Hey LITO,
I know its been a while since I’ve posted, but I just wanted to take a moment and share with you my thoughts on how the sixth season of The Office is shaping up:
Up until “Sabre,” I had been slowly losing my faith in the production values of the show. To be honest, I have found this season to be somewhat stagnant with new jokes and last week’s episode, ‘The Banker’, had me wondering if this would be the last season of our beloved show.
Now, don’t get me wrong, there have been some great episodes this season. Pam and Jim’s wedding was great. Call it my love for the smart witty humor of the first few seasons, but I’ve just found good episodes these days hard to come by and the rest of the season just plain bland, outrageous, and not captivating by any means. Michael being intimate with Pam’s mother really did not sit well with me. It was so outrageous and completely out of character for Michael. I have hard time believing Michael would actual do something like that. Whether it was the production crews of The Office going for quantity over quality, we will never know for sure, but I do feel that there has been a lack of originality and creativeness in this season in particular.
Now “Sabre” comes along with John Krasinski in the director’s chair. While watching “Sabre,” I felt an enjoyment and fulfillment I have not felt since earlier seasons of The Office. The episode was believable and simple. Nothing outrageous happened. It was just the simple comedic situations of everyday life. Jim walking in on the owner of the day care center is the perfect example. This is arguably the best scene in this episode. Why? Because walking in on someone going the bathroom happens to everyone at least once in their life. I felt an immediate connection and understanding with Jim. I knew exactly how awkward and uncomfortable he felt as I am sure many of you did too. Even poor David Wallace sitting at home with nothing to do, not leaving the house for extended periods of time, is just another prime example of the comedic simplistic nature of the show.
I really hope that there will be more episodes that are akin to the quality of “Sabre” going forward as we begin to wrap up the season. We don’t need the outragious and unimaginable, we need the simple, every-day life comedy that each of us encounters. It’s what made The Office so special and unique in the first place.
~Chris
OH, I’m so glad someone finally agrees with me! There have been some laugh out loud momments in this season, but I haven’t really felt it. That is, until this episode. It was so funny. The look of outrage and incredebility on Jim’s face when he walked in on the guy in the bathroom was so amazing. And he just kept saying “idon’tknow…idon’tknow”.
THEY’RE BACK!
I understand, Chris and Cammie. I think a lot of us here were feeling that way. The show has seemed to have trouble finding it’s way for a few seasons. There have been some very good episodes in that span but it’s been inconsistent. I thought the second half of last season was very effective (though I didn’t care much for the season finale) but it’s been a little worrying. Has the show lost steam? Now, I liked “Sabre” a lot but I’m not ready to say they have it all worked out yet. I hope so.
Dont be such a pessimist, Kevin. You gotta believe! BELIEVE I SAY!
Good to see you posting again Chris. I have to agree with Kevin though. I liked the episode, but I wouldn’t give it that “instant classic” label. I think it was important to the story and to move along the plot. I also think it was a little too “star studded” for the regular viewers. Almost as if they were trying to pull in new viewers with Kathy Bates and Christian Slater. Those are not your run-of-mill, every day, regular people encounters. I did love the day care scenes and David Wallace though. I also thought that Gabe was cute.
Hmmm… Liked that Gabe, did ya, Suri??? I think that’s the second time you mentioned him. : )
And sorry to be like that, Cammie. I tend to think of myself not as a pessimist but as a cautious optimist. ; )
It’s not like I have a thing for him or anything Kevin. I liked the fact that he was just a plain old ordinary Joe; and that felt more real to me than Christain Slater.