The Office: Happy Hour

Love was in the air in Scranton! Last night's Office did something it used to do so well and fairly often: take a simple situation without much plot and use it to explore these interesting characters at Dunder Mifflin. One of the best examples of this is "The Fire" from season two. The plot is simple: a fire alarm goes off at work and everyone stands outside. It happens all the time in real life. But in the episode, as in real life, we use the time to get to know the co-workers.

Thursday's "Happy Hour" was based on the premise that Oscar wanted to get to know Matt from the warehouse a little better. So he asked Darryl to organize a happy hour with the warehouse workers and the Dunder Mifflin folks.

Since that really is the entire plot, it would be easier to talk about what happened to each couple on the show.

Jim and Pam: Jim used the baby excuse to get out of happy hour, but then learned that Pam was overjoyed at the prospect of seeing someone, anyone who wasn't drooling or crying. She was even thrilled to see Kevin, who spent the episode making baby noises because he thought it would make Pam lactate. (Gross.) Pam brought a friend along with the intent to set her up with Michael. Why? She laughs at everything.

Michael and his dates: Michael was actually hitting it off with Julie until Jim told him it was meant to be a set-up. Then Michael transformed himself into "Date Mike," a jerk with an unbuttoned shirt and backwards hat. When his obnoxious antics attracted attention, the manager of the bar/arcade asked Michael to leave. He told the manager, played by the lovely Amy Pietz of the cancelled-too-soon Aliens in America, that she embarrassed him and that he would have handled the situation differently. They discussed managing styles and actually got along quite well.

Andy and Erin: This Bizarro-world Jim and Pam tried to hide their budding relationship from the rest of the office, but Andy got too jealous seeing Erin trying to flirt with other men. He announced their love from the mic stand at the ticket counter.

Dwight and Isabelle: Dwight and the way-too-attractive-for-Dwight woman from Pam's wedding, Isabelle, continued their flirtation, much to Angela's chagrin. It seems that signing a contract to have a baby with Dwight had her thinking they're a couple again. As Dwight hung out with Isabelle, Angela repeatedly popped up to scare them or be awkward, culminating with Angela telling Isabelle about the contract. On any other show, Isabelle would be appalled and storm off. But here, she whacked Angela on the head like the whack-a-mole game she and Dwight enjoyed earlier. (How did Dwight get so good at that game, you ask? Whacking actual moles, of course.)

I love love love episodes like this one. I've been dying for a light-hearted outing like this to remind me of what I love in these characters. They've been so stressed and occupied lately with having babies and dealing with new management that "Happy Hour" was just what everyone needed.


Quotes of the Week:

Dwight: I love repartee. Usually means there's a battle scene coming.

Michael: I'm Date Mike. Nice to meet me. How do you like your eggs in the morning?

Michael: (On the book he's writing on management) It is called Somehow I Manage, and there is going to be a picture of me on the cover, shrugging, with my sleeves rolled up.

Heeday: In Japan, heart surgeon. Number one. Steady hand. One day, yakuza boss need new heart. I do operation. But, mistake! Yakuza boss die. Yakuza very mad. I hide in fishing boat, come to America. No English, no food, no money. Darryl give me job. Now I have house, American car, and new woman. Darryl save life. My big secret: I kill yakuza boss on purpose. I good surgeon. The best!