TV-Reviewed

When we last left The Office there were a multitude of unanswered questions and cliff hangers to be tended to, including Andy and Angela getting engaged, Angela and Dwight getting caught in the act, Pam and Jim ALMOST getting engaged, Michael getting flirty with the new HR Representative Holly, Jan and Michael possibly getting back together after finding out she’s pregnant, and of course Ryan getting fired and arrested for embezzlement. The premiere episode of season 5 did it’s job in answering 95% of these questions, while also throwing in lots of classic Office glances, one liners, awkwardness, romance and of course Dwight.

We open with a huge feast in the break room including a flowing Cheez Whiz fountain and smiling faces. The company is offering 3 extra days off to the branch that loses the most weight, so in typical Scranton branch style, they go to the extreme.  This theme brings us many classic Dwight moments beginning with him spraying insecticide all over the food so everyone is forced to eat it IMMEDIATELY, stripping the vending machines of junk food and hammering fruit into the shelves, and breaking up a secret birthday party for Stanley involving cheesecake. Dwight kicks the cake off a milk crate and angrily grunts “Happy Birthday Stanley!” as it splatters all over everyone. Dwight, we’ve missed you and you did not disappoint this week.

Steve Carell as Michael Scott and Amy Ryan as Holly

Weekly weigh-ins happen in the warehouse and this is where we first realize that Pam will be leaving soon to start a three month graphic design program in NYC. She’s making her dreams come true! And we are happy for her and so is Jim, but he is also clearly very nervous and worried about possibly losing her, especially since he is still yet to propose. No guarantees without that ring, Jim! But it’s not too long after school begins that Jim decides he can’t handle the unknown and is forced to propose to Pam on his lunch break. A little sudden and random after so much build up but we feel his pain and we quickly forgive him for his burst of spontaneity. Especially since it looks like Pam is starting to make a few new friends at school, and one guy friend in particular, Mad Men’s Richard Sommer in fact, which could make for some interesting long distance relationship drama.

Angela and Dwight have continued their affair completely based around Angela’s mood swings and poor Andy has no idea any of this is going on. For a moment we get a glimpse of a shred of humanity in Angela, but it is only for a moment which keeps Dwight and Angela from becoming anything other than perfect for each other. As for Michael and Holly, the awkward sexual tension keeps up in the geekiest of fashions as they start to resemble a bizzarro version of Pam and Jim during the good old days. It’s not as fun or interesting as Pam and Jim, but it still makes for incredibly dumb and uncomfortable interactions. It’s like watching two 12-year-olds who are just starting to date, you root for love but at the same time can’t bear to see them pretend to be grown-ups.

And finally there’s Ryan. Ryan, Ryan, Ryan, where to begin. He comes back to Scranton after being released from jail and is now the temp. receptionist. He’s also keeping a list of those who’ve wronged him so once he’s back on top he can stomp them into the ground like the peons they are. Never Forget! As long as he keeps wearing that blue-tooth headset and gel in his hair, I wish him nothing but the best in his journey to world domination, or, err, paper production domination?

All in all the premiere was a solid episode that filled in the gaps without skimping on the jokes, and set us up for a great fifth season. Pam and Jim were beginning to get a little stale so maybe this distance, mixed with pressure to plan a wedding will make for some unexpected situations and will hopefully rekindle our love that may have started to fizzle, just ever-so slightly.

Rating: 8.5