Image Credit: Justin Lubin/NBCWhat a great little episode of The Office. Ellie Kemper got one of her first major episodes, the supporting cast was present in full force (except Creed), and we got to know Gabe a little better. All that and some god-awful/awesome Cookie Monster impressions made for a bang-up visit with the Dunder-Mifflinites. This also marked Steve Carell’s second time as director, and while last season’s “Broke” covered a lot more ground, “Secretary’s Day” was similarly fast-paced and focused on the theme of how one fits in in such a strange environment.
The break-out characters for this episode were definitely Erin and Gabe, two of the newer faces at DMHQ, and one of the things that keeps me optimistic about The Office, even if I sometimes wonder about its lifespan, is its ability to integrate new people. Will there ever come a time when the show doesn’t include Dwight, Jim, Pam, and Michael? I really hope not. But knowing that new characters can make sense within the show — without seeming like straight-up replacements, Law and Order-style — is encouraging.
That and how weird those two turned out to be.
Andy decided to celebrate the living crap out of Secretary’s Day to make his beloved Erin happy. And it worked, mostly, until Michael spilled the beans that Andy used to be engaged to one tiny blond puritanical accountant. As Michael gaffes go, this was actually pretty reasonable — I mean, Erin asked. Michael himself copped to being unwilling and unable to keep secrets, after all. Given all the artificial-seeming roadblocks Erin and Andy have faced so far, this seemed like the most credible issue for the new couple. Erin’s restaurant meltdown –including the unbelievably awesome line “in the foster home, my hair was my room” — juuuuust toed the line of too far. But what held it together was the fact that Michael of all people was the voice of reason: Someone can freak Michael out with their awkward conversational skills and strange personal questions? Just when I thought this show was running out of steam…
Gabe decided he needed to lay the smack down on everyone relentlessly teasing Kevin, but his too-bossy style and weirdo “ciao” rubbed everyone the wrong way. Plus that Cookie Monster video was pure magic. Gabe tried to assert himself, but it was clear that the poor guy is still way outside the tight-knit group. Kevin’s return to the fold, via his triumphant move of shifting the scorn towards the newbie, was a quintessential moment of The Office‘s emotional core: Sure, everyone’s a total bozo, but they’re bozos together. And deep down, most of them like each other.
I know the cake-smushing scene was supposed to be the big dramatic showdown, but the best part of this entire episode was the opening segment. Dwight’s exquisitely strange way of describing Sesame Street — “Is that the program where puppets live in the barrio?” — was topped only by Angela’s perfectly joyful “this is my favorite day!”
What was your favorite line from “Secretary’s Day,” PopWatchers? Are you starting to worry that Michael and Erin might have something going on, or do you think she and Andy will work things out? Would you use a breast pump after Meredith gave it a go? And which Muppet would you cast as Dwight?
C is for suspension!
This has been my Facebook status for the past 13 hours. Hahaha! It was my favorite moment of the night. Mostly because Kevin just looked so proud of himself after he said it.
This was my facebook status for a short time. It was replaced shortly, though, by “Ain’t no party like a Liz Lemon party, ‘cuz a Liz Lemon party is…mandatory.”
Just an absolutely brilliant line.
Written by the brilliant Mindy Kaling, who goes unmentioned by the recapper. BOO.
The problem is that the episode (plus the daycare ep) managed to make me dislike Jim and Pam. Which is terribly disappointing.
It had the opposite effect for me actually; the scene where Gabe tries to weasel an apology out of the two reminded me why I love PB&J so much in the first place. In fact, this whole episode reminded me why I love this show so much. I was getting worried.
I agree completely Thomas-this episode reminded me of everything that I love most about The Office…especially Jim and Pam. Pam’s little pep talk with Erin was really cute…reminded me of when Jim tried to do the same for Dwight after Angela left him. Great episode!
Great points, Kat.
I may be a sentimental sap, but I also liked the little kiss Pam gave Jim after her pep talk to Erin about finding the person you end up with.
Plus, there’s no way I can be mad at Jim after his EXCELLENT impersonation of Kevin/Cookie Monster.
Kat, I thought the pep talk between Erin and Pam was sweet, too. I especially liked when Pam said “You know, I was engaged to someone who worked here too” and Erin broke down and sobbed “You and Andy too?”
ben – i agree 100%. can anything bad ever happen to j&p? i am so sick of them always smugly coming out on top. sick. of. it.
I think 4 seasons of Jim and Pam heartbreak and missed connections were enough don’t you? Jim pining for her while she was engaged to Roy, then vice-versa when he was with Karen, etc. I like seeing them happily married – they still have funny stressful moments like their baby’s birth, the daycare, Jim’s co-manager thing with Michael, etc. Unlike soap operas, this show shows that you can have two people stay happily together.
amen to Lisa P. Hate the smugness.
Ditto on the smug hate. Also they seem really naive sometimes. Like when they looked at daycares, they were looking at aspects that would apply to a 3 or 4 year old, not a baby. I wish they hadn’t done the whole baby thing at all.
I disagree. I mean, could Jim have been ANY CUTER with his Cookie Monster/Kevin impression in the Conference Room? I wanted to eat him (like a cookie). Somehow after 5 years, he actually does get cuter and cuter. And I loved Pam’s breast pump freak out at Meredith (!) in the bathroom.
Dwight’s Muppet no question is Bert!
I like the episode very much, but the character of Erin is becoming too complicated while dumbing her down at the same time. I like the original young and inexperienced Erin better than the massively flawed and bordering on inept persona they are pushing now, (as in how did she not know she was dialing her own office’s fax number a couple of episodes ago & she still tried to resend it when she knew it was for her, Huh?). I thought the “hair room” line did step over and broke my heart.
Isn’t this whole Erin character arc crazily similar to Jan’s? They seem so normal at first and then…
I loved Phyllis’ face when Erin asked Andy if he has slept with her too.
Considering her last job was at a Taco Bell Express, and she left cuz it turned into a regular (and thus more hectic) Taco Bell, perhaps fax machines are out of her wheelhouse.
Actually I thought Gabe would make an excellent Bert.
Hey, now…sometimes I’d forget my work number AND fax number, too! You never call yourself on the phone…
I’d say Dwight is more Sam the Eagle.
HA!
I believe the reason Erin screwed up the fax# is because she was all nervous around Andy – it was meant to be cute, not to make her look stupid. At least, that’s what I think, I could be wrong
my though exactly – the excitement of getting something she wanted just overwhelmed her almost into catatonia
Dwight’s muppet is Beaker!!
“My hair was my room” is a classic.
Also…Michael calling Erin a “rube” made me laugh out loud.
The “rube” line cracked me up immensely. The “hair room” part was way to crazy and depressing. I felt really bad for erin.
I loved the line, but it’s actually one of the saddest things ever uttered on The Office.
I agree. I felt so sorry for Erin. Her outburst at the restaurant was so hard to watch.
Beautifully heartbreaking.
I agree. Actually her whole breathing breakdown reminded me of how a girl acts when she finds out a guy cheated on her. Just repulsed.
last season’s “Broke” covered a lot more ground
I’m partial to this episode b/c it did a great job of beefing up the roles of just about all the other office mates. Mindy Kaling wrote Secretary’s Day and I look forward to seeing her name underneath “written by,” in the opening credits b/c she always spreads the love around. I was so happy to see the focus on Gabe! After watching ‘In The Loop’ I knew he could be hilarious and was waiting for him to get the opportunity on this show.
Please stop with “b/c.”
Why should she?
I agree! I think the Gabe character has a lot of potential and hope he gets a chance to develop on the show.
I hope someone calling themselves LOL isn’t too dumb to appreciate the irony of you not liking the use of online shorthand B/C that would just be pathetic.
My last job was at a Taco Bell Express, but then it became a full Taco Bell and I don’t know. I couldn’t keep up.
Yeah – she’s not the brightest bulb in the chandelier.
“three squeezes and i will drain you”, lol.
I loved this one! At least he thought of using hand sanitizer.
exactly! Dwight wanted to milk pam for HER benefit! he wasn’t really being creepy. lol It was all matter-of-fasct for him. Just business.
Should be on a T Shirt
Absolutely!! I’d wear it!
This was my favorite part.
That’s what she said.
That scene was the first time I laughed out loud at an “Office” episode in two seasons…
Agree: C is for suspension the best line. Classic Meredith, too, with Pam’s breast pump! EWWWWW..LOL.
In meredith’s defense, it is the cadillac of pumps
Andy: If it wasn’t for secretaries – I wouldn’t have a stepmom (!)
That was amazing
And to think how many of these little gems were packed into this episode. This is a keeper on Tivo.
And Dwight even participated in Secretary’s Day — he actually brought Erin a basket of beets — of course, he knocked stuff off the counter – but he did bring her something.
Michael – I asked for pickles on my burger, and it only has 5 pickles on it.
I will bring you a bowl of pickels
yes, and that was after he said they always get your order wrong! lol They obviously get it right, just not Michaels verson of right.
Exactly haleysname, I loved that bit.
Loved Toby hanging around the fax machine so he can overhear Jan & Angela’s conversation —– and Jim doing Kevin —- and dear Michael did try to save Andy by telling him to stop talking during the party.
I also enjoyed Toby giving Pam the heads up about Gabe not really being able to do anything to them. Even after she’s married, he’s still trying to be her knight in shining armor.
(PS Is it just me or is Toby looking considerably heavier these days?)
Yeah I also thought Toby was packing on some extra pounds
Michael came off really normal and likeable in the episode. It’s nice to be reminded sometimes that he’s not a cartoon character.
Erin’s hair room made me more sad than anything.
I liked Michael trying to cheer Erin up listing all the things that are weird about Angela:
-she’s 3 feet tall
-she wears pioneer clothing
-she’s old enough to be your mother
I agree…
I’m thinking maybe Steve Carell should direct MORE episodes if it means his character gets a little less screentime and behaves more normally.
I enjoyed Michael’s self-awareness about not being able to keep a secret. It’s actually reminiscent of “Broke” in which Michael desperately has to keep the fact that the Michael Scott Paper Co. has no money a secret.
One of my favorite moments in the show’s history is the elevator door opening and Michael is bent over moaning how he’s so worried he’s going to tell. It’s those moments that have made this show so great.
It also reminds me of his roledex and how he has details about each client to remind him not to mention various things.
“Green means go, so I know to go ahead and shut up about it.”
Diggity, you are SO RIGHT! That scene of him bent over is tied for Number One with Michael trying to stick his foot in the CAT scan machine.
When Erin was in her “hair room” making those strange noises, Michael tries to defuse the situation with a “I’m having what she’s having!”
That joke has been made so many times over the years but I’ll be darned if I didn’t laugh when he said it. Of course Michael still got the intent of the phrase wrong. That’s what he does best, that and misquoting.
“I’ll have what she’s having.”
I love it when Michael ALMOST uses a pop culture reference appropriately!