The Office 3.17: Cocktails

"Why's it so hard? That's what she said... Oh my God. Did I just say that?"

Yes, you did, Jan. Yes, you did.

Tonight's episode, in which Michael and Jan "come out" as a couple while attending a management cocktail party, was amazing. Thus far, Season Three has been ridiculously solid, but hasn't touched the highs of Season Two (which, to be fair, are terribly high), but the last two episodes have done it. The last episode, directed by Joss Whedon, mined the emotional territory that Season Two at its most depressing was unsurpassed at, and this one, directed by J.J. Abrams, was hilarious, and also excuciatingly suspenseful. In that "Oh my GOD, Michael, you're gonna ruin YOUR LIFE!"

There were two main stories this episode, both involving alcohol-centered get-togethers: the management cocktail party, frequented by Michael and Jan, Dwight, and Jim and Karen; and an after-work happy hour thing, with everyone else. The cocktail party was a great plot. Jan decides to turn in HR paperwork stating that she and Michael are in a relationship, and takes him as her date to the management cocktail party, and of course, wackiness ensues. Jan definitely had the best lines of the episode, as she finds herself during an interview beginning to quote Michael's "That's what she said" joke, and then discusses the pros and cons of the relationship: "The upside is marriage, kids, that whole thing... the downside? I continue dating Michael Scott and implode on myself like a dying star." Jan definitely has some emotional problems, and it's tragic that her relationship with Michael is a result of that, and she's totally developed into this tragic figure on the show. She then tries to seduce Michael in the bathroom in an attempt to either shut him up or ease her tensions, and it fails. Their final scene is a funny one where they reconcile in the car on their way home, and it shows that Jan does genuinely care about Michael, as opposed to seeing him as a booty call of sorts. Melora Hardin, in general, rocks.

The other important development is that Pam and Roy break up again for good, and THANK GOD. I wasn't really caring for Good Roy, and while it was an interesting character development, I wasn't digging a love square with four good people... the good love traingle with Jim, Pam, and Karen is enough for me. Pam confesses that she and Jim kissed at Casino Night, and that causes Roy to go on a drunken rage and destroy the bar they're at. The episode ends with Roy vowing vengeance on Jim... which is a kinda scary thought.

I don't know where anything on this show is going, which is the best thing about it. Unpredictability.

All in all: A+

Until next time, same bat time, same bat channel.