Watching The Office

Before I start the recaps off, I first wanna say this and get it out of the way — Did everyone put on weight while the show was on hiatus?? It looks like it. They’ve got really rounder faces now and not that it’s bad (I’ve got one myself, ha!) but the strike really left them with plenty of time and nothing to do, huh?

Anyway, on with last night’s episode which had three subplots.

The first one was with Michael, who finally confirms that it is all over with Jan and him and that he’s ready to get meet someone and get hurt again. Michael scene opens with him intently staring at page 85 of the supply catalog. In there is the image of the woman he would like to date — the Chair Model.

Michael tells his staff that should they want to fix him up with their friends, they’d have to look at page 85 for the template. He goes around the office and asks Kevin and Oscar if they can hook him up with someone. Phyllis had a lady in mind; but when Michael asked what type of woman this friend was and “if a rowboat could support her without capsizing”, Phyllis is offended and humiliated.

He tells everyone to submit him names and numbers of women he should date.

• Kevin gave the number of a hot and juicy redhead named Wendy. Turns out it’s that fast food establishment. Haha! Big props to Kevin!
• Phyllis, out of spite, still gave the number of her fat friend.
• Dwight went through all the channels and tried to contact a lot of people. He gave Michael the information he so badly needed — the Chair Model’s. But unfortunately, as Dwight learns, she’s already dead.

The thought left Michael sad and depressed…for a woman he barely knows!

Seeing how upset he was, Pam gave her landlady’s number and Michael and him meet that same day at a coffee shop. But you know, Michael… the prick! He found her the least bit attractive and compares their short time together to something like “talking to the sweet old lady on the bus”.

Michael muses his single state and dating life back at his desk, when Dwight told him he probably needs closure. I thought all along he meant closure with Jan. But I was wrong…Dwight meant closure from her:

The Chair Model’s grave site…

The two end up singing Miss American Pie in front of her grave (with Michael changing the lyrics a bit).

With Michael and Dwight? This doesn’t seem so silly.

The second subplot involves their parking problem at the Scranton building. This was originally the title of the episode (Parking) but I see why they now changed it.

Another tenant in the building is renovating their offices and the construction crew is using the gang’s parking space. So, many of them are forced to park ten minutes away from the office and then walk back. According to Kevin, it’s not such a good idea for people who sweat a lot. (Kevin so cracks me up in this episode!)

With Andy’s help, they arranged to meet with the Five Families, otherwise known as the bosses of the other building tenants, to solve this problem. To be truth about it, Andy didn’t even break sweat convincing the bosses.

Michael was too pre-occupied to help them (he’s trying to get back to dating, remember?). Besides, he’s got a reserved parking slot and don’t really care for their problems.

The final sub-plot and probably the one fans look forward to the most? It’s Jim’s proposal to Pam:

He didn’t do it yet. That’s obviously coming in the next episodes. But he’s got the ring, bought it the first week since they got together and casually warns Pam the proposal is coming and it will blow her away.

Was he warning Pam or warning the female fans who pine for him? Well, I tell you right now — my heart is giddy with anticipation!

The Office, The Office Chair Model, The Office episode recap