TV Review: The Office 8.7, 'Pam's Replacement'
I try to be optimistic with The Office considering the challenge the show was tasked with overcoming after Steve Carell left the series, however, I knew from the episode title, “Pam’s Replacement” that I would probably be annoyed by it.
rating: 1.5
I try to be optimistic with The Office considering the challenge the show was tasked with overcoming after Steve Carell left the series, however, I knew from the episode title, Pams Replacement that I would probably be annoyed by it. Who wouldve guessed seeing that title the episode would revolve around Pam getting jealous of her replacement? Anyone. Who was afraid the episode would fall flat? Everyone. But Joe, your pompous assumptions only concern the plot which on paper could go either way its how the plot is moved forward that defines a story. Well put, however, Pams Replacement failed in that department as well, miserably. This episode wasted its characters whom appear almost as tired of the stories theyre in as the stories themselves. The only elements that only slightly redeem Pams Replacement were Dwights viciousness and Jims sarcasm if only because it felt relevant for the first time in a long while. Overall though, this episode was another example of just how lazy The Office has become. Take the cold open for example which involved Andy requesting Erin provide him with a phony phone call to decline in front of a client. This same exact gag was used as the cold open to The Deposition from season four except it was Pam providing Michael with fake messages. The main difference this time around was that instead of the scene ending just as the subordinate attempts to improvise a conversation in front of his superior, which succeeded in achieving more with less by nailing the joke after establishing a rich set-up and then letting the audience imagine how horribly it mightve gone, Andy very plainly explains the process to Erin who takes the gag one step further by eliminating any room for Andy to decline the call by explaining its from the police with the message that Andys mother has died and its not a joke. Granted, I thought Erins twist is funny in and of itself, the joke is far so obviously derivative of an earlier episode that its distracting. We then get right to the meat of the episode, meeting Pams temporary replacement during her maternity leave, Kathy. Kathy is young and pretty (as Dwight so eloquently breaks down for us biologically and geometrically) and Pam notices the entire staff, Jim included, having acknowledged this so she becomes insecure and concerned for how her husband sees her physically. This is a very normal and reasonable reaction given that Pam is pregnant with her second child, however, the ways in which she then goes about coping with said insecurity are not only obnoxious but lack any compelling emotional weight. Also, I like Pam, or at least I used to before she became the whiny emotional ying to Jims swarthy yet coolly rational yang and I wish the writers would stop putting these characters in these molds as they are so much better and more complex than that.
On the other hand, this episode urged me to side with Jim as I couldnt help sympathizing with his plight since Pam was being so incessant and unrelenting in her interrogation of Jim it seemed as though she would not be satisfied until he told her hes not attracted to her, something she obviously doesnt actually want to hear. Jim aptly points out the futility of such a tactic comparing it to why he wouldnt tell his daughter Cici violent video games are more fun even if its true. I liked this line and the one in which Jim wryly says he did indeed feel something for a coworker he hadnt felt for a long time referring to when Dwight subtly fell on Jims penis because he does admit to what is established as true to the camera while also expressing its ultimate meaninglessness when compared to what we all know and have never doubted to be his true feelings for Pam. Clearly Pam doesnt know Jim as well as the audience does because if she were to ask anyone whos been watching The Office shed know what we do the point being that regardless of the validity of Pams insecurities, after seven years, I dont think anyone sincerely doubts Jims feelings for his wife. Plus, the aforementioned line also expresses what I think the audience feels that we havent felt the love we used to feel for this series in quite some time. The other side of this tiresome affair takes the form of Dwights fervor to make Jim look bad as demonstrated by the aforementioned exaggerated piece of slapstick in which Dwight falls into Jims crotch as well as his brutal honesty concerning Pams attractiveness which while funny, not only didnt really work since the situation was so tedious, but made me nostalgic for back when Dwight was less callous and misanthropic and more ignorant of normal social conventions because I believe his former naivety was much more sympathetic than his current corrosive disposition and provided greater opportunity for absurdity than does his cynicism, although, I did chuckle at how offhandedly he insulted the old man who wanted to use the blood pressure machine. The episodes subplot was extremely straightforward and predictable. As soon as Robert California expressed interest in jamming with Kevin and the Zits (a name which was not agreed upon) anyone could predict he would gradually hijack the session and thats exactly what happened, though I dont think any of us predicted it would be done so mundanely. Because the performance took place in the warehouse we got some obvious input from Val the new downstairs employee and thats about it. Andy, Daryl, and Kevin eventually just leave and reconvene outside which I guess is supposed to express how much it sucks to have an insensitive boss whom one cant stand up to, but this theme has been expressed so many other times so much better by any number of instances from when Michael was still present that this story doesnt even register. It also doesnt help that neither Daryl nor Andy had anything significant or distinct from each other to offer (no one really expected Kevin to stand up to Robert, Kevin was once again reduced to an over the top goofy parody of what used to make his character so effective). Id write more except theres nothing else to the episode. The Jim and Pam story resolved itself when Pam realized Jim may have high blood pressure and although I guess I approve of an actually important concern trumping Pams childish one, it felt beyond lackluster and again, I didnt care. So Jim might have high blood pressure, take some Lipitor whatever. Andy, Daryl, and Kevins story (and I use that term loosely) ended with barely a whimper, let alone a bang (unless you count the drum battle of the post credit closing scene, but sweet drum solos aside, I dont). These endings may have been effective had their respective rising actions carried any emotional depth or relevance but I just didnt feel it was earned. Pams Replacement was a wasteful, tedious episode that truly squandered its vastly talented cast and I cant help but feel The Office just isnt trying anymore which in turn sadly makes me feel like I shouldnt either.