“The Office” Season 3, Episode 21. “Product Recall”

“The Office” Season 3, Episode 21.  “Product Recall”

In tonight’s episode, “Product Recall,” the Dunder-Mifflin gang showed their true colors.  Although I’d watched the cold open over and over again, I still cracked up the moment Jim, clad in his 11-dollar Dwight costume, entered the frame, and I didn’t stop laughing until the episode was over in an inspired reverse role-play by Dwight.  CLASSIC!

 Full Recap after the jump!  What did you all think? Post your comments here!

Thanks to Creed’s not-so-quality assurance, an obscene watermark ended up on 500 boxes of Dunder-Mifflin letter stock, including high school prom invitations.  Everyone must field phone calls from angry customers (“I am upset. Don’t I sound upset?”—Stanley).  Michael calls the team together and tells them it’s midnight—Threat Level Midnight! (Cue a Jim look!)  Fortunately, customer relations expert Kelly is on hand to train everyone on how to deal with the backlash.  Angela’s anticipatory aspirin?  Brilliant!

 

Jim is forced to take Andy with him to put out the ‘fire’ at Dunmore High School, while Dwight must pull together a press conference.  You know, so Dunder-Mifflin doesn’t end up like O.J.  Meanwhile, Creed covers his tracks by finding out who was absent at the paper mill the previous week.

 

Kelly tells the accountants she is drawing them out of their ‘loser’ shells by teaching them how to deal with customers.  Kevin hams it up, taking the opportunity to test his Australian accent, while Oscar tries to point out that Kelly is probably missing dozens of calls in the time she is taking to ‘train’ and Angela tries to get down to business.  (“I like ice cream.  I need a boyfriend.  I like ice cream too, mate.  Alligators. Dingo babies.”)

 

Jim and Andy hit the road and Jim tries to get through the car ride by suggesting some music.  This gives Andy the chance to once again show off his a cappella skills and mention that he has a girlfriend.  Who happens to be a part-time frozen yogurt chick.  And a high school student.

 

Dwight runs the press conference just like a roadside beat sale.  He puts the most attractive beats (Ryan, Pam, and Karen) front and center, and obscures other co-workers with potted plants.  The first and only press member is from the Scranton Times, which only merits a Level 3 security clearance by Dwight (that’s out of 20, by the way).

 

At Dunmore High School, Andy confronts his girlfriend, who tells him “This is weird” and ditches him for Spanish class.  Back at the office, Kevin and Oscar warm up to their new jobs as customer relations specialists, but Angela is struggling.  Kelly patiently lets her know that she may want to work on her apologizing skills.  Creed further covers his behind by telling Dwight that a paper mill employee had cancelled the meeting he was supposed to have had for quality assurance and called in sick.  Michael invites Dunder Mifflin client Mrs. Alan as his special guest at the press conference.  Despite his attempt to make good with a novelty check (it’s all about the photo op) Mrs. Alan does not accept his apology.

 

Andy and Jim wait in the principal’s office and Jim reminds Andy that it’s a felony to date a teenager, then tries to keep the situation under wraps so the principal does not find another good reason to cancel his Dunder-Mifflin account.

Angela works on her skills with Kelly’s help, but still finds it hard to say she was sorry.  Michael continues to apologize to Mrs. Alan, who was disgusted by the watermark, which featured animals having…relations.  Dwight helpfully points out that the situation did look consensual, offering the perspective of someone who grew up on a farm and apparently, a frequent witness to animal relations.  Mrs. Alan suggests that Michael resign, spurring Michael into action.  Making a video.   He also tells Mrs. Alan he will be calling “The Ungrateful Beyotch Hotline” in front of the Scranton Times reporter.  Pam is charged with the task of videotaping Michael’s apology, in which he tells the world that not even a SWAT team could remove him from his Dunder-Mifflin office.  How terrific was the American flag in the background, printed on four pieces of paper?

 

Oscar and Kevin trick Angela into saying she is sorry and celebrate with their own special air-high five.  Cute!  Michael ends his apology video with a threat and an ultimatum, and Pam deems it the ‘best apology video ever.’  Creed, in typical creep fashion, collects donations for the employee he got fired, then pockets the money and throws away the card.

Jim tries to console Andy over the GF situation.  He sucks it up and starts singing “In the Jungle” to cheer up the Drew-ster.  In the close, Dwight returns the favor by being Jim, complete with messenger bag, sloppy hair, and camera faces!  HI-larious!

 

All in all, this was one of my favorite episodes of the season.  We got to see the people of Dunder-Mifflin unite, ‘face the nation’, and deal with a business crisis.  Unfortunately, there wasn’t a lot of Pam time in this episode, but I’m sure we’ll see a lot more of her in the coming episodes.  We did, however, get to see some more insight into Dunder-Mifflin personalities.  Kelly is a great teacher, emphasizing the positive and refusing to let anyone get her down.  Angela can’t admit that she was wrong.  Jim, at the end of the day, is just a really nice guy.  The list goes on, of course.  I also loved, loved, LOVED Jim as Dwight and Dwight as Jim.  Perfectly played by both actors: John Krasinski, as prankster Jim, got down all the nuances of Dwight’s speech, gait, and quirky mannerisms.  Rainn Wilson, as ever-superior Dwight, tries to walk the walk and talk the talk as Jim but isn’t quite as successful “Hey, Karen, want to get together later and have sexual intercourse, cause you’re my girlfriend?”).  I could watch the open and the close over and over again.  In fact, I think I will.

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