Season 3 of The Office takes the show's main characters into very complicated terrain as each of them struggles to navigate the rough waters that make up his or her story.
1. Jim moves to Stamford but then moves back after it closes down, prompting a merger with Dunder Mifflin that places new characters, Karen Filippelli and Andy Bernard, among the office regulars. Jim starts a relationship with Karen but still has feelings for Pam.
2. Dwight's his usual oddball self, secretly in a relationship with Angela, and still Dundee Mifflin's top salesman. With Andy's entrance into Dunder Mifflin, his ways of sucking up to Michael make him a bigger threat to Dwight than Jim, and they become mortal enemies
3. And Pam, heartbroken as she is, managed to maintain her perky personality in the workplace
4. And of course, Michael Scott himself, struggling to find happiness while striving to remain the world's greatest boss at Dunder Mifflin.
I'll leave it at those four for now, as I've gotta get to the review
In this episode "The Return," Dwight has left Dunder Mifflin (more on that in the previous episode) and is now working at a Staples store, while the rest of the office now has to put up with Andy's annoying antics. Through various changes in the mood and organization of the workplace (surplus of clients, wilted plants, disorganized desk toys), everyone suddenly realizes how much Dwight meant to Dunder Mifflin. It's also bad timing, as Oscar has just returned to the office after a "gay-cation" that lasted half the season. Andy, reveling in Dwight's absence, continues trying to suck up to Michael and manages to annoy everyone around him, and creeping out Michael himself. He also may or may not realize how much this reflects his own antics in previous seasons ("I don't understand how someone could have so little self-awareness"). In the end, Michael realizes his mistake, and brings Dwight back to a grateful Dunder Mifflin. As for Andy, he gets his comeuppance after a prank by Jim and Pam (back at it again (yes!)) which then leads to a rejection by Michael that leaves us thankful and then in stitches, as this is followed by a crazed wall punch by Andy Bernard himself (exposed!). There's only one thing to say for all of this: Dwight Schrute FOREVER!
In this episode, almost all of the characters' narrative story arcs for season 3 reach a climax, and what a climax it is. 1. Jim is back to his prank-pulling self, and really still has feelings for Pam, once again his accomplice in his pranks when no one else will be (no surprise by Ryan, but a real blunder on Karen's part) 2. Pam remains perky and helpful as ever, even attempting to console Angela in a heartfelt exchange where she sort of admits her feelings for Dwight, bringing us to: 3. Angela shows her sentimental side 4. Dwight remains his Dwight Schrute self, even bringing his dedicated ways into his new workplace, where it's not accepted unfortunately for him. Still, as always, Dwight perseveres, and gives us a perfect description of himself in the process ("How would I describe myself? Three words: Hardworking, alpha-male, jackhammer... merciless... insatiable..."). 5. And last but not least, Michael Scott himself. While his relationship with Dwight was certainly not his cup of tea, Michael realizes what Dwight means to the company, his surroundings, and him, even preferring him over Andy. When he brings Dwight back, not only does he admit he made a mistake and fixes it ("It takes a big man to admit his mistake. And I am that big man"), but he also takes a big step in the right direction for his fellow peers and all who view him as Michael Scott: The World's Greatest Boss.
For bringing us stunning narrative turning points for the characters as well as tons of hilarious memorable moments, I call "The Return" one of the show's shining achievements and up there among the all-time best episodes of The Office. Three cheers for Dunder Mifflin!
I'll leave it at those four for now, as I've gotta get to the review
In this episode "The Return," Dwight has left Dunder Mifflin (more on that in the previous episode) and is now working at a Staples store, while the rest of the office now has to put up with Andy's annoying antics. Through various changes in the mood and organization of the workplace (surplus of clients, wilted plants, disorganized desk toys), everyone suddenly realizes how much Dwight meant to Dunder Mifflin. It's also bad timing, as Oscar has just returned to the office after a "gay-cation" that lasted half the season. Andy, reveling in Dwight's absence, continues trying to suck up to Michael and manages to annoy everyone around him, and creeping out Michael himself. He also may or may not realize how much this reflects his own antics in previous seasons ("I don't understand how someone could have so little self-awareness"). In the end, Michael realizes his mistake, and brings Dwight back to a grateful Dunder Mifflin. As for Andy, he gets his comeuppance after a prank by Jim and Pam (back at it again (yes!)) which then leads to a rejection by Michael that leaves us thankful and then in stitches, as this is followed by a crazed wall punch by Andy Bernard himself (exposed!). There's only one thing to say for all of this: Dwight Schrute FOREVER!
In this episode, almost all of the characters' narrative story arcs for season 3 reach a climax, and what a climax it is. 1. Jim is back to his prank-pulling self, and really still has feelings for Pam, once again his accomplice in his pranks when no one else will be (no surprise by Ryan, but a real blunder on Karen's part) 2. Pam remains perky and helpful as ever, even attempting to console Angela in a heartfelt exchange where she sort of admits her feelings for Dwight, bringing us to: 3. Angela shows her sentimental side 4. Dwight remains his Dwight Schrute self, even bringing his dedicated ways into his new workplace, where it's not accepted unfortunately for him. Still, as always, Dwight perseveres, and gives us a perfect description of himself in the process ("How would I describe myself? Three words: Hardworking, alpha-male, jackhammer... merciless... insatiable..."). 5. And last but not least, Michael Scott himself. While his relationship with Dwight was certainly not his cup of tea, Michael realizes what Dwight means to the company, his surroundings, and him, even preferring him over Andy. When he brings Dwight back, not only does he admit he made a mistake and fixes it ("It takes a big man to admit his mistake. And I am that big man"), but he also takes a big step in the right direction for his fellow peers and all who view him as Michael Scott: The World's Greatest Boss.
For bringing us stunning narrative turning points for the characters as well as tons of hilarious memorable moments, I call "The Return" one of the show's shining achievements and up there among the all-time best episodes of The Office. Three cheers for Dunder Mifflin!
