TV Review: The Office 8.19, "Get the Girl"
What is going on indeed, Jim.
rating: 1.5
It only took nineteen episodes into the eighth season, but the writers have finally convinced me that theyve just stopped trying. Let me break it down for anyone reading who missed the episode. In terms of plot, Andy went down to Tallahassee, Florida to confess his love for Erin and after going back and forth a bit, she eventually accepts Andys proposal that they get back together (even though she knows he still hasnt broken up with his actual girlfriend, Jessica) and rides with him back to Scranton. While Andy is absent Nelly shows up at the Scranton branch followed by Robert California and literally becomes the new manager simply because Andy happened to not be there and she bribed the staff with raises. Thats it. Then the episode ended. Presumably next episode will deal with this fallout and therell be some sort of competition between Nelly and Andy and maybe hell awkwardly break up with Jessica while other staff members do something silly. The Office used to be so brilliant, so effectively executed and now its been reduced to the flimsiest of plots that make no real logical sense and offer no emotional resonance but hey, theres jokes about Kevin being dumb and Toby being awkward so its still a good show right? Wrong. First of all, as I mentioned several times throughout the season, no one cares about Erin and Andy anymore. And if they do, its entirely because of the viewers sentimentality for a series that no longer exists. Thats because the show has done nothing to earn any sort of suspense among the various situations it puts its characters in. Theres nothing at stake and therefore no reason to care. This applies just as well to the Nelly plot. Dont get me wrong, I like the character. Shes obnoxious and rude and presumptuous, great ingredients for a sitcom character, much like the early Michael Scott save everything that made him sympathetic even at his most inappropriate. But the fact that there was such a big deal made out of who got the manager position after Deangelo Vickers (Will Ferrell) left makes me absolutely furious that some woman who Robert California, the goddamn CEO of Sabre, doesnt even like can simply show up without any explanation as to why she would leave her position as President of Special Projects at the corporate headquarters and start handing out raises and suddenly shes become the new branch manager? Look, I get that its just a TV show. Im not angry because of some great injustice done to a bunch of fictional characters. The reason Im pissed is because I, like so many other fans, have become invested in this series over the years and now it appears that investment was all for nothing because apparently there is no rhyme or reason to what occurs on the show anymore. Even as I write this my frustration has subsided just enough for me to think that this was done on purpose and things will be set right before the end of the next episode. One could even argue this was a sharp, scathing indictment of corporate cultures lack of integrity but even if thats the case, this was still a crap episode of The Office. Sure, we saw Creeds giant smile and Dwights line about celery farmers but little bits like that arent what make good television which even sitcoms still need to strive for. Get the Girl was a slap in the face to anyone whos ever crafted, appreciated, enjoyed, or even had an ounce of respect for the art of television and film. When something like this occurs on a show like Smash or 2 Broke Girls its one thing because those shows havent been around for more than a season and not much is necessarily expected, but on a series thats been around for the better part of a decade and cultivated a devoted fan base its tragic. The closing scene of Nelly describing her interpretation of the American dream as random was the only thing that kept me from becoming even more disappointed with the episode because her analysis is right and thats fucked up. But whats worse is that even though it was an apt bow, it was still tied to the box of shit that was Get the Girl. I realize Im probably overreacting here, but a fan can only handle so much disappointment before he has to let off some steam. Do you guys agree this was the worst episode of the season? The series? In the history of television? Or did it have enough redeeming qualities to keep me from firebombing NBC? Speaking of, I think Im going to go console myself by watching the triumphant return of Community. What is going on indeed, Jim.