Here I was, thinking Thursday's episode of The Office was just an OK episode of The Office, and then the end piece with Pam made me go and rethink the whole thing.

OK, maybe not the whole thing -- Andy's blistered hands, Kevin's mad golf skills/compulsive gambling and the still-frozen Dwight/Angela relationship were good on their own. But what we saw in that final scene certainly recast the one before it, and has potential to loom even larger down the road.

(Spoilers coming right up. And don't call me Shirley.)

While "Job Fair" contained a little too much Clueless Michael as well as the aforementioned comedy goodness, the heart of the episode turned out to be Jim and Pam -- even though they only shared maybe a minute or two of screen time. Jim spent most of the episode on the golf course, trying to convince a client to do business with Dunder Mifflin so as to show Ryan ("You remember him -- he was the temp here") that he deserves to keep his job. "I'm going to do something really bold for this job: Try," he tells the camera.

Pam, meanwhile, was stuck at a high school job fair with Michael, Oscar and Darryl -- and was only there as "eye candy ... and because it's her alma mater," as Michael so delicately put it. Both spent most of the half-hour in frustration, Jim at his inability to make headway with the client and Pam at Michael's continual patronizing of her.

But they also both ended the episode happy. Jim really did go all-out, literally refusing to let the client leave the course until he switched his paper contract to Dunder Mifflin. ("And I shot a 102 today,so I feel pretty good.") He's celebrating over beer with Kevin and Andy back at the office when the job-fair crew returns, and when Pam learns he closed the deal, she momentarily breaks her no-PDA-on-camera rule. After a moment's self-consciousness, Jim then says, "You know what? Screw it," and gives her a long, sweet kiss, made only slightly less so by Kevin and Andy boom-chicka-wa-wa-ing behind them (and considerably less so by Michael getting uncomfortably close and saying "Yeah, kiss her. Kiss her good."

So, everyone's happy, right? Well, yes, but not entirely for the reasons we think. Because in that final, after-the-last-commercial-break scene, we see Pam approaching a graphic-design company at the job fair and asking for an application. Sure, the guy says -- do you know Photoshop, Dreamweaver, et al? Pam doesn't, but the guy is still cool to her, telling her that she could easily pick those skills up in an adult-ed class -- and she should really consider New York or Philadelphia if she wants to make a career of it.

All that, however, took place before Pam drove everyone back to the office. There's no doubt she's genuinely happy for Jim, I think part of her exuberance came from the fact that she saw some new possibilities for herself too. It's anybody's guess as to how much that might play into next week's finale, but if there are to be obstacles for what is probably TV's sweetest couple at the moment, this feels like a real and natural one to put in front of them.

Other notes from this week:

Michael's asshattery was a little too much this week, particularly his treatment of Pam. He's never really been what you'd call nice to Pam, but his actions at the job fair -- particularly his recitation of her dating history to Justin the prospective intern -- took things at least a step too far.

On the other hand, Steve Carell's delivery was just about perfect when he talked about how Justin was, essentially, Rachael Leigh Cook in She's All That, capped by the tragicomic line, "He's the most important thing in my life right now."

Andy and Kevin had basically one-joke roles this week, but I thought they played them pretty darn well. Ed Helms is a gifted physical comedian, and he wrung just about every laugh possible from a silly bit about his overly blistered hands. And it figures that Kevin would be a good golfer -- there's money to be had ($300-plus, in this case), and we've known since way back in the basketball game from season one that he has athletic ability beyond what you'd expect from his physique.

Lots of subtle, fine work from Rainn Wilson and Angela Kinsey after everyone else ditched (and by the camera guys too, who managed to shoot a then extremely pregnant Kinsey only from the shoulders up). Her stewing while he made a bunch of copies, then the "bless you" after Dwight sneezed and the "thank you" as he held the door -- could there be a thaw at hand for the former lovebirds? It's hard to say, because Angela is just about the same now as she was when they were seeing one another (at least when she knew someone was watching).

So, to sum up: An otherwise un-special episode elevated some by the Jim-Pam dynamic. Still looking forward to next week's finale (Amy Ryan! Toby leaving!) -- how about you? And what did you think of tonight's show?

Comments

I have a really bad feeling their gearing up to a split with Jim & Pam, he's ready to settle down and get married setting up a future by actually 'trying' at work, she's looking into a career, My shipper senses are tingling in a very bad way.
Moment of the episode for me Andy and the sand trap, hialrious.

Dee | May 9, 2008 12:18:34 AM | #

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My interpretation of that final scene was very different. I thought that even though the guy said learning the different software programs wouldn't be too difficult, I thought Pam internally thought that she wouldn't be able to learn it and figured she was going to be stuck as the secretary for Dundler Mifflin forever. I thought she left the job fair kind of hopeless, not inspired about a new future. Maybe I'm wrong...its happened before.

Dan H | May 9, 2008 4:59:21 AM | #

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Dan-
I thought the same thing. Like when she repeated "New York or Philadelphia", it seemed as if she was thinking that is something she would probably not be able to do. I guess it was hard to read whether she was excited about the possiblities or bummed about her real lack of experience.

Anna | May 9, 2008 5:30:04 AM | #

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Am I wrong, or was that Krasinski playing the guy at the end? Certainly looked like him...

Jimmy | May 9, 2008 5:50:56 AM | #

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Do you think they are setting Pam and Jim up to move over to the spin off? They mentioned on a past episode that they have a office in Camden. That's just over the Delaware River from Philly. Maybe Jim gets to manage his own office and Pam goes with him to go to school there?

Bob | May 9, 2008 6:29:26 AM | #

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I completely agree with other posts that interpreted Pam as hopeless at the end--until the Jim moment. I also think that there was more to the Dwight/Angela scenes than met the eye. I think the two of them hooked up after they left work.

Loved Andy's golf cart crash!

Wen | May 9, 2008 6:29:46 AM | #

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Ah Michael, it's always terrifying to see that character near the kids... trying lure in with the cool crowd, but not too hard (thanks a lot Dateline), and smacking around other companies (And the Air Force? That'ss... that's cool. Air Force is cool.)

Liked the opening where Darryl and Michael both take Pam's compliment.

I wonder if Dwight-Angela will result in an "unexpected pregnancy" episode? (you never really know what's going on with those two, you just know everything isn't what it seems -- cue Jim's "surprise face")

pakopako | May 9, 2008 9:05:22 AM | #

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I'm thinking that the writers are stepping up the rude comments made by Michael about Pam so that she will finally get fed up and have a reason to go back to school.

So far I think she has stayed there for Jim but I don't think it will be possible for her to put up with Michael for much longer.

Hope | May 9, 2008 9:11:01 AM | #

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I agree with dan h i felt pam had a hopeless day but found happiness in jims successful day. I think that the information the graphic design gave her was overwhelming and discouraging for her. But I could also be wrong.

ryan | May 9, 2008 12:58:51 PM | #

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Jimmy, I thought the same thing as well... graphics guy did indeed look like he was being played by John Krasinski. And Wen and pako, I'm with you on the idea of there being more of a story to tell about Dwight and Angela while their fellow office cats were away. One of Angela's biggest weaknesses has always been a lust over Dwight's power grabs.

Goph | May 9, 2008 1:31:53 PM | #

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They've just taken Michael too far this year. This many seasons into the show, it bothers me that no one's really gotten through to him yet. I know he's there boss, and there was a nice moment last week with Stanley, but I'm so over his sexist, racist, and just plain obnoxious commentary. It's just not funny anymore.

The rest of the cast I love! Based on what we've seen of their relationship, I think Jim would very much support moving to NY or Philly with Pam so that she could go back to school. If the show ever ends, I think a great finale moment would be for the two of them to move away from Scranton together to pursue their true dreams.

Eliza | May 9, 2008 2:29:59 PM | #

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Eliza is dead right about Michael. The writers have made him too stupid and obnoxious to be believed. The character detracts from the rest of the show.

Bill | May 10, 2008 7:31:09 PM | #

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