Another Look at Our Favorite Television Shows: "The Office" Edition
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My wife and I are re watching the American "Office", and we are currently in the midst of the eighth season. When we started the re watch, I was kind of excited to watch this show that I loved so much. And, the first 4 seasons did not disappoint. They were just as good, if not better, than I remembered. I loved it all over again. Steve Carrell was so god damn good on that show. He was a great person to play the Ricky Gervais role as boss. He was ignorant, arrogant and did the uncomfortable humor so perfect. The stuff with Jim and Pam was phenomenal. The looks, the flirting, the shooting each other down, it was masterful stuff. Dwight was great. He is the co worker from hell, and he excelled at this. He would be a nightmare to work with. Really, everyone in the first four seasons is just great. They made it feel like a real office. I felt like I knew all these people. I definitely worked with these people when I did work in offices. The show was clicking on all cylinders.
Then, Jim and Pam decided to get married. I'm not as put off by this as most, but it still looked the beginning of the end of this show. Personally, I would have ended it after the wedding. But, they had built up new characters, Darrell, Ryan, Kelly, Angela, Oscar, Kevin, they all had story lines that were unfinished. So, I understand that they couldn't just end it there. I admit, they had some great stuff happen in the next couple seasons. Michael dating Pam's mom I thought was pretty funny. Holly and Michael having to break up brought out the awkward comedy. Getting Holly back on the show was pretty neat. Introducing Kathy Bates as Jo Bennett I was a fan of. Gabe was a solid addition. I mean, it helps a lot that Zach Woods is such a good and unique comic actor. I liked the stuff with Idris Elba. I was even a fan of Will Ferrell's three episode arc on the show. But, all the stuff after season 4-7 that I truly enjoyed was the Steve Carrell stuff. He was easily the best part of the show.
Near the end of season 7 Steve Carrell left the show. We all knew this was coming. Carrell said that he was going to leave the show to do movies. And, they handled his departure pretty gracefully. Yes, it was pretty corny at times, but I still found it funny and nice. I loved the last Dundies episode. I enjoyed watching him being annoyed by Ferrell, but eventually accepting him. Then when he up and left a day earlier than he had told people, I liked that too.
Now we have the Carrell less season 8 starting. When they premiered, it wasn't that great, but it wasn't that horrible. The search party stuff was pretty funny. Getting all the guest stars that they had was pretty cool. I mean, Jim Carrey, Ricky Gervais, Will Arnett and Ray Romano, they are no slouches. But, in the end they picked the most callous, uninspired choice to replace Michael, Robert California, played by James Spader. Admittedly, I am not a James Spader fan. I have just never really liked him. Also, after picking him to replace Michael, they wrote in the fact that he became CEO due to his way of talking to people and made Andy Bernard(Ed Helms), the regional manager. No character on "The Office went through more character changes than Andy Bernard. First he is cutthroat, then he is an ass kisser, then an idiot, then a bad salesman, then good again, then a pushover and finally, put in a position of power, only once again to fall from his high post. It is maddening. But, while currently watching the eighth season, I just am amazed at how much the writers, actors and directors just seemed to phone it in. They legitimately look like they are just going through the motions. What could have been a great spot for Rainn Wilson to totally take over the show, he just seems to be going through the motions. The writers wrote in a pointless subplot of Jim and Pam having a rocky marriage. They are supposed to be the perfect couple, then all of the sudden, they are constantly fighting and seemingly on the edge of breaking up. That is outrageous. Kevin becomes dumber by the season. Oscar and Angela magically become best friends out of nowhere. Meredith just falls further in the hole as an alcoholic. It is all just ham fisted and kind of dull. And the writing in the last 2 seasons is subpar at best.
Like I said, during the re watch, it just got bad. James Spader was the wrong choice to replace Steve Carrell. This show does not fit his roles that he usually plays. He is too serious for a show like this. I am waffling on if I want to finish the series or not. I seem to remember season 9 being even tougher to watch than season 8. But, I will probably finish it due to my OCD. I have heard rumors that some people previously involved want to bring the show back. I beg you, please don't do it. That would be such a bummer, and it would not work out. I'd still watch it, but I do not think it will be good.
I guess what I am trying to say, if you have the inking to watch "The Office" again, stick to the first four seasons. That was when the show was best. Don't bother with seasons 5-7, unless you are a big time Carrell fan, and don't even bother with seasons 8 or 9 because they are not very good at all. I'm glad I'm re watching the show, but it really took an unexpected turn the moment Carrell left, and it is for the worse.
Ty
Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast. He was going to rewatch "Boy Meets World", but has yet to catch up on "Girl Meets World". There is way too much quality television out there.
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