Watching The Office

This is the last episode for Season 1 of The Office UK and it opens with David Brent firing, Allan, a staff from the warehouse. Allan accuses David of discrimination because he was clearly more able-bodied than his midget companion, Antoine, yet David chose to let go of him. Their meeting, however, turned into a discussion of what the difference is between a dwarf, a midget, an elf and a pixie.

Meanwhile, David gives his new secretary, Karen, a tour of the office. One of the staff, Malcolm, wondered why he had to hire himself one, when he just had to let go of another staff and David makes an unjustifiable explanation. Malcolm tells him he’s worried it might happen to him, too and David assures him everything will be okay and that he will be meeting with his boss, Jennifer, to discuss the status of the branch.

Tim, who has expressed he was quitting the company, is called to David’s office because David would like to find out his reasons for leaving. David wonders if it was a personal reason (Dawn rejected him when Tim asked for a date. The situation between him and Dawn remain awkward.) Tim says he is not enjoying his job anymore and feels it is a waste of time. David gets a little mad because it was he who trained and taught Tim everything about the paper business, and David feels that he’s throwing it all away.

Jennifer arrives for the meeting with David and she had good news. It turns out, Jennifer is being promoted as partner of the company, leaving her job open. The board has voted 5-2 to in favor of David and his branch (Slough) would have to be absorbed by another (Swindon) and that some of his people would have to be fired.

The staff knew of the meeting and were waiting for word from David after Jennifer left. He breaks the “good news” to them, thinking they would be receptive, but knowing that their jobs are on the line, no one was happy about it, except of course, David. Gareth cries upon knowing David is going to leave Slough, to move to corporate.

Later, everyone is at the bar for some drinks when David arrives and tells them that he has decided not to take the new job offer and that Slough branch will remain as it is and no one is losing their jobs. Everyone thought he did a selfless thing but when Malcolm corners him, we essentially find out that the reason why he had to decline the job offer was because he failed his medical exams.

Tim has also decided to stay. David has given him what sounded like a better job offer. He’s still going to be a salesman, but with better pay, apparently. And he is still very much hung up over Dawn.

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