TV Review: The Office 9.22/23, "A.A.R.M."
rating: 2.5
The second to last episode ever of The Office had a lot going against it, mostly the last couple seasons. However, despite leaning on some of the worst traits of the show, A.A.R.M. managed to ultimately make me feel things other than disappointment and resentment so it wasn't all bad. Seeing as how next episode is the series finale, I think I'll save my attempts at articulating the show's cultural and personal impact for that review and for now simply assess what worked for me this episode and what didn't. Let's get Andy out of the way. Is the documentary going to follow him chase fame until he ends up completely broken? Why did Andy dress up like an old man? Has the series really been reduced to an American Idol parody just so Clay Aiken, Santigold, an NFL quarterback, and the dude from Sugar Ray could make guest appearances? I suppose I should appreciate bringing Andy to his rock bottom before seeing him humbly return to his sales position at Dunder Mifflin, but exactly none of it was funny, moving, or entertaining in any way whatsoever. There are four more plots in this episode: Daryl saying goodbye, Jim playing the role of Assistant Regional Manager to the fullest, Jim convincing Pam to not feel guilty that he's given up on his company in Philadelphia, and Angela and Dwight's reconciliation. While the former two hit their respective marks, the latter two didn't really do it for me. I thought Daryl's story of realizing being sandwiched by Kevin and Erin was a more accurate tribute to his time with these people than a stealthy and uneventful exit was honest, organic, appropriately moving, and thanks to Clark's sarcastic contribution, funny. Watching the return of goofy Jim may have been, as I said last week, a last ditch effort at bringing the series full circle, but I must admit I enjoyed watching. John Krasinski and Rainn Wilson are perfect as the straight man/wacky man duo and I loved the posters and paintings Dwight put up, as well as the Battlestar model. If only this dynamic was established three seasons ago as opposed to the penultimate episode. Then there's the final cap on Jim and Pam's conflict. When I first saw that Pam was feeling guilty about keeping Jim away from his dream job I couldn't help but roll my eyes she gets what she asks for but still isn't happy. I get it, but c'mon. Anyway, despite thinking that a montage was a kind of lazy way to resolve the conflict (and I seriously did not buy the camera operator's somehow simultaneously dead and overly enthusiastic response to Jim's plea for assistance considering how it worked out for the last documentary crew member that stepped in to Jim and Pam's business), the call-back to the teapot card was a really nice touch. The golden couple's resolution feels really rushed and pretty unearned , but it probably could've been worse. Whatever, these two won me for life back in the first season. Finally there's Angela. I said it best in my review of the last episode when I wrote that, the whole pity party for Angela angle is an utter failure, and it still is. The State Senator drama dragged on for WAY TOO LONG. It, and the question of Phillip's paternity, have completely lost any value they may have arguably once held and invoking these elements now, in the second to last episode, do nothing for the audience. Oh, and apparently Phillip IS Dwight's son? And Angela was just going to keep that from Dwight forever?! This woman is so much worse than I ever imagined. I would be happy if the character ended up dying and Dwight raised Phillip on his own. He'd probably be better off. Oh, and apparently Kevin is actually developmentally disabled infants cannot buy giftcards and I cannot buy that a grown man actually believed this. And why was Stanley Hudson of all people excited to dance? So much nonsensical characterization despite Jim and Dwight's clear no nonsense policy. So after nine seasons, eight years, and according to Phyllis apparently eleven years in TV Land, The Office will come to a close. True the last few seasons have been sub-par, but I contend they were worth it for the greatness achieved in the series' first half (personally, I was on board through the fifth season). A.A.R.M. mostly coasted on the nostalgia of those better seasons, but I still got misty eyed when I heard the opening lines from the pilot. I'll spare you my tears till next week. I mean, in six months.