I think a big part of Michael’s problem with Toby is that Toby doesn’t work for him, but Michael has to accomodate him anyway, complete with space in his office. (Granted, it’s shitty space, but still.) He also feels like Toby is constantly interfering with his management duties. Like when Toby said it was a bad idea to invite boy scouts to the Casino Night party. In other words, Michael thinks Toby is a corporate mole intent on undermining him. (And don’t forget that Toby keeps secret records of Michaels fuck-ups, so he’s not all sweet and innocent as it may seem.)
“Let’s get Chinese”.
“I’d rather do something cheap.”
(that was funny without the followup line)
Jan’s going to stick around, but I did detect a whiff of Michael asserting himself for the first time on the ride home.
I agree. The line was funny, and yet surprisingly insightful – Jan flat out uses Michael in a very mean way. Dunder-Mifflin uses Michael, but a company is supposed to use its employees. And, as we saw from David Wallace’s testimony, they’re not particularly mean about it (well, Ryan is, but he’s a douchebag, so that works. Plus, he doesn’t have much direct power over Michael, besides his “I’m the boss, do it MY way!” tantrums he always throws whenever Michael has a difference of opinions.)
Great episode. Not enough to hold me over for X months, but still, nice episode.
Huh? Was that the season finale?
Last episode until the writer’s strike is resolved.
I’ve been disappointed in this entire season. Aside from a few LOL moments, I’ve become disenchanted with the show. This episode wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t great either, IMO.
Bummer.
I agree. I think it’s easily the best episode I’ve seen this season. It’s interesting to see how divisive this season has been. I think it’s been pretty solid and funny so far, without a single badly written episode in the bunch. I’m actually enjoying it more than the British version of The Office, which is saying quite a bit for me, although I will concede that they had distinctly different vibes to their writing.
Could be. Writers’ strike, most of the secondary characters are writers pulling double duty, and Carell and other main actors won’t cross the picket line, so it’s shut down earlier than most shows.
Litigation value this week: $200,000.
Good point. I remember seeing a show on Discovery or something about marriage counseling that recorded couples’ behavior markers and cues in an effort to quantify relationship strength on a common scale. The one thing the researchers said was almost guaranteed to make a relationship irretrievable was contempt. And despite her little speech in the trainyard, it certainly seems that contempt is Jan’s chief emotion towards Michael.
As for Toby, I’ve always liked him and been appalled at Michael’s hatred of him. But I have to admit, he does have kind of a whiny manner, and his interaction with Jim over the birthday parties was annoyingly passive-aggressive. Add in that he’s always raining on Michael’s parade, and it’s kind of understandable.
That said, the flashes of Toby winning are great. In addition to the casino night thing, I’ve always loved when Michael has all the men troop out of the office to have manly bonding time in the warehouse, and Toby, at the end of the line, just looks at the camera and puts his finger to his lips as he stays behind and closes the door - brilliant.
I too think the show is in decline. Michael is so overwhelmingly stupid that I can’t find him to be a sympathetic character.
Put me in the crowd that thought this was a bad episode.
To be precise, it’s the document in which Michael waived his right to sue Dunder Mifflin with regard to any cause of action arising out of his relationship with Jan.
I figured he was a arbitrator or a judge of some sort, but in the second extras clip, Jan specifically says he is not a judge.
Off topic: Was there a thread for Survivor Man?
Which Michael consistently refers to as their “Love Contract.”
I enjoyed how all the Michael-isms had to be explained and dissected at the deposition. “that’s what she said,” as mentioned above, and “The Twins”
“Who are the twins?”
“They are… upon milady’s chest.”
I thought it was “They *hang *from m’lady’s chest.” Which is even worse.
I know Michael has used the “yesh” thing before, but I’ve never really understood it. Is it just something he thinks is funny or is it a reference to something?
I think it’s just a goofy way of saying yes. I remember there was a call from Jan at one point where he used one of his irritating catch phrases to answer in the affirmative (I’m blanking on what it was), and Jan said, “Do you remember I said not to say ‘X’?” and Michael responded with “Yesh,” which of course is just as bad.
And yeah, I believe the whole quote about Jan’s breasts was, “To put it delicately, they hang from milady’s chest,” which may be the most hilarious line of the show.
… and they make milk …