The Office - Season 3 - Discussion [possible spoilers]

I just watched the whole episode. It was great how they used all the characters. I noticed a few people saying Jim and Pam got together, not true. For all we know Jim took her out to dinner to tell her he's serious about Karen or something. I'm guessing they left it open like that to see if Rashida's new show gets pick up or not, then they can go with whatever direction they please. I would much rather see Jim and Karen stay together and a new aggressive Pam makes plays for him. Would be nice to see some serious girl girl action.
 
[quote name='CouRageouS']I just watched the whole episode. It was great how they used all the characters. I noticed a few people saying Jim and Pam got together, not true. For all we know Jim took her out to dinner to tell her he's serious about Karen or something. I'm guessing they left it open like that to see if Rashida's new show gets pick up or not, then they can go with whatever direction they please. I would much rather see Jim and Karen stay together and a new aggressive Pam makes plays for him. Would be nice to see some serious girl girl action.[/QUOTE]

But Jim said "Okay, then it's a date."
 
Yeah, he said it was a date, and had that look in his eye.
Man, Pam was on the verge of tears.

Not to mention the fact that he drove home from New York leaving Karen behind.

I would have totally liked to have Jim and Karen stay while the new, tough Pam keeps flirting with Jim like Courageous mentioned.
 
[quote name='CouRageouS']I just watched the whole episode. It was great how they used all the characters. I noticed a few people saying Jim and Pam got together, not true. For all we know Jim took her out to dinner to tell her he's serious about Karen or something. I'm guessing they left it open like that to see if Rashida's new show gets pick up or not, then they can go with whatever direction they please. I would much rather see Jim and Karen stay together and a new aggressive Pam makes plays for him. Would be nice to see some serious girl girl action.[/quote]
I think you're overcomplicating it (or missing the spirit of the moment). Unlike every Jim/Pam moment before this, both characters were finally on the same page. It was a tremendous relief and a high point of the show.

Ryan getting the job pleasantly surprised me. Certainly seemed like they were setting Karen up to get it, but that would have wrapped things up a little too tidily. Also, putting Karen in a position of authority over Jim and Pam could have gotten ugly. I think you guys are right that it will lead to some really fun plotlines next season as Ryan makes Michael squirm. Incidentally, for the Ryan-haters among you, you do realize that he and Kelly are two of the show's head writers, right?

I guess my favorite thing about this season finale was that it wasn't a cliffhanger. It just provided all sorts of closure, foremost being Jim and Pam, but also revealing who got the job, Ryan finally cutting Kelly loose, Jan and Michael reuniting (okay, I guess that raised more questions than it answered), etc.

Favorite lines:

Dwight: I'm co-owner.......WITH SATAN!!!

Michael: Can you give Jan a message for me? Tell her, "I want to squeeze them." It's code. She'll know what it means.

Oh, and tell her "MMMMMMPHEHEHEEDMMFHFHFHFHFFMEMEMEMEFFFFFFF!!!"
 
Does anyone here have a problem with the way BJ Novak (Ryan) put himself onto the show? With all of the backlash anytime M. Night Shyamalan puts himself in his movies, I'm surprised nobody has said anything about it.

I don't personally have a problem with it--I just don't like the Ryan character. I think if he becomes a main focus next year, it will hurt the show.
 
[quote name='Tybee']
Oh, and tell her "MMMMMMPHEHEHEEDMMFHFHFHFHFFMEMEMEMEFFFFFFF!!!"[/quote]

you motorboatin sunavabitch...
 
[quote name='Plinko']Does anyone here have a problem with the way BJ Novak (Ryan) put himself onto the show? With all of the backlash anytime M. Night Shyamalan puts himself in his movies, I'm surprised nobody has said anything about it.

I don't personally have a problem with it--I just don't like the Ryan character. I think if he becomes a main focus next year, it will hurt the show.[/QUOTE]Do we really see Ryan that much? His appearances don't seem forced to me, if that's what you mean. I feel like we see Kelly more than Ryan. I doubt they will focus on him that much next year, with him mostly being in New York.

The only thing I don't get about BJ Novak is why he gets to be in opening credits.
 
[quote name='Plinko']Does anyone here have a problem with the way BJ Novak (Ryan) put himself onto the show? With all of the backlash anytime M. Night Shyamalan puts himself in his movies, I'm surprised nobody has said anything about it.

I don't personally have a problem with it--I just don't like the Ryan character. I think if he becomes a main focus next year, it will hurt the show.[/QUOTE]

There's a lot of difference. Novak obviously never feels the need to ortray himself as a main lead at any time - he's only been the focus of maybe a few shows (I can't even think of many outside of the sales trip episodes, with Stanley and Dwight respectively...ok and the episode where they go to his college). The rest of the time he is relegated to the background, with sparse appearances and few lines, only brought out to say something that would be in character for him.

I fail to see why anyone would have a problem with his character, honestly. Granted it's an opinion thing, but he isn't used much and generally does very specific things. He's fulfilling a purpose and a space effectively, which is better than, say, "oh look Dwight is being creepy again" moments.

But hey, opinions.

Anyway, it's not like, say, Family Guy, where 99% of the dialog is coming straight out of Seth's mouth.

Besides, I think a lot of the characters have impact on the scripts, and a lot of them improvise. I think Jim's chracter does the same basic thing, but I could be wrong.
 
[quote name='Plinko']Does anyone here have a problem with the way BJ Novak (Ryan) put himself onto the show? With all of the backlash anytime M. Night Shyamalan puts himself in his movies, I'm surprised nobody has said anything about it.

I don't personally have a problem with it--I just don't like the Ryan character. I think if he becomes a main focus next year, it will hurt the show.[/quote]

I don't, because Ryan's always been a minor character. He rarely figures prominently in plots, and he gets demeaned as often as not.

Compare this to M. Night Shyamalan, who often casts himself in a key role in his films, giving himself very auspicious parts to play. This despite the fact that the man could not act his way out of a wet paper bag. I also think the backlash has more to do with the fact that his last two or three movies have been steaming piles of dung.
 
[quote name='evanft']Wait, Ryan got the job? When did that happen?[/quote]

lol...Seems like every week we have some poor soul who tunes out before the stinger.

Anyway, in the last 30 seconds of the show (after they came back from commercial), we see the guy who was interviewing everyone talking on the phone saying, "Well, we really are convinced that you're the best person for the job. We can't wait to bring you onboard. It'll be great to have another MBA in corporate."

Then it cuts to Ryan with a big grin on his face on the other end, saying "Thank you very much. I can't wait to join you in New York." He hangs up and Kelly, behind him, asks "Who was that?"

Ryan, still beaming, says "Nobody. We're done."
 
[quote name='judyjudyjudy']The only thing I don't get about BJ Novak is why he gets to be in opening credits.[/QUOTE]
I think he's been a central character from the start. I guess you can call him a minor lead? The first two seasons he was written as a guy who doesn't belong, he had no attachments (except Kelly sorta) just passing through. Everyone else is pretty much staying still. I'd even call him the most dynamic character because he has the most room for change - Temp to Sales to Corporate. He's had a couple episodes pretty much dedicated to him - Business school and the Initiation one. In a way they kinda made him out like a Jim Jr. Next season I'd love to see him stress Michael out and also make a move for Karen to add more drama.

Overall I think all the characters are coming in to play better and more rounded over the last several episodes. Especially Meredith, shes been talking a lot lately.
 
[quote name='Tybee']

Compare this to M. Night Shyamalan, who often casts himself in a key role in his films, giving himself very auspicious parts to play. This despite the fact that the man could not act his way out of a wet paper bag. I also think the backlash has more to do with the fact that his last two or three movies have been steaming piles of dung.[/quote]
Key roles in his films? That's true in Lady in the Water but I do not recall him ever giving himself a key role in his older films.

A lot of the backlash of his films come because his last two were advertised to be something that they were not.
 
I don't see why the Ryan hate. I mean, he moved himself into the back office, so if anything, we're seeing him less and less as time goes on.
 
[quote name='Strell']There's a lot of difference. Novak obviously never feels the need to ortray himself as a main lead at any time - he's only been the focus of maybe a few shows (I can't even think of many outside of the sales trip episodes, with Stanley and Dwight respectively...ok and the episode where they go to his college). [/QUOTE]


You forgot the best Ryan episode, the one where he sets the office on fire. :)

I'd like to see more Stanley & Creed (they seem to have scene-stealing moments whenever they're given dialog). But most of all, I want a Toby episode. I want an episode where Toby gets the upper hand on Michael. He deserves some payback!
 
[quote name='Pancake Rabbit']Finally watched the finale, it was great. I'm gonna say it was the best ending to an office episode ever.[/QUOTE]

I agree, I really loved Casino Night as a whole (I think a lot of the jokes were more memorable "I hate the things you choose to be/Afghanistaninis"), but I think the Jim/Pam ending was 100% more fullfilling this time.
 
[quote name='dastly75']Key roles in his films? That's true in Lady in the Water but I do not recall him ever giving himself a key role in his older films.

A lot of the backlash of his films come because his last two were advertised to be something that they were not.[/quote]

I don't mean he's a major character. I mean he puts himself in parts that are key to the plot.

So in "Signs" he's the guy that traps an alien and kills Mel Gibson's wife. And in "The Village," he's the security guard whose appearance officially reveals that the film is set not 300 years ago, but today (even though most of us figured that out well over an hour before that). And so on.
 
[quote name='Pancake Rabbit']Finally watched the finale, it was great. I'm gonna say it was the best ending to an office episode ever.[/quote]

And the best beginning as well. 3 hours late!:rofl:
 
I finally saw the finale last night - wow - what a great ending to a great season. There are so many great lines from that episode.
 
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