After last week’s intense departure, “The Koi Pond” was a return to form, and had all the markers of my favorite kinds of episode: weird character explanations, group activities, and A and B stories that complemented each other without being redundant. Michael got soaked, Pam and Andy got maybed, and Jim got a taste of outsiderness.
For me, “The Koi Pond” boiled down to Erin’s warning to Michael: “People are asking questions.” The questions Michael himself asked this week summed up his character pretty well, starting with “Why is Christmas the only holiday that can have a message?” He wondered “why would you date an amateur when you could date a professional?” And then as usual, he got a little more serious and emotional — “Who are your five friends?” — before resolving with “Jim is jealous of me?” That’s Michael’s whole Office trajectory right there: Silly, out of touch, and then way, way too in touch. It’s not that he’s fundamentally incapable of self-awareness, it’s just that it’s a bad idea for him.
The “Do Not Mock” list felt a little warmed over for an Office subplot, but it was completely enlivened by Meredith’s bizarre confession that she’d had sex with a terrorist and Creed knowing a “worm guy.” I wish we’d gotten to see what the insecure Kelly and Ryan put on the list, but maybe that’ll be on the DVD.
Finally, Andy and Pam’s trip to make cold calls was at turns a little creepy — Andy way overstepping personal space boundaries and kissing Pam’s stomach repeatedly as they pretended to be a couple — and kind of touching — Andy would make a really devoted father. Pam and Jim’s out-of-office escapades this week had them learning roughly the same lesson: This weirdo I work with deserves some compassion. And it’s a lesson we the audience were supposed to internalize, too. It worked for me, not only because I’m wild about Ed Helms’ under-appreciated performance as Nard Dog (ugh, seriously, people: so good) but also because the last few weeks have been exhaustingly awkward, pushing every cringe muscle I have past the point of enjoyment. This week reeled it back in, sort of explaining if not quite excusing a lot of Michael’s bad and Andy’s odd behavior by telling us that, well, it’s hard to be the two of them.
Other observations:
– I couldn’t get everyone’s costume, so help me out, PopWatchers. Here’s what I caught: Michael: dick in a box; Jim: Facebook; Erin: Fiona from Shrek; Angela: A black widow; Kevin: Paul Blart; Andy: Michael Jackson; Kelly: Leeloo from The Fifth Element; Creed: Dracula; Ryan: Edward Cullen; Oscar: Sarah Palin; Meredith: a hobo; Pam: Rosemary from Rosemary’s Baby; and Dwight: Jigsaw. I couldn’t tell what Phyllis and Stanley were despite repeated rewinds.
– Andy’s line about an “Adam Sandler and jelly sandwich” cracked me up, as did Erin’s line asking Pam if she meant Marlon Wayans. Andy and Erin are going to be so cute together.
– Finally, Meredith has a roommate?
What did you think, PopWatchers? Are you letting “The Koi Pond” fall in?
I thought the cold open with the Halloween costumes was an instant classic. (Great to see the hilarious Daryl again!) My favorite costumes were Ryan’s “trendier” vampire and Dwight as Jigsaw. (It just makese sense.)
I don’t agree that this episode wasn’t cringe-y. What about the scene where Michael starts making fun of himself before taking it WAY too far? (Seriously, Steve Carell acts his a$$ off on this show!). I’m glad to see people REALLY taking notice of Ed Helms (singing the names of the businesses was great too), who I nominated for an EWwy last year. Here’s hoping he takes home that prize this year, since it’s a longshot he’ll be up for an actual Emmy.
I also liked seeing Jim made to look like a fool again. I’m definitely not part of the growing “I hate Jim/Pam” movement, but it’s always nice to see him realize that there are things he can learn from Michael (who IS the boss for a reason) and that he needs to take a step back when he gets close to acting like an arrogant jerk.
Finally, I thought the staff making fun of Michael (“Koi Story”) while Dwight tried to defend him was a terrific mini tour-de-force. LOVE this show!
My favorite line of the night came from the cold open when Daryl was describing Meredith’s costume: The old crone from “Drag Me To Hell”.
I loved that line too! LOL
ghetto pumpkin lol
gangster pumpkin
oops
The best part was Michael and Jim still being friends at the end. The others treat Jim like cr@p.
I wish they would make Andy a better salesperson. With this episode and the past episode with him in the high school, I feel like they make him too nutty to be a decent salesperson. At least Michael can put the crazy aside to make a deal.
Loved Ryan as a trendy vampire. Cody Devareaux 1598-Now.
And don’t forget that episode in season 3 where Andy and Michael went out on a sales call together and Andy totally blew it.
Totally Cody Devareaux!!
I found it odd that everyone would assume Pam and Andy were a couple. Why would you automatically think that?
I thought the same thing.
Agreed, especially with Pam wearing a wedding ring and Andy doesn’t.
Yeah, there really wasn’t any reason for them to assume that. Many business have men and women who represent the company, but that doesn’t mean that they’re a couple. It was just dumb.
But you don’t find it odd that they are still filming a “documentary” four years later?
It seems like I’m the only person on the planet who thinks my beloved Office is really, really sinking fast this season. Thursday at 9 is starting to feel like visiting a terminally ill friend in the hospital.
It’s not just you. I laughed a lot more watching “Community” last night.
Me too. But I’m gonna stick with my old friend The Office until the very end.
Also, Pierce tripping was hilarious.
You are not alone. With the exception of the cold open, I thought this episode was pretty bad, actually. For me, that marks the 4th bad episode this season for The Office, and they’ve only had 7 shows. It’s really depressing, because this show used to be so consistently great.
I don’t agree. The only episode this season where I felt that was the Mafia episode. But every season has one or two that aren’t as funny. I thought last night was hilarious! The costumes, the mocking exercise (Dwight’s nose!), the video of Michael falling in. Yes, this season is different: Jim is angrier, Pam is bossier, but I’m still loving it!
I think the office is falling off this season
Glad someone noticed that Meredith had a roommate. Found that wonderfully odd.
Also loved Michael’s totally inappropriate/totally hilarious Halloween costume. Sure the parents loved explaining that one to the kiddies.
Great ep. Have to confess that I almost choked on my tea when Andy responded to the client’s suggestion of “Miss Jane” (or whatever her name was) with “on Clearview Street”? Yikes. Boy needs some help. Andy’s so sweetly desperate, you can’t help but feel for the guy.
Finally, I do have agree with Phyllis: who puts a koi pond in a lobby anyway?!
And Pam’s reaction to the fact that he knew this birthing coach was on Clearview Street?
“How and why the h*ll does he know that?” was what her look said to me.
yea, kind of thinking The Office has maybe one more season left, and then it’ll be time to say so long. It’s still funny, but I get the feeling that it’s moment has passed. Same for 30 Rock. It’s hard enough for any show to be consistently funny, let alone be funny for more than a couple of seasons. I’m hoping they’ll end it while they’re still at their peak, and that they won’t try to hang on past their prime. Like some a certain animated show on Fox has…
Last week was hilarious…this week just ok….LOVED the “book face”
I had no idea what he was supposed to be until he explained it.
me either…I finally got it about 9:35pm! What can I say…I’m a natural blonde….
i thought he had his ‘nose in a book’.
Bookface – that’s what i’ll be calling it from now. you’re right, totally genious
I couldn’t figure it out either. I thought it had something to do with Ingrid Michaelson’s “Be Ok” album cover. Look it up. You’ll get what i mean. I couldn’t get past the similarities.
I love The Office, but other than the incredible wedding episode, it does seem to be slipping a little bit this year. I think it is just trying to find a voice for itself now that the biggest plot (Jim&Pam) has finally been settled. Even when Office is in a slump, it’s usually still the best comedy on TV. But I might have to turn that crown over to Modern Family, which continues to impress.
I totally did not catch Oscar being Sarah Palin. I loved how Darryl messed up everyone’s costume and called Jim “Book Face”, although I did not catch on that he was Facebook until Jim said “yes, I am the popular social networking site, Book Face”. Loved Ryan as Edward Cullen.
The Office got demoted to PopWatch? lol- when did this happen?
Basically every show with actors except for “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Desperate Housewives” and “Mad Men” got demoted to Popwatch. It’s not a good scene.
When a bunch of people started whining about the reviewer. Now I can’t ever find this and it’s so short:(
How can you not mention Dwight’s cousin (Mo? cant remember the name)!! He was right there next to him! hahahaha too funny!
Mose? I didn’t catch that!
he was standing totally still like a statue when Dwight rode the bike in
This is why I love the recaps. I go back for a second veiwing after I read all the comments!
Jim was “Bookface”, not “Facebook” as he continues his minimalistic costuming tendencies. I’m guessing Phyllis was Lucrezia Borgia (or maybe a witch concocting potions) and Stanley may have been a condemned man sitting in an electric chair. I asked for a list, darn it.
Loved Stanley sitting in an electric chair doing his crossword puzzle. I’ll have to re-check on what Kevin was – reviewer said Michael Jackson. I thought he was Paul Blart from Mall Cop cause I seemed to remember a mustache.
No, Jim was “Facebook” … when he said he was “Bookface” it was sarcastic, making fun of the people that did not understand.
This was a weird and horrible episode. Remember the simple genius of the The first two seasons?