“Dinner Party” (4×10) ~ Donna’s Recap

So LITO-readers, what did you think about the first new episode? I’ve heard mixed reviews (hey! don’t throw garbage at me, I’m just polling my friends people!). But personally, I loved it! I’m a sucker for good Office-quotes, and this episode was just full of ‘em! But I’m getting ahead of myself, let me start at the beginning…(Warning!spoilers, if you haven’t seen “Dinner Party”).

Jim and Pam have finally run out of excuses for going to Michael & Jan’s condo for dinner. In the “cold open”, Michael pretends that corporate needs everyone to work late and says to “not make after-work plans”. Of course, this is all a sham to ensure that Jim and Pam would finally have to come over for dinner. Jim flashes one of his classic expressions when he realizes he can’t worm his way out this time, and man, I felt pure-happiness shoot straight down to my toes! *Sigh* It was just so nice to see his goofy-faces again. It was in that typical Office-moment, that it hit me, The Office is really back! Hooray!!! But, I digress…

  So, the dinner party is off and running; Jim and Pam, Angela and Andy and their gracious hosts, Michael and Jan.  Although he is devistated, Dwight is not included because only couples are invited and Michael has “only has six wine glasses”. lol

  Jim and Pam arrive first bringing a bottle of wine. Jan, in a low-cut red sweater that barely covers her chesticles, thanks them for the wine saying, “this will be great to cook with”. Ouch!

  Now it’s time for the obligatory tour of the condo. And, it’s painfully evident that Jan rules this roost with an iron fist, from the Andy Warhol-like painting of her that dominates the stairwell, to the tripod set up in the bedroom (to critique Michael’s bedroom performance?).  Jan also has both an office and a work space room for her upstart candle business in their condo, effectively taking up 2 of the 3 bedrooms in the condo for herself. And, let’s not forget that poor Michael can’t even sleep in his own bed because Jan needs her “space”. He is relegated to a  tiny, futon-thing at the base of their spacious bed.

  And strangely, it’s becoming clear that Jan feels threatened by Pam’s presence at the dinner party. With a big smile on her face and daggers in her eyes,  she throws out her sugar-coated insults. For example, when discussing her candle-making and how she feels at peace in her ”work space” she says to Pam, “I’m sure you feel the same way about your doodles“. Ouch again!

  But, it’s not just Pam feeling put-upon by Jan. She and Michael are having one of those fights that couples have when they are really p-o’ed, but trying to act like they’re not, and they’re failing miserably at it. Jan insults Michael’s Dundie trophies, but trying to play nice in front of his guests, Michael puts his arm around her and says, “I have the best trophy right here - outside from my Dundies“. lol

  Angela and Andy arrive. Pam and Jim are relieved to see them, they  probably see this as one step closer to getting this uncomfortable night over with; 1. guests arrive, 2. eat, 3. they can leave. However, it is not to be. Jan informs them that she is serving “osso bucco” which takes 3 to 4 hours to cook, and she hasn’t even started it yet! Yikes…it’s going to be a long night!

  The guests sip wine if uncomfortable silence. Michael comments that the wine has “sort of an oakey afterbirth”. (My favorite quote of the night :)) Jan decides to get this party started, and puts on one of her ex-assistant Hunter’s CD’s. He’s a singer-songwriter, don’t you know? Jan begins to dance around provocatively to the music. Their stunned guests watch her strut her stuff around the living room, in effect making an already uncomfortable night even more excruciating.

  It’s at this point that Jim tries to make a break for it. He pretends he just received a call that his apartment is flooded. When he realizes that Michael expects Pam to stay anyway, he throws her to the wolves and continues on with his escape plan. Pam, having none of that, nips his plan in the bud and insists, despite the fact that his apartment is “flooding”, that he stay and enjoy the party. This scene is another fine example of how the writers never play it safe and go for the obvious. After all their mutual pining for each other (three seasons worth, hello!), you would expect nothing but hearts, flowers and perfection from Pam and Jim. Thankfully, their characters are still flawed and comically “real”.

After some comical games, the women take a “girl’s trip” into the kitchen to check on the food. The real reason for the pow-wow is that Jan reveals why she has been so rough on Pam, Michael has told her that he and Pam once dated! Pam vehemently denies it, but Angela chimes in saying, “I’ve seen the way you look at him”. Once again, Ouch! But remember, Angela thinks Pam is the “office mattress”. lol

Just when you think the evening couldn’t get any more ridiculous, enter Dwight (carrying two wine glasses) and his “date”, who we find out later on is his former babysitter (”purely carnal, that’s all you need to know”). Can we all say it together now? “Ewww!”

Dinner is finally served and the tension is high. Angela to Dwight: “The thought of popping one of your beets into my mouth makes me want to vomit”. Pam about Jan: “If she was going to poison someone wouldn’t it be me? Michael’s former lover?” And finally, culminating in a crescendo of screeching, Michael to Jan: ”I’d be your first customer! Jan to Michael: “Oh, you’re hardly my first!” Michael to Jan:” THAT’S WHAT SHE SAID!!” lol

Then it’s a mess of a broken Dundie, shattered plasma tv, cops, Michael leaving to stay at Dwight’s…you get the sad, sad, picture. I think it’s fair to say that Michael and Jan’s relationship is now offically on-the-rocks. And, if you want some spoilers to solidify that theory, click HERE. As the episode comes to a close you also get to see everyone’s ride home. This let’s you peek a little more into what’s in their heads. Jim and Pam are still in full honeymoon mode, it’s all “babe” this and “babe” that. Adorable. And it’s obvious that Angela is might still have some unresolved feelings for Dwight. Or in the very least, she’s not entirely sold on Andy Bernard! Or, maybe she is just a super-germ phobic. Anywho…All in all a great episode. My only wish (BOB) is that the show was longer. Call me crazy, I just think it’s hard to get that indepth in 22 minutes. I know, I know, That’s what she said! ha ha  ~Thanks for reading!

So, what did you think of “Dinner Party”? Sound off in the comments. ~Donna

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