“Initiation”
Season 3 Episode 5
Now that Ryan is there for longer, he is expected to start making sales calls. Since Dwight was the top salesman, he is going to train Ryan. That opening scene of riddles is an instant classic. Dwight first takes The Temp Ryan to the beet farm and teaches him some abstract lessons. This include planting a beet seed in bull crap and wrestling Cousin Mose to the ground. Ryan went along with this longer than I expected. It was almost like he was really nervous to make those sales.
Dwight eventually gave him some decent advice and told Ryan that he just wanted to have a friend.
Michael is getting watched closely by Jan. Pam is asked to keep an hourly log on what Michael does during the day. The lit included a Bill Cosby impression, waiting in line for a pretzel, and taking a nap. But, in true Michael fashion, he pulls thru a big sale in the end. It’s the same thing that turned Jan on at Chili’s.
We finally got to see our guy, Bob Vance, Vance Refrigeration.
Jim and Karen continued their flirting in Stamford. They are playfully fighting about who has to have the squeaky chair. Eventually it gets passed to Andy, which is my laugh outloud scene of the episode. Andy is becoming a favorite for me.
At the close of the day, Jim calls after hours to Scranton so he can talk to Kevin. But Pam picks up the phone and they end up chatting for a while. I’ve never seen a comedy turn so serious in an instant. Was anyone else totally relieved and nervous at the same time?
I thought this was a great episode. At first I thought they were setting up for the merge and Michael not being in charge, but how are you going to take out a guy that makes the big sales. I guess he could do the sales without being manager, but what fun would that be.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on the episode.
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October 19th, 2006 19:40
Very good episode. Their best since The Convention.
All I know is this: if it was after 5, and I had my coat on, and my boss had left, and the phone rang….I’m walking. Good thing Pam didn’t.
For some reason, I thought the call was going to end badly. Glad it didn’t. But still, these two kids have A LOT to still talk about.
October 19th, 2006 19:44
so happy then so sad in an instant.
October 19th, 2006 19:55
that call was the sweetest thing EVER!!!! i loved it, awesome episode, not as good as grief counseling but still very good. I loved it when Dwight said to Ryan on the beet farm “Now that you have planted this seed in the ground, I will plant my seed in you”……wow
October 19th, 2006 20:00
I don’t know if my yelling was audible or internal… but I was screaming for Pam to be more agressive with Jim!! dang it for saying “bye” to ryan!
I’m glad things are going slower with Karen than I assumed the writers would go.
One important point you should have added about the pretzel… it was the first and only time what’s his name actually “teamed” with Michael instead of being completely annoyed with him. The “high-five” was great.
And I loved how michael pulled the big sale through in the end.
October 19th, 2006 20:20
Return to form, this was a great episode. It’s the closest this season has been to the greatness of season two. The Pam and Jim conversation was both sweet and heartbreaking at the same time. They need to be back together, kissing, babies, etc.
Some of the highlights for me:
1) The unbelievably sad existence of Stanley Hudson….364 days until the next pretzal day.
2) The Bob Vance conversation (him calling them marys or something) in the pretzal line and Michael and Stanley high fiving.
3) Michael’s sugar rush (Toby: Second?) and the fact that sometimes he’s actually good at his job. But just sometimes.
4) Dwight and Ryan at the bar. And the eggs.
5) I loved how Jim kept calling her Beesly, it seemed to me that he was just really happy about that.
6) Jim and Andy singing Love Fool. (Whatever happened to those guys?)
7) Angela: You’re a freak!
Mose…that was weird.
A+
October 19th, 2006 20:45
Mose needs to be added to character profiles.
My favorite part was when Ryan came out of his shell and threw the eggs at the building and then Dwight joined in.
“…and now I’m planting my seed in you.” Brilliant.
October 19th, 2006 21:05
The Jim/Pam phone call was both exhilirating and nerve-wracking at the same time! And the awkward goodbyes, without knowing when they would speak again? Killed me!
I think I could honestly watch a half hour of Jim and Pam talking on the phone about stupid stuff. However, then I wouldn’t get things like Mose, and Michael’s sugar rush, and Dwight trying to chug, and Andy and Jim singing “Love Fool.” So it’s a tradeoff.
October 19th, 2006 21:05
I really liked this one. Some good parts:
1) Pam holding up the log of Michael’s daily events.
2) Stanley running and pumping his arms when he hears the pretzel call on the loudspeaker.
3) “And now I’m planting my seed in you.”
4) Jim and Andy’s singing- classic!
5) Dwight wanting a friend…awww! Although I wonder if it isn’t all a ruse.
The phone call was sweet, but awkward, in a real kind of way. That is so the kind of phone conversation you’d have with someone in that situation.
October 19th, 2006 23:08
Loved It! Easily best episode of this season. BJ Novak has done well with this script!
I just wish the show went for 44 mins instead of 22
“Do you know where we are temp ?”
“I know where were not!”
awesome!
October 20th, 2006 04:18
Is it just me or is Jan looking more glam with each episode?
October 20th, 2006 05:13
I loved when Michael when on his ’streamlining’ the office bit, and told Stanley and Phyllis to switch desks….like they sat a mile away or something. Hillarious.
Costaza, Jan has always been “glam” in this show, it is Angela that is turning it up a notch. Maybe the Dwangela is making her change!
Just remember people….364 more days until Pretzel Day. (His perpetual smile was priceless)
October 20th, 2006 06:49
Best episode of the season. Hands down.
Jim and Pams chemistry really make the show. Merge those offices NOW!!!
October 20th, 2006 07:23
Correct me if I’m wrong but at the end of the call when Jan phoned Pam to check up on Michael did Pam say “Goodbye Jim” instead of “Goodbye Jan”?
October 20th, 2006 07:29
Tim, that does sound a lot like Jim. It definitely sounds like a M at the end.
October 20th, 2006 07:33
The line that has made me laugh every time was Michael’s impersonation of Bill Cosby.
“Hey, hey, hey. I love Jello pudding pop. My son Theo love Jello pudding pop too.”
October 20th, 2006 07:43
This was one of my favorite episodes, seasons 1, 2, and 3 combined. i’ve watched it 3 times already.
October 20th, 2006 09:04
fantastic episode. i love the silence at the end after they hang up, no words needed.
October 20th, 2006 09:11
Please tell me how you guys pick a favorite scene, episode, etc?? I can’t do it! I love each and every one! My only complaint would be that they just leave all the deleted scenes in and make the show an hour long!
October 20th, 2006 09:48
I know that Angela is getting better looking, etc., but I swear that Jan looks better too.
October 20th, 2006 10:06
I think that this episode is definitely the best of this season. The show had been worrying me, because these episodes weren’t all that great… so this was definitely a relief. And I’m SO glad that Pam and Jim got to talk. My stomach actually felt squeezed when I heard Jim’s voice on the line. I almost cried for them. Jeez, I am such a romantic…
October 20th, 2006 11:48
Hey…. are we missing something here? Michael claims that he and Carol had sex the day before…. did Agent Michael Scarn finally get some from his Catherine Zeta Jones?
Mose… the beard… when he jumped out on his fighting stance.. that was just great.
Also Stanley and Michael highfiving.
But still..honestly…. season 2 is proving to be much better than this one so far… we just need Jim back in the office.
October 20th, 2006 11:49
I am saddened that the writers have split Pam and Jim into two differnet offices. The chemistry was just too good to mess with. Having all the characters together in one office is what made the show the best on television today. For me, not the season I was hoping for. However, I still love the show and will keep watching.
October 20th, 2006 11:58
This was the best episode this season for me. It brought back some of the heart. That’s what I’ve always loved about The Office - it’s hilarious, but it strives to be real and human. Things like love and loneliness, along with laughter, are facets of life that this show embraces. Of course it’s a comedy first and foremost, but what makes it so special is that is has HEART. I was glad to see it again.
October 20th, 2006 11:59
I don’t think anyone believed Michael’s line about Carol. Certainly Jan didn’t.
The only thing I don’t like about the split and the predicted (temporary?) merger is the cast is stretched too thin. Toby and Kevin each had one word of dialogue in this episode, and there was no Creed. And they’re not even pretending to come up with credible reasons for Jan to always be there.
Stanley booing Phyllis. Ha!
October 20th, 2006 12:11
Jim, I thought of that too. Jan drove 2 1/2 hours from corporate to get a list of Michael’s day then she is going to drive back? That’s five hours of driving for something that could have been done on the phone. Now who’s wasting time?
October 20th, 2006 13:40
Brian,
I’m sure Jan took a detour & did some shopping at the outlet stores on her way back to New York.
October 20th, 2006 13:51
Just a side note but not related to this episode. I had to make a run to Scranton after work the other day. It was a very windy day & as I was getting off the Central Scranton Exit I spotted the “Scranton Welcomes You” sign seen in the shows opening was gone. Possibly blown over. I was back up to Scranton again after work yesterday & saw that there is a different sign but with a new saying. I was going too fast to read it though. Maybe some Scrantonians could look into it.
October 20th, 2006 14:15
When Michael had all that sugar, all I could think of was when he played the squirrel in over the hedge. He was spastic.
October 20th, 2006 14:22
i just realized rashida jones (karen) played a girl named karen in an episode of freaks & geeks, which is why she always looked so oddly familiar. ahh she rules.
October 20th, 2006 16:43
What is the name of the song Jim is singing to annoy the girl behind him? Who sings it?
October 20th, 2006 17:33
LoveFool by the Cardigans. I love that song!! Two days before the show I thought about the song and the band….it was crazy. I believe it was on the Romeo + Juliet Soundtrack. That songs ten years old now!!! Time flys.
October 20th, 2006 18:00
Wow, what a relief. This is the first time Season Three has made me laugh. Either I like BJ Novak’s writing best, or the beginning of the season had to deal with startup issues and didn’t have enough time for humor. I’d have to check who wrote which episode in the past…
Things I love:
1. The squeaky chair is a return to the basics. Little everyday things; big Office laughs.
2. Karen’s line: “This is a not a proportionate response.”
3. I laughed and covered my mouth in shock when Ryan threw the eggs. Awesome.
4. Ryan’s immediate shutdown of Dwight’s riddles.
5. Dwight: “That temp agency could have sent you ANYWHERE.” Ryan: “I think about that all the time.” Man, don’t we all feel that way sometimes…the little things that determine our fate…
6. Pam’s response to Jim’s voice: “Oh, my God.”
October 21st, 2006 02:32
Does anyone think it’s possible that the Scranton branch will absorb Stamford? Scranton has been doing some good sales…and Michael pulled out the Hammer-Mill deal earlier. Plus, the Stamford characters are newer and so more expendable or adaptable.
October 21st, 2006 03:34
About songs’ title, do you know what is the title of the song Michael is listening to in his office while eating pretzel ? Thx
October 21st, 2006 06:29
Come on Vance, Go with your sweetheart to the back of the line. I guess the pretzels are that GOOD.
Stanley was Happy, happy enough the High 5 Michael, that made the show.
Wrestle FEAR. They need that sweatshirt in the NBC store. Where were all the animals, and who has animals on a beet far.
Angela DEFENDED her man. You go Girl.
We see Jim can charm any girl, but still holds a candle for just one.