Man, Pam was a giant C-word in this episode, to Michael especially, but also to her mom, to Jim and to her coworkers. Michael actually had a legitimate HR complaint against her. I don’t remember her ever being this wrong and this unlikeable.
The mallard story was so-so. The only moment I smiled at tonight was Creed misting up at the aria.
Not one of the better episodes.
This was a classic episode IMO. My one of the only things I didn’t like about the episode at the time of 9:28, was that the surveillance side story fell a little flat – then the last bit at the end totally redeemed it.
I’m enjoying the changes in Jim’s character. The Toby interaction were just hilarious. Both Pam and Jim getting bleeped in the same episode… weird. Why Pam’s mom is into Michael; I still don’t know, but it made for great conflict between Pam and Michael. The, (separate), reactions from the newlywed couple were priceless.
If there’s anything I would change it would be that Pam wouldn’t so easily forgive Jim, not necessarily because he deserves it, but I want to see one of the two be seriously pissed off at the other at some point. Their conflicts mostly last an episode.
I like Jim’s, ‘you’re overreacting… but your really not’. That pretty much sums it up for me.
Why isn’t she overeacting? What about her reaction was justified?
Nothing really, but it’s not something I think she would be totally ‘ok’ with upon hearing. I’ve overreached over much less. That’s not to say that I think Michael’s undeserving, but the situation it puts Pam in could warrant a temper tantrum.
I watched part of it. Are they intentionally turning Jim into Michael?
That’s the hardest I’ve laughed at The Office in a long time. From the moment when Jim challenges Michael by asking him what kind of car Pam’s mother drives and Michael tells him and Jim responds with a bleeped expletive, the hilarity never let up. More like this one, please!
I agree it was a good episode. Yes, Pam overreacted, but it was somewhat understandable (didn’t her parents just divorce somewhat recently?). Jim was fantastic, from his first conversation with Michael to the end when he is trying to talk her down of the ledge.
And Michael was pretty human, which is always nice to see.
I loved the Jim found the walkie talkie in the duck when it made the computer speakers give off the weird, cellphone about to ring near a computer, sound.
I thought that this was one of the best episodes in ages. I was laughing through the whole thing.
This was one of the best episodes ever. Laughed the whole way through, and i usually hate when they show a woman being a total bitch and nobody puts her in her place.
I like episodes where Micheal has to deal with his personality flaws. He was faced with a deeply troubling conflict here. The guy is really lonely and here is somebody who he thought he was friends with telling him that she could give a shit about his happiness.
Micheal is going to be hurt bad if Pam keeps this up.
I thought Pam was awesome in this episode. Yes, she reacted strongly, but I wouldn’t call it an overreaction. She gets back from her honeymoon all happy and rejuvenated only to find out that Michael Scott is sleeping with her mother? Fuck that.
Loved the episode, and yes, Pam was a bitch, but it wasn’t out of character at all.
I thought it was great - the first really funny episode this season.
“What the hell’s a mallard?”
Why? How does it hurt her?
I don’t think I have laughed this hard at an Office episode ever. It was non stop funny. Great stuff.
Oh man Stanley’s absolute glee during Pam’s meeting revolt was incredibly funny.
Good episode. Pam’s loud reaction was totally understandable, but at the end she was able to calm down a bit. Michael was at his maximum clueless self. When Michael approached Toby to intervene because he was subjected to a hostile work environment, I completely lost it! As usual, Michael tried to use Toby, then tossed him aside when convenient. I agree this could be one of those classic episodes.
something I’ve been wondering for awhile. Does The Office live in a universe where:
a) documentary film crews have (at least) a 5 year reserve budget for continuous filming with no revenue generation? or
b) one where past years of this documentary have already aired with absolutely no real life ramifications for the characters?
I don’t think Pam has a whole lot of respect for Michael, so of course she’s going to bristle at the thought of her Mom hooking up with him. I think she also likes to think her life outside of the Office is a good one, so the notion that one of the most insufferable things about her work life would encroach her personal one is horrifying to consider.
I think her reaction is an understandable one. She’s being selfish, but I think there’s a lot of truth to the supposition that she’s going to put her personal happiness well ahead of Michael’s. Plus, she’s seen him in relationships–he can be monumentally rude, inconsiderate, and indiscreet. The prospect of him airing every bit of her mom’s (and by extension, her) dirty laundry to the entire office paints a vivid and scary picture for her, which is why I don’t think she overreacted (though she could’ve handled it better and was quick in assuming there was nothing substantial to the relationship).
Michael has too much negative history here to come across as a wounded innocent, just “looking for love.” He’s a drama-inducing, dysfunctional relationship nightmare. I don’t blame Pam for a second for not giving him the benefit of the doubt.
Now, this was Day One. This was her initial, completely honest kneejerk reaction. It’ll say a lot about her character and maturity to see how she continues to handle the situation if the “dating” continues.
A valid observation and one of the reasons the documentary format doesn’t work for me. The UK version ended after 13 episodes (and added a Christmas Special) and that makes more sense.