The Office Season 8: It Kinda Seems Like the Left Side is the Side to Be On

Okay, tonight was--to me anyway--the best from them in ages.

Really loose limbed.

http://www.tvline.com/2012/01/the-office-rainn-wilson-spinoff/

noooooooooooooooooooooooooo

what do you think: better or worse than joey?

poll

The very vocal "terrifying housewife" segment of Office fans hate Dwight and would like him gone, and the last couple of seasons have been catering to that particular group to the show's detriment (probably due to network pressure) -- I think the last handful of episodes have been the writers standing up a bit to re-claim the show from that pandering, but 1. the terrifying housewives have hated these episodes ("why is every episode not centered on Jim calling Pam to tell ask her about the babies and tell her what he's doing? I hate this show!!! It's so unrealistic!!! Also GAYS!") and 2. networks are not known for a great love of writer rebellion. I'm thinking the network is floating this.

Fuck the pandering housewives, less jim and pam, more erin. preferably in as little clothing as possible.

I would watch the Dwight show, as long as Mose plays a large role.

I think they've found the groove.

You mean the groove of having some emotional tension and strong characterization in a show that only ever worked in the first place because it had more emotional tension and strong characterization than most US sitcoms? I agree. I really hope the Dwight spin-off doesn't happen, though -- the very least they could do would be to kill The Office first. The Dwight character and Rainn Wilson's acting were fantastic this episode, but fantastic in context.

Yeah, this was a good one. Jim and Pam's consternation about how to respond to the boss' texts was great, and i cant stand either character.

I really can't wait to see how the whole Kathy situation is going to pan out, especially since she seems to have grossly misread the Jim/Pam relationship but we could get curveballed.

i think the only way they could do something interesting with jim/kathy is if jim cheats (or at least srsly flirts with cheating)

so rainn wilson is rumored to be getting a dwight spin-off, and he decides to celebrate by...tweeting rape jokes?

http://i40.tinypic.com/10r8h39.jpg

I didn't see that one, but dude regularly tweets some questionable shit at times. Nothing like that one before though.

This was the "fear of feminine sexuality" episode of the Office, and although it had some good laughs (Stanley warning apparantly-about-to-cheat Jim "it just gets easier"), it left me a bit uneasy.

Funniest part was the pre-open bit with Pam/Angela/Oscar in various pairings griping about the other one.

I know no one else will agree with me but I love love loved Jim's escalating consternation with Kathy

I liked that too, mostly because I was putting myself in Jim's shoes and remembering this girl who just wouldn't leave me the fuck alone and pretended it was no big deal.

agreed, really liked the way that whole bit was played

loved this whole episode tbh, so happy to see the ensemble being used

Yeah, this season has really improved over the last couple and I feel like they're really taking advantage of the whole cast.

^^This. One of the happiest surprises re:the past few seasons is that the new characters who've been added and stayed on (Erin, Gabe, Robert California and (even though it may be too soon) Val & Kathy*) have actually brought something worthwhile to the table.

*Who was a surprisingly detailed Wiki page

Of course she does. She's the new Pam. I haven't looked, but I bet Erin's wiki page is crazy detailed too.

(What I mean to say is that there's always someone willing to put in the work online for the new Office hot girl.)

The "word association" gag was pretty A+.

no 'hipster erin' gifs?..

lol @ the last post in the other office thread too

I know no one else will agree with me but I love love loved Jim's escalating consternation with Kathy

This was great!

Zowie Deskchannel

Bye-Bye Packer!

Well he hadn't really been in any episodes for awhile right? Tbh I forgot about him entirely.

"Get the Girl" was really good! Loved Nellie's monologue at the end.

Nellie=David Brent w/bigger boobs.

Huh.

http://gawker.com/5901739/bears-beets-bad-ideas-the-office-may-be-rebooted-with-new-cast-of-characters

Nellie=David Brent w/bigger boobs.

Made even more clear with last night's episode and her borderline racist spiel at the beginning.

The Andy/Erin story, otoh, bleh. I can't even remember his fiance's name, and I've been watching every ep of this season.

http://img.gawkerassets.com/img/17jgu3xepax5djpg/medium.jpg

you have to admit this promo picture is kind of bad-ass

yeah i like that.

i feel like this season is back on the right track, but the andy/erin thing just needs to go away.

Ryan was p hilarious in the newest one.

I'd rather she be alone than with somebody - is that love?

Also the poem thing was a++

Last night was very high quality -- the end of season eps almost always are -- and proof that Ryan posts to ILM regularly.

Nellie & the taco=A+

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZIYYRRUhQ8

oh, spader

The season finale was pretty terrible.

Yeah, it was a letdown, and I say this as an Office apologist.

Me too. I spent a lot of time defending it this season, but I was really put off by that. It was like they had a bunch of decent ideas bubbling underneath but were really afraid to commit to anything. They usually manage to pull things together for a memorable finale, but this was such a subpar episode by any measurement.

It barely even stopped, let alone felt like a finale, and the desperate ...wrapping up? no, just stopping... of the neglected side-plotlines from this year was insulting.

Not that anyone cares, but David Denman (Roy) is returning for Season 9, while Lieberstein, Kaling, and possibly Novak are leaving and Clarke Duke and Jake Lacy are coming aboard. The story.

I care! ... sorta. Clarke Duke I'm guessing is gonna be the Dwight replacement, as the Weird Looking Guy.

Roy in one episode only, nbd