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'The Office' Finale: Hello, Holly
Wow -- that's a whole lot to process from the season finale of The Office: A farewell to a beloved (by some, anyway) employee; a proposal; an arrest; a baby; and Oscar nominee Amy Ryan talking like Yoda.
(After I finish with these spoilers, we can go have pie.)
Where to begin? I guess with the A-story: Toby is finally making his exit from Dunder Mifflin to live in Costa Rica, as he's been talking about almost since we first met him. It's a bittersweet day at the Scranton Business Park -- Michael, of course, is deliriously happy to be rid of his nemesis, but Toby, still carrying a torch for Pam, still can't bring himself to just tell her.
And then, in walks Toby's replacement, Holly (Ryan, better known for dramatic stuff like The Wire and her Oscar-nominated role in Gone Baby Gone). Michael assumes that, like Toby, she'll just be another downer: "My job is to make the office fun, and yours is to make it lame. It's an eternal struggle, only one of us can win and, spoiler alert, I'm going to win."
Holly, however, turns out to be all right, both to Michael and to us. A little bit goofy, maybe (and, frankly, you have to wonder a little bit about the judgment of a woman who'd be attracted to Michael), but a pretty decent person in the main. I mean, look at how well she treated Kevin.
Seriously -- the entire running gag with Holly thinking Kevin was, shall we say, a little Gump-ish, and Kevin doing or saying nothing to disabuse her of that idea, was absolutely brilliant. In particular I cracked up at Kevin's talking-head assertion that "I'm totally going to bang Holly. ... She really seems into me." What made it great is that Ryan was able to underplay: She walked the line between being respectful and admiring of what Supposedly Slow Kevin was able to do without coming across as condescending.
I don't know whether Ryan, whose career is on a pretty big upswing following her Oscar nod, will be back at all next season, but if the Office crew can get her, I'm all for it. She showed a real affinity for the style of comedy the show does, and she and Steve Carell had a sort of gawky chemistry that worked. Maybe she could be his E.T. after all.
Because I can't see Ryan becoming a regular part of the show, I'm not sure Toby is gone for good (although Paul Lieberstein, who also co-wrote the episode, seemed to imply as much in chatting with fans). Loved the moment where he frantically asked around for a camera so he could take a picture with Pam, and his what-the-hell attitude toward his last day of work.
Here I am 400 words in, and I feel like I've only scratched the surface of this episode (I don't think there's ever been an episode Lieberstein wrote or co-wrote that I haven't really enjoyed). So let's go to the roundup:
Jim and Pam have big stuff happening. Pam gets into design school in New York, which means they'll be apart for several months -- but as Jim points out, it's only a couple of hours from Scranton. Jim -- fresh from his voice-mail telling off of Ryan -- also slips new Party Planning Committee Chair Phyllis a few extra bucks for fireworks at the party. Pam spies them and susses out, correctly, that Jim is ready to propose (nice touch with her trying to get the camera guys to tell her). And he is -- until Andy, that tool, totally ring-blocks him by asking Angela for her tiny hand in marriage. "OK," she says. "Into the microphone." "I said OK."
The way they played Pam's disappointment worked really well, I thought -- she was trying really hard not to dwell on it, but when you think something big like that is going to happen, you're inevitably going to be let down if it doesn't. (So long as it doesn't become a false obstacle, that is.) And what are we to make of the newly assertive Jim? Yes, Ryan had it coming (NBC.com has the video now), but I think the bigger thing here is that he wants to make sure he can take care of Pam while she's pursuing her new career, which is really very sweet.
Speaking of Angela, OMG WTF with that final scene? We saw last week that maybe there was a bit of a thaw between her and Dwight, but man. That's gonna put a crimp in Andy's wedding plans ("Mr. Andrew Bernard -- I like the sound of that").
Then there was that other OMG -- Jan. Pregnant. My first thought, given her choice of music in "The Dinner Party," was that her ex-assistant knocked her up. But no, Jan viisted a sperm bank, while she was living with Michael. "If I was 22 and had a lot of time, sure, I'd give Michael a shot. ... But I've got to make this one count," she explains.
First of all, ouch. But secondly, I'm sort of glad that the "Dinner Party" freakout wasn't Jan's exit from the show. Melora Hardin is so good, and while I'm a little disappointed in Michael for caving and agreeing to go to Lamaze class with her, it sets up some interesting stuff for the future. Can you even imagine Michael as a father-to-be? Yipe.
Good lines, fine moments, and other bits from "Goodbye, Toby":
- Good pre-credits bit tonight, with Jim linking Dwight's cell phone to his Bluetooth headset. Jim may be getting serious about his job, but not completely.
- Creed: "What is with this woman? Asking what it is I do. ... I should've written it down. Qua-something ..."
- Michael: "I wanted to kiss her." Jim: "I'm so glad you didn't."
- Oscar, explaining that Ryan got busted for double-entering sales to prop up Dunder Mifflin Infinity: "We refer to it as misleading the shareholders. It's also known as fraud. To me, the real crime was the beard."
- Kelly had a few nice moments tonight, including her fantasy about visiting Ryan in prison. My favorite, though? Her immediate request to be a bridesmaid at Angela's wedding. ("No.")
- Several things about the raccoon-in-the-car sequence: 1. Mose! 2. Meredith picking the lock. 3. Holly's car appeared to be a Sebring convertible, just like Michael's old one.
How'd you feel about the finale of The Office? What is up with Dwight and Angela, and can Pam recover from her disappointment? Can you wait till September?
I love The Office, but that season finale was weak.
The only shocker was when the credits rolled.
I am not convinced that Jan went to a sperm bank - I'm betting it's Michael's baby.
Chris from NY | May 15, 2008 10:06:49 PM | #Total disagreement Chris. Sadly because of the strike they had to power pack this one with tons of plot. But it instantly became one of my favorite episodes ever. The Kevin subplot maybe the funniest thing the Office has ever done. And Michael, for once, acting like a normal, respectable human being had me cheering for him and Holly. If NBC is smart, she'll be back, and we can see them grow as a couple. And of course, Angela and the D-Man. Who didn't see that one coming?
Best. Show. OnTV.
Rob | May 15, 2008 10:20:24 PM | #I can respect that, Rob.
To be honest, I was browsing my laptop while watching, so I didn't give it my full attention.
I do like Holly and I hope she will stick around too.
Chris from NY | May 15, 2008 10:28:15 PM | #gotta say, not the strongest finale ever... a lot of strings left and very few issues resolved... in fact none were resolved aside from the fact that we finally got rid of toby the newly established pervert.
i love the office, but this episode was definitely NOT a favourite.
kate | May 15, 2008 11:11:14 PM | #i was disappointed too. in a show where things rarely happen, i needed something to happen. i really thought that we'd come back for that last few seconds and have jim proposing, a moment like the first kiss. it really felt like a let down.
cj | May 15, 2008 11:29:25 PM | #Jim proposing in the finale....way too predictable. Glad they didn't do it.
I would say this has to be my favorite finale, for me.
Kev | May 15, 2008 11:48:10 PM | #My votes are with this was a great finale crowd! This was one of the best episodes ever!!!!!!
Michael holding in his inappropriateness was hilarious and the Kevin scenes....soooo
funny!!!!!!!! Finally an episode this season with Michael not being painful to watch.
I wouldn't say best finale, but it is one of my favorite episodes this season. I love that there isn't the awkward painful to watch huge story line, but many funny moments scattered throughout. Kevin's slowness, awkward Holly/Micheal bonding, Jim and Dwight bafoonery, Jim standing up to Ryan. All things that make me love these characters, and willing to wait the summer for them!
Tara | May 16, 2008 12:55:20 AM | #the youtube clip is on Office Tally... http://officetally.com/
Unfortuantely I can't access it from Canada through that site :(
Jason | May 16, 2008 2:11:20 AM | #I really was hoping a cut to Jim proposing in the last minute of the show. I hate when season finales leave you bummed.
Rachel | May 16, 2008 4:45:02 AM | #I would have to say I really liked the episode. It was stressful though, because the whole time I kept waiting for "over the top Michael" to come out and embarrass himself in front of Holly. He never did. It was great!
Anna | May 16, 2008 5:30:31 AM | #Overall, great episode. I thought Andy proposing to Angela seemed a bit contrived...where did that come from??? Have they even been on a real date? But loved the end scene when Phyllis walked in on her & DWIGHT!!!!! WTF!!!! Can't wait for that to play out.
The Kevin is slow bit...genius!!! It was played to perfection by Amy Ryan and the actor who plays Kevin (don't know his name).
Loved Amy Ryan. I hope they can bring her back off and on next season. She & Steve Carrell were great together. I didn't spend as much time cringing when he was on screen as I normally do.
Jim & Pam should have been the ones to get engaged. I hope this doesn't become a 'will it ever happen' plot point.
Diann | May 16, 2008 5:41:51 AM | #I agree, Diann, regarding not wanting the Jim/Pam storyline to become a 'will it ever happen.' I kind of hope (not kind of; I REALLY) hope that the writers keep them together. If Holly stays around, that should certainly be the pining after someone storyline, as in her after Michael. Just not Jim/Pam/pining again. Looking forward to September, which just seems incredibly far away at this point. Sigh.
Girley | May 16, 2008 5:53:37 AM | #OK, I'm used to posting in the L O S T end of this site, but I had to point out something you may feel as well:
Do you feel, as I do, that this show does NOT work as an hour long show?
I mean, I friggen love this show and do not miss it for anything, but I gots to confess that the beginning of the season was at the shows worst when it was an hour long. For some reason the wit of writing gets stretched thin. Your thoughts dear readers?
Brian of the North | May 16, 2008 5:58:56 AM | #I loved the episode. I like that they did not have Michael go over the top. He has been a bit much this season and they rounded off well. I love that Andy stole Jims moment. Priceless.
I also agree with the above comment, I think it is Michaels baby and Jan is saying otherwise. Where would she have got the money to do that. She has no job and I would think Michael would have noticed a large amount of money missing or charged.
Ray | May 16, 2008 6:03:01 AM | #Loved Michael the songwriter - the parody songwriter whose parody consists of changing one word in the Title: Goodbye, Toby but it worked!
Total Eclipse of the Fart Indeed!
Yeah, I loved this. Lots of big stuff, and the Kevin plot was brilliantly hilarious.
Billiam | May 16, 2008 7:20:14 AM | #A very good season finale. LOL many times.
The finale for Scrubs sucked, and 30 Rock's was ok.
Glad to see The Office get it right.
miller | May 16, 2008 7:44:16 AM | #Hysterical episode, hysterical show....
Oscar's "beard" comment was too funny...
I thought it was good too. I loved the Kevin is slow bit, even though it did remind me of the Seinfeld episode with Kramer and "the velvet fog". They just did such a great job - Kevin at the vending machine with a button in his hand. Anyway - I don't see what's not to like. Gave me some laughs - that all I need.
Sue | May 16, 2008 8:07:27 AM | #Miller, the finale for Scrubs certainly didn't suck - it just wasn't a finale episode. Not only was it an episode intended for midseason and not a finale, it wasn't even the last of the batch of episodes they were able to shoot - NBC showed them out of order which had continuity problems like Kelso still working at the hospital.
It was a good episode, and it's not fair to judge it by "finale" standards because it's not a finale. NBC just refused to let them shoot a real series or even season finale, so it just ended midseason with zero closure. Blame the idiots at NBC, not the show.
Back to the Office, the Kevin subplot was pure genius. Maybe the funniest bit the show has ever done, just hilarious. It was also really great to see Phyllis take over the party planning committee and totally whoop Angela.
I thought it was a great finale, there were plenty of plot twists, and since it would have been totally predictable and cliché to have Pam and Jim get engaged, it was great to see it get sidetracked in a clever way. I think the Jam shippers are just mad they didn't get what they wanted, instead of actually looking at the episode objectively. Don't worry, it will happen, just not as a finale stunt.
Really, nothing happened in last night's episode?
1 Ryan to jail
2 Toby leaves
3 New character, chemistry with Michael
4 Jan pregnant
5 Andy and Angela engaged
6 Angela cheats with Dwight
We almost missed the last bit because of changing the channel for LOST - I wonder how many people did just that and didn't even see the bit with Angela and Dwight getting caught.
milo | May 16, 2008 8:21:38 AM | #I'll have to watch this episode again. It was... well, it WAS.
Awkward. Disjointed. Funny. Trite. Uncomfortable. Smooth.
The gags with Kevin were the shining beacon of the finale, which is sort of sad considering how little of the finale Holly and Kevin had (".. and now I have to to buckle [Kevin] in").
Michael Scott is starting to go beyond "that Dateline zone" for me. He's just not being "reined in" by Jim or Dwight or anyone else as much any more, though they do try. (Dwight causing Michael to question their relationship; Jim causing Michael to question his, uh, zealousness; even Daryll when he belittles Michael usually leading to a pleasantly surprising payoff.)
pakopako | May 16, 2008 8:22:56 AM | #Ryan's arrest video is also on NBC.com now, and linked up in the main post.
Rick | May 16, 2008 8:47:21 AM | #anyone actually try finding the arrest video on youtube? usually, stuff like this actually exist but i couldnt find it. i wonder if youtube took it down?
i hope amy ryan comes back for a semi regular role. she was great.
friday | May 16, 2008 9:32:38 AM | #You missed my favorite comment... when Michael told Holly that he'd be out of town this weekend and she said, "oh, so you can't make my orgy?" oh wow... you never see Michael speechless like that. That and the whole Kevin bit was just super... I loved it. I thought it was a great episode.
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