The Chair Model
Although it's not exactly a remake or anything, this episode borrows a crucial plotline from the Christmas special of the original British version of
The Office, in which David Brent (their equivalent of Michael Scott) starts to feel the desperation of loneliness and signs himself up for an internet dating service. Although the American version of
The Office is usually described as being wackier and less dour than its predecessor, it's interesting that Michael Scott is still holding onto his delusions of meeting and marrying a supermodel, while David Brent managed to find some measure of love and acceptance with a woman that his friends made fun of (one of the best moments of character development in the British version was Brent finally telling off his bullying "friend" Chris Finch when he insulted his date).
Could it be that the American remake isn't as light-hearted as we'd always believed it to be? Certainly Michael comes off as almost a monster in this episode, displaying just about zero empathy in any situation that doesn't concern his own well-being. Early on he has a pathetic moment when he admits that the real reason he wants to meet women is to have children and start a family. He's scared of how old he is already, and worries that if he doesn't meet his soulmate soon it will be too late (and for once I was correct with one of my predictions: he apparently dumped Jan after realizing their relationship was beyond repair). But right after he demands that his employees solve his problem by recommending single women to him, he's confronted by Andy and Kevin over the parking lot situation and can't bring himself to care because it doesn't affect him.
Michael doesn't think to repay his employees' kindness towards him or even listen to what they're really saying. Likewise he blows his date with Pam's landlord by not even pretending to be interested, even telling her their conversation "was like talking to the sweet old lady on the bus." I almost wanted to cheer when she told Michael off. Sure he's miserable, but until he can grow up and learn to act like a decent human being, he deserves it.
And I have to admit that I didn't like the joke about the chair model being dead at first: it seemed like a cheap bit of cruelty out of
Family Guy (yeah, I never really liked that show feel free to send me hate mail). But they did have it pay off in the end by having Michael and Dwight visit her grave. Is this a sign that Michael is genuinely trying to become a better person however misguided or that he's still stuck in delusion and the endless worship of unattainable women? I know which way I'm voting.
But let's talk about the big twist of the episode instead of wallowing in misery. Kevin's fiancé broke up with him! Kidding, of course. Jim has the ring ready, and an engagement could happen before the end of the season. Even more shocking, he bought it a week after they started dating. Now there's a man who knows what his heart wants. I wonder what he's waiting for in that case. Most likely it would just look weird if he proposed so soon, and he might be a little bit paranoid after Pam was engaged to Roy for so long despite being completely wrong for him; he knows she loves him, but he just wants to make absolutely sure she'll say 'yes' when he pops the question. Now I'm just hoping that the show's writers don't decide to emulate
Friends and every generic mid-90's sitcom it inspired that used the following template for relationships:
1. Boys meets girl, falls in love with her
2. Shyness/various contrived circumstances prevent him from declaring his love for her
3. Girl finds out about his feelings from a friend
4. More contrived circumstances prevent her from telling him that she knows
5. Both boy and girl are paired with other bland love interests
6. Boy and girl briefly get together in a very special episode
7. Boy and girl break up after a misunderstanding gets blown way out of proportion and neither says the obvious things to correct it (in another very special episode)
8. Repeat until series finale
Hopefully the creators of
The Office are too smart to fall for this formula (please note that these are not spoilers I have no connection to the powers that be at NBC and I don't know how this will all turn out) and resort to breaking up Jim and Pam as a cheap way of holding our attention. I know it isn't always easy to make a couple in love as interesting as two people flirting together, but it can be done.
All in all, I laughed out loud more than a few times during this episode, even though it was one of the darkest I can remember. Let's hope that, like David Brent, Michael finds some shred of self-awareness soon.
The Dundies:
Best Insensitive Michael Moment: His attempt to back away slowly from his less-than-flawless date, which
almost works before the cashier at the coffee shop calls out his name. Runner-up: Referring to Oscar as the "Oscar Meyer Weiner Lover."
Best Kevin Moment: Admitting that winning back his parking space made him feel good for the first time since his fiancé broke up with him.
Best Creed is a Creepy Old Man Moment: His unexplained obsession with hoarding office chairs.
Best Clueless Andy Moment: Dancing by himself to no music in the parking lot.
Funniest Overall Moment: Michael calls up Kevin's friend "Wendy," only to realize that he's actually calling a Wendy's restaurant. Then he places an order and forces Dwight to go pick it up. And his reaction to Pam's offer to set him up: "What's her name, Burger King?"
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