“Grief Counseling”
Season 3 Episode 4
The episode starts off with a great scene from Michael. The way that he wants to entertain the employees by going up and down the stairs had me (and Dwight) cracking up.
Michael finds out that his old boss, Ed Truck, died. He doesn’t handle it very well, and he is offended when everyone else handles it very well. First he wants to build a statue robot to commemorate him.
He brings together the group so they can talk about deaths that the have experienced. Dwight resorbed his twin. Pam lost a boxing aunt. Ryan lost a cousin Mufasa and Kevin ruins the game with his Uncle Bernie. Was it just me, or did anyone else think that Ryan and Pam may be starting up a thing? That could lead to some real fun from Kelly being jealous.
When Michael finds out that a bird died, he plans and carries out a big funeral for it. Pam, in her kind and caring matter, gets into it as well. She makes a box for him to be buried in. Also, her speech was more for Michael than the bird. It was cool to see her doing that for Michael.
At the Stamford branch, we see Jim is doing well on the work side. Josh seems to like him in charge. Jim takes that responsibilty and turns it into a great flirt with Karen. They go on a search for chips and Jim finally finds them. And in classic Jim ways, he just leaves them there for her. I’m happy to see Jim flirting back. I don’t blame him. I mean, if you’re into cute brunettes with a great smile that play Call Of Duty, know how to passively flirt, and speak French. Go Jim.
And Andy? Andy is awesome. He wants in on the game and is offended when he can’t play. I’m looking forward to interaction with Andy and Dwight.
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October 12th, 2006 22:37
I enjoyed this episode a lot. It was some good classic humor in the scranton office. It was missing something, however… OH YEAH ANYTHING TO DO WITH Jim and Pam! Actually here’s my theory on what the writers were doing to us along the lines of JAM in this episode. They showed how creative and funny both Jim and Pam are (thus they’re made for each other) but they’re teasing us by giving us no interaction whatsoever (infact they’re giving BACKWARDS interaction what with Karen and Roy!)
Anyway, since JAM’s not the only thing I love about the office it was a great episode. I especially loved when Pam, Ryan, and Kevin told about “their loved ones” who died. HA!
what was your favorite part?
October 13th, 2006 01:51
Ryan’s Mufasa story was awesome, the “audience” line being one of the episode’s best.
October 13th, 2006 04:30
This episode was wonderful. Much better than the last one in my opinion. Two things…
1. When Kevin was begging for the “ball” in the group session, and then said “yes” like he had just won something off the radio was absolutely hillarious. Total Kevin.
2) Michael Scott: “His cap was detated.” Best. Line. Ever.
October 13th, 2006 04:36
I thought it was good. The only part that I really thought was too over the top and kind of out of character was then Michael charged outisde to “save” the bird. I thought that they were trying a bit too hard during that scene. Otherwise I thought it was just fine.
October 13th, 2006 04:47
Does anyone else think that they [the writers] are trying to spruce up Angela’s sex appeal in these new episodes? I don’t know. I barely noticed her the first season, but the more she dates Dwight, the better she dresses, and the better she looks. Maybe it is just me….I dunno.
October 13th, 2006 05:42
I thought this was a very funny episode. Michael was awesome. It was a classic in my book. Pam singing was great.
October 13th, 2006 05:50
Dissenting opinion here. Some funny lines, particularly by Ryan, but mainly I was bored.
A hunt for potato chips? I know they’re going for the “oh, how adorable” factor with Jim, but it’s getting a little over-the-top, and not interesting. He’s gotta come back soon, but I fear it will be dragged out to February sweeps.
October 13th, 2006 06:11
On the whole, I liked it. I really liked the Pam storyline. I didn’t even mind Roy this time–he actually seemed attentive to her, which she seemed to notice, too. (Although I am a JAM fan, it’s nice to see Pam get some male attention that isn’t creepy (Creed, Kevin).) I really liked how she went over the top for the bird funeral, because really, is there any other way to be? And Dwight’s response to the do you have your recorder question (”always”) was too funny!
Many good things–again, I can’t wait to watch it again!
October 13th, 2006 06:20
The robot with the 6 foot cord was hysterical. Creed once again steels the show with some of the best lines. Ryan’s face lighting up when he realizes it has just turned into a game was classic. “Have you tried looking up your butt?” Awesome episode.
October 13th, 2006 06:21
I agree with Dave O. - this was the best episode of three thus far this season.
Pam going over the top for the funeral was nice, but the writers also allowed us to see that she was trying to alleviate Michael’s fear of dying alone. A bit of humanity mixed in with the humor - nicely done.
I loved it when Michael referenced Ed’s death by saying something about Ed ‘not even having his head to comfort him’ - classic.
Dwight’s ‘back on the farm - oil drum casket’ rant was fantastic, as was his tale of his pre-birth ultrasound.
As for Angela - she does seem to be glammed up a bit more than in the previous two episodes. There’s also hints of her becomming more frustrated with Pam (the quick ‘amen’). It seems like like seeds for hostility are being sewed.
October 13th, 2006 06:35
Randy + Dave O.= Same Page
You must remember Dwight has the “combined stregth of a man and a baby.” Hillarious.
October 13th, 2006 07:15
Okay, I’m a little slow–Ed TRUCK, decapitated when he went under an 18-wheeler! A truck! Ha!
And I like how Ryan is becoming the go-to guy for glances to the camera.
October 13th, 2006 07:20
I wonder if this is coming up:
Jim doing so well at Stamford. What if they merge the branches or Jim comes back to Scranton to manage. Jim and Pam will realize how much they miss each other but have to keep their feelings in check because Jim is in a position of authority over Pam?
I’m liking the show better than I thought I would with two offices now. I’m just driving myself nuts trying to figure out how Jim and Pam will end up together.
October 13th, 2006 08:07
Andy is my new favorite character. He even beats Jim, Toby, and Pam. I love love love him.
October 13th, 2006 08:14
I thought it was just ok. Good one-liners, but the pacing was pretty slow. I didn’t buy into the chip search. Didn’t it represent just a hollow shell of Jim’s relationship with Pam? I got the impression Jim was thinking the same thing.
The movie references in the conference room had me rolling. The humor was over-the-top and subtle at the same time. I mean, we found out what kind of movies Michael doesn’t watch. But of course he’s seen “Weekend at Bernies!”
It’s funny — I’ve noticed the shows always get better in reflection.
Of course, as usual, the ending was great. Pam is the (only?) one who understood why Michael was flipping out over Ed’s and the bird’s death. She came through for him when he needed it. She is so much the soul of the place. The office lost something when Jim left, but it would be dead without Pam.
I’ve never heard of cremating a pet. Don’t most people just dig a hole?
And did Dwight really stuff that bird into a soda can? The image conjured by the mind is better than anything they could have put on screen.
October 13th, 2006 08:30
Wow, I hate Karen. I was trying to be a big person about this, but I cannot keep quiet any longer. Salt and Vinegar chips? Gross Jim. I’d like to see you kiss her after that. JUST KIDDING, if he kisses her I am no longer a Jim fan. I am liking Pam more and more on her own.
October 13th, 2006 08:41
Another thing I just rememberd that I loved was Michael describing how he feels about Ed’s death. I wish someone would quote the whole thing here..it had something to do with boiling tears.
So poetic! HA!
October 13th, 2006 08:54
Hmm, I guess I’m the minority on this website. I thought last week’s episode was good, but this week’s kinda sucked. Not very funny, not a lot happened, sort of plot-less. I think that having a different writer for every show is messing up the plot line. It’s just seems disorganized. Also, we’ve really only been introduced to four people at Stamford. I was dissapointed. :-/
October 13th, 2006 09:34
I missed the episode! When does it come out on itunes?!?!?!
October 13th, 2006 09:58
Anyone know where i could get the toy Dwight is playing with?
October 13th, 2006 10:07
Michael G. KB Toys has TONS of them.
October 13th, 2006 10:28
I’m looking forward to interaction with Andy and Dwight.
That will be hilarious, but I think Andy would be the first to snap. He seems a little…high strung.
Great episode.
October 13th, 2006 10:56
A wonderful episode. It was very touching to see this very sweet, caring side of Michael.
October 13th, 2006 11:28
I thought that the episode was just okay.
I feel like I should say more about it.. but that basically sums it up.
October 13th, 2006 11:34
Thanks Dave O. but I am not near a KB toys, what is it called so I can buy it online.
October 13th, 2006 11:51
Michael G, they’re called Hoberman Spheres and Michael owns the mini-version. Check out www.hoberman.com. I worked at a toy store, so my head is filled with all kinds of useless information like this.
October 13th, 2006 13:46
I loved Pam’s play on “Million Dollar Baby”!
What about when Michael & Dwight were in Michael’s office with Jan on speaker phone & the camera goes to the picture on Michael’s desk. It’s him & Ed shaking hands.And Michael covers Ed’s head with a piece of paper. Pretending what Ed would look like without a head. I think Karen’s getting ready to make a move on Jim. And the absence of Oscar. Do you think he will ever come back?
October 13th, 2006 15:23
• “I lost Ed Truck and it feels like somebody took my heart and dropped in a bucket of boiling tears . . . hitting my soul in the crotch with a frozen sledgehammer
October 14th, 2006 03:04
i definitely felt a JAM-type vibe with ryan and pam (RAM? lol) as he seemed to fill the role jim would have played. and he sits at jim’s old desk! there might be something happening there. and karen is playing the pam role for jim … i think i love karen … heck
January 25th, 2007 09:21
I think this was the 1st - perhaps ONLY - episode where Michael presents his “overbite grief-stricken look”. Of all the hysterical moments, lines, and visions from The Office, this is the one that makes me choke. Watch for it in “grief Counseling”.
March 29th, 2007 12:28
I think this a great way to interact and get everyone involved in the grieving process.