans. "It's my thing now" just doesn't sound like something he would ever say. I can understand Oscar nodding along, trying to look smart in front of Robert but it's sad to see Darryl doing the same. His character badly needs to be redefined as having more of a backbone. The planking was another silly gimmick that just undermines the sense that this is a real workplace.
Finally it's worth asking what kind of pseudo documentary we are watching when Robert can talk Jo into vacating her position in favour of him. That's a Family Guy plot not something that should happen in a simulation of the real world. Don't get me wrong, I much prefer Robert to Jo as a part of the show. But I also prefer logic to silliness.
Comic Highlight: Pam joking that she and Jim are going to call their baby Michael Scott. Though to be fair I did love Andy's attempt at inoffensive small talk with the line "Kind of a medium year for women's soccer, no?"
That's what I said: I think the wait to see if The Office writers have learnt any lessons from the shows decline in quality will have to wait for another episode. This was passable.
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