The Office Goodbye: Reaction

There was a time when I was considered something of an Office fanatic.  I watched each episode at least twice the week it aired. I scoured Office fan sites, talked about it with everyone I knew, and threw elaborate season premiere parties.  I even named my wifi network "Michael Scott."

I watched it from day one when it aired the EXACT same pilot, word for word, as the British version. This was disappointing, but the British version had been so good, I understood why and still had hope. The rest of the first season is brilliant, but not the kind of main stream comedy most people go for.  

Season 2 came with noticeable changes.  The lighting was different, better. Less dismal.  The Jim and Pam romance continued to grow, and with more abandon, especially when compared with their British counterparts, Tim and Dawn. When season 2 ended with Jim professing his love with a single tear rolling down his cheek and then later kissing Pam, I remember exactly where I was.

On the floor. Because I had rolled off of my couch in shock and surprise.  That was a seriously great night of television.

And that's when I realized that I NEEDED to start throwing season premiere parties.  Cause if you have a party, it's slightly crowded and less chance of you falling off the couch.  I kid. No, I started throwing the parties so that more people would be introduced to the Office.

In recent years, the show has not been as phenomenal, admittedly.  But it had set pretty high marks for itself in the early seasons.  Still, what it gave us in those first four seasons was so beautiful, that I kept watching and hoping for the spot-on comedy to return. 

This season has been tough, as Jim and Pam have had some difficulty in their marriage.  People asked me worriedly, "Do you think Jim and Pam will get a divorce??" But I always responded that we should trust the writers, they know Jim and Pam are the heart of the show.

The uncomfortableness (but likely pretty real stuff, I wouldn't know, I'm not married) went on a bit longer than I would've liked, but in the last few episodes they've been bringing the show back to its origins.  Jim loves Pam. Jim loves to torture Dwight. Dwight loves to be in charge/powerful.  These are the three tenets that made the Office great.*

The Finale
*SPOILER ALERT DON'T CONTINUE IF YOU HAVEN'T WATCHED


So maybe you want to hear my thoughts about the finale and not some super long introduction.  I think that was the best series finale I've ever seen. 

First, it let us say goodbye to ALL the characters. Thank you for the uncomfortable cameo of Meredith's son (played 6 years later by the same actor, I love that!) and the amazing cameo by a salt n' peppered, happy dad Michael Scott. ("It's like all my kids grew up and married each other. It's every parent's dream!" and his amazingly timed TWSS joke). Speaking of cameos, I loved spotting superfan Jennie Tan in the Q and A and exec producer Greg Daniels, who gave us this wonderful show in the first place in the group photo at the end.

It gave us lots of funnyness, (example: Jim: "I think it's time you buried the hatchet." Dwight: "Waste of a good hatchet") and so much of it that was moving so fast, you know you missed some stuff. I need to watch it again.

It had great physical comedy (when Mose kidnaps Angela! that image made me laugh so much; everyone brought cats to the reception!)

It also pulled in really old jokes, that you'd have to be a big fan of to remember. Example: Dwight and Angela got married standing in their graves. In season 3 Dwight said, "The Schrutes have their own traditions. We usually marry standing in our own graves. Makes the funerals very romantic. But the weddings are a bleak affair."

It also had all of the three of my above mentioned tenets: Jim loves Pam so much he would stay at that dead end career forever and be happy doing it.  Jim tortures Dwight, but with happiness that comes from shooting a bazooka or having his bride kidnapped (Guten Prankens). Dwight, who finally ascended to Regional Manager last week, is loving and excelling in his position of power, firing those who are dead weight and getting the whole office to do yoga every morning (Meredith, for one, seems to have blossomed under Dwight's reign. Unless her 9 years of dilapidation was due to this, "Yes, I was getting hammered. But, hey, it was college.")

And what really made this season finale was the poignancy.  I could wax poetic about this, but instead I'd rather the quotes speak for themselves:

Andy: I wish there was a way to know you're in the good old days before you've actually left them. 

Creed: I still have my medal from that. Angela: Do you have a mattress? Creed: No, but I still have my medal from that.

Dwight: Do I get along with my co-workers? First of all, I don't have co-workers anymore. I have subordinates. So have I gotten along with my subordinates? Let's see. My supplier relations rep, Meredith Palmer, is the only person I know who knows how to properly headbang to Motorhead. Oscar Martineze, my accountant, is now godfather to my son. Angela Schrute, my former accountant, is now my wife. My top salesman, Jim Halpert, was best man at my wedding. And office administrator Pam Beesley Halpert, is my best friend. So yes, I'd say I have gotten along with my subordinates.

Pam: Jim was five feet from my desk and it took me four years to get to him. It'd be great if people saw this documentary and learned from my mistakes. It would just make my heart soar if someone out there saw this, and she said to herself, be strong, trust yourself, love yourself, conquer your fears, just go after what you want. And act fast, because life isn't that long.

Jim: I sold paper at this company for 12 years. My job was to speak to clients, on the phone, about quantites and types of copier paper. Even if I didn't love ever minute of it, everything I have, I owe to this job. This stupid, wonderful, boring, amazing job.

Pam: There's a lot of beauty in the ordinary things. Isn't that kind of the point?

To sum up, this finale left me satisfied and smiling.
TWSS.

*Some might argue that Michael Scott also made the Office great. I agree, Michael was a LOT of the funny in those early seasons. But he was sometimes over the top and I don't think essential to the funny.  That's why I was able to keep watching after he left.