Tomorrow night’s two-part Office episode, “Classy Christmas,” has me very stoked on three counts. (One of which is a spoiler.) First, Mindy Kaling wrote the episode, and she’s written a bunch of my favorites — “The Injury” in season 2, “Diwali,” “Ben Franklin,” “Lecture Circuit: Part 2″ (which includes the amazing “it is your birthday” cake), etc. Second, Rainn Wilson directed the episode, and I always love when Office actors step behind the camera. Finally, and maybe most importantly, Amy Ryan’s Holly is back!
We’ve known for a while that Holly would be back for the name-appropriate Christmas episode, but I had completely forgotten about it, mostly because I’ve been way more focused on Amy Ryan on In Treatment this season. She’s been killing it as the serious, righteous Adele — who’s pretty much the opposite of the goofy, ebullient Holly Flax.
This season of The Office has been iffy for me — sure, Halloween and “The Sting” were high points, but there have also been some serious lags. Here’s hoping “Classy Christmas” — Michael’s last holiday episode — is as good as the show is capable of.
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I have high hopes for this Christmas episode, especially with Holly back in town.
In my dream world “The Office” ended with Michael winding up with Holly…now I just hope that’s how Steve Carell’s time on the show ends.
Second that.
Last year’s holiday episode was such a treat, right in the middle of a dreadfully unfunny season. If they could pull off another gem…well, that would be a Christmas miracle.
Their holiday episodes (Christmas, in particular) are always strong.
Don’t know if you meant to say that this season has been dreadful, but I actually really liked “Andy’s Play” and the most recent ep, in addition to the ones Margaret mentioned as high points.
On the other hand, there is no defense for the baby baptism ep…pretty much the worst “Office” episode ever.
Oh, no – I meant LAST season was the worst with the exception of the Christmas episode. This one, with the exception of that baby baptism mess, hasn’t been as bad.
I occasionally find myself smiling with Andy singing “I Try” in my head…which is noteworthy because along with Blind Melon/No Rain that used to be a song I TOTALLY hated. Andy, of all people, turned it around.
Those two are awesome together.
I was so stoked when I saw the preview on t.v. HOLLY!!!!!! I yelled upstairs to the b/f “Holly’s back!”
Amy Ryan brings class to all her roles
I’m gonna be really bummed if Holly and Michael don’t end up together. I didn’t like it when she said he was more serious about their relationship over the phone, a few episodes back. Despite the goofball and clueless idiot he can be, she’s his soul mate and they deserve to be together in the end.
Wow, I did not actually know about this. I thought that phone call a few episodes back was the denouement to their relationship.
I didn’t either, actually.
Also, I kept reading that last line as ‘Here’s hoping “Classy Christmas” — Michael’s last episode — is as good…’ Wouldn’t THAT be something? I’d like him to go out unexpectedly. I thought that’s how it was going down when he got on the bus in the baby shower episode. No dice. Maybe he and Holly could skip off together after the Christmas party.
Actually, Dwight hung a sign that said “It is your birthday.”, I don’t believe the cake actually had that written on it.
Looking forward to seeing Holly, although I didn’t really like how she spoke to Michael on the phone earlier.
“It is your birthday” was great, but my favorite part was the choice between the one-hour nap or one hour of TV at work. (And how Kelly was too excited to sleep.)
I breathed a sigh of relief when Erin took the boxes, Holly turned around and wasn’t pregnant. For a moment, I was nervous and hoping they wouldn’t go that route after the whole Jan thing. Or really, because it would have been cliche.
I quit watching The Office a few years ago (conflicts with Grey’s and Fringe). But I don’t think I could look at Amy Ryan the same after watching her on In Treatment this season.
I really want to see Michael happy and if that’s with Holly then great…but Amy Ryan’s character does nothing for me. The two of them together is cringe worthy.
Okay….I hate to say it, but it was possibly the worst edpisode ever. What on earth has happened to Dwight? Though always obnoxious he would come through with some kind of payoff where the audience could see there was a kinder gentler Dwight way, way, deep, deep down inside really deep down inside. Now, he is just a major league jerk. I kept waiting for his comupance and it just didn’t happened. It was a very cruel and cold Merry Christmas at the end. Yuk. And if Holly and Michael don’t get together then I will swear off the show forever. Michael deserves someone to love him. Meanwhile, Dwight needs to show me just the slightest reason to keep watching.
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