Office Watch: Slappy Birthday

I feel that The Office has a knack for ending interesting storylines prematurely, as if the writers' room spontaneously realizes that it can't continue these forever and decides to kill them with the very next line. This happened with the Michael Scott Paper Company episodes (only two if I remember correctly).

Yes, it is like Michael to make someone feel good then immediately deflate them, but Pam's acceptance of the happy couple was altogether independent of Michael's actions. This also left the show without a chance to give significant development in Pam and Michael's relationship: she hates him now like she has all series; we might as well be back at the pilot when Michael deadpan fires Pam, making her cry only to say, "Just kidding."

I disagree completely. As I was watching last night's episode I was thinking that it was tremendous vindication for your selection. i had no problem with Michael's sudden realization. He's been lonely for a long time. He hooked up with Pam's mom at the wedding and has had blinders on ever since. The more Pam fought him, the worse his blinders got. So it was totally believable to me that he would freak out upon hearing Pam's mom confirm her age to him. Also, the set up for the fight after work was the funniest scene I've seen all season.

Sorry James, I also disagree. I completely bought Micheal's sudden realization at lunch. Has he ever proved to us that he is someone who thinks things through before jumping in? No. Time and time again Micheal has to be hit over the head with something before he sees it himself. That part seemed right on cue. The unbelievable part for me was that it seemed to me that Jim knew what was running through Micheal's head and he never tried to step in to stop Micheal from breaking up with Pam's Mom on her birthday. Though, I guess it is completely possible that Jim was tired of getting involved in the situation and wanted to sit this one out.

As for the best comedy question I would put The Office at the front. However, it was coincidental that yesterday your piece went up and last night even with an above average episode I found Community, 30 Rock, and Always Sunny funnier (Parks and Rec doesn't do it for me)

Hmmmm....so we're all convinced Pam's newfound enthusiasm for the relationship at lunch was totally sincere? I thought she might have been faking it so Michael couldn't use her as an excuse to break up with the mom. Am I too cynical? Wait--that's a rhetorical question.

I totally disagree on Michael's realization being forced. He's just that clueless about his own feelings, social norms, his libido and in many cases, obvious facts sitting right in front of his face. And he's been this shallow and cruel before, as on his blind date years ago where he told the woman that his previous gf had a boob job (or ditching the girl in the bar in Niagara for Dwight's "twins"). On the Michael crazy meter, this was not even a 7.

But I agree on Jenna Fischer; excellent performance. Read all about my thoughts and see some nifty screencaps --- you know, IMAGES? -- in my review:

http://wp.me/pCufw-8e

I didn't think the sudden realization was so unbelievable. But the fact that he then proceeded to break up with her on her birthday in front of her daughter was an awful, awful decision... and yet I don't think it was especially unbelievable for Michael to not be able to think over his issues for awhile and address them at a more appropriate time.

n the best episodes of The Office, character drives story, but here, the needs of the story were driving Michael's character.

This is spot on. I hate when a show decides to make its character temporarily extremely stupid. It happened with Lily in the road trip episode of HIMYM and it's happened here and I can't approve.