The Office: Season 8 - Page 11

Xiomera · 01-26-2012, 01:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by holt_bruce81

I can't see that succeeding but hey who knows.

Wait, does that mean this is the last season?

No. The show is without question returning for a 9th season.

ryno626 · 01-26-2012, 03:45 PM

Bah. I think Jim and Pam's wedding was the perfect place to end the series.

Xiomera · 01-26-2012, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ryno626

Bah. I think Jim and Pam's wedding was the perfect place to end the series.

Television NEVER works like that. The show was pulling in its largest ratings at the time. Shows never end on their highest note. Stopping it there just so it doesn't ever decline would have been dumb and robbed a lot of people of enjoying the show for many more years. People could have chosen to stop watching and it wouldn't have tainted the early episodes when it was at its best.

Ghost of Juice · 01-26-2012, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xiomera

Television NEVER works like that. The show was pulling in its largest ratings at the time. Shows never end on their highest note. Stopping it there just so it doesn't ever decline would have been dumb and robbed a lot of people of enjoying the show for many more years. People could have chosen to stop watching and it wouldn't have tainted the early episodes when it was at its best.

Not entirely true, Vince Gilligan planned on ending breaking bad after the fifth season early in the series and ratings had nothing to do with it. He just wanted to tell the story and finish it, I wish every show did that.

Xiomera · 01-26-2012, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ghost of Juice

Not entirely true, Vince Gilligan planned on ending breaking bad after the fifth season early in the series and ratings had nothing to do with it. He just wanted to tell the story and finish it, I wish every show did that.

OK, yes. Breaking Bad was the one exception I had in mind when writing this.

What I should have said was, NETWORK television doesn't work this way. Cable channels aren't entirely slaves to the ratings game.

Splat · 02-01-2012, 07:49 PM

Dwight tried to kiss me.

What?

And I didn't tell anyone, 'cause I'm not really sure how I feel about it.

That is not true. Redact it. Redact it!

Well, I'm not actually making a formal complaint. I just really think we should talk about it.

Giantsfan1080 · 02-01-2012, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xiomera

OK, yes. Breaking Bad was the one exception I had in mind when writing this.

What I should have said was, NETWORK television doesn't work this way. Cable channels aren't entirely slaves to the ratings game.

Seinfeld was still on top when they went off air.

Xiomera · 02-01-2012, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Giantsfan1080

Seinfeld was still on top when they went off air.

You're going to cite the show widely-regarded as the best sitcom of all time as evidence against my theory? That's the exception.

Hurricanes25 · 02-03-2012, 08:31 PM

I thought it was the best episode of the season by far. Dwight had me laughing on many occasions. Actually, I thought it was one of their best episodes in a few years.

Brodeur · 02-03-2012, 11:40 PM

That episode sucks ass.

Xiomera · 02-03-2012, 11:56 PM

Finally watched last night's episode.

The Cold Open sucked. Jim and Pam suck.

I enjoyed the absence of Robert. Clearly the show would improve without him.

I liked pretty much all of the hospital plot and Dwight probably being the father. Finally a real plot development. Too little, too late though.

Andy trying to maintain any credibility as boss is annoying. They made the wrong managerial choice. Should have been Jim.

Creed got screen time. Hooray!

CashmoneyDrew · 02-06-2012, 08:18 PM

So I'm watching seasons 1 and 2 again and can't help but think, damn this show used to be laugh out loud funny, almost constantly. Now I'm lucky if I smirk a few times an episode. Did this show change writers at some point? Because it's not just the absence of Michael Scott. All of the characters used to be better.

Xiomera · 02-06-2012, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CashmoneyDrew

So I'm watching seasons 1 and 2 again and can't help but think, damn this show used to be laugh out loud funny, almost constantly. Now I'm lucky if I smirk a few times an episode. Did this show change writers at some point? Because it's not just the absence of Michael Scott. All of the characters used to be better.

That's precisely the problem. The show has had an absurd number of writers and is far too willing to bring even more on:

Partial list, excludes the many people who have only written one episode:

The characters are inconsistent because no one maintains a firm personality on anyone. It's also why plot is a foreign word to this show.

Xiomera · 02-08-2012, 07:30 PM

http://www.nbc.com/the-office/video/...ebacle/1383516

"I'm really hating this Jim guy .."

They shouldn't have cut these scenes.

Vikes99ej · 02-08-2012, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CashmoneyDrew

So I'm watching seasons 1 and 2 again and can't help but think, damn this show used to be laugh out loud funny, almost constantly. Now I'm lucky if I smirk a few times an episode. Did this show change writers at some point? Because it's not just the absence of Michael Scott. All of the characters used to be better.

Episodes from seasons 1-3 are sooo much different than these last few seasons. I didn't even smile once during that stupid-ass pool episode. And The Office is one of my favorite shows of all time.

Xiomera · 02-08-2012, 08:03 PM

I liked the pool episode. Just not in the same way I used to like the show in its prime.

Xiomera · 02-08-2012, 08:10 PM

Having watched many older episodes on TBS lately, I've come to identify "Fun Run," the season 4 premiere, as a critical episode in the start of the show's decline.

I think breaking Dwight and Angela up had bad repercussions on the narrative, not necessarily at the time, but in the episodes to come.

The Andy-Angela relationship was a bad mis-step, in my opinion, and ended up effecting far more storylines than you initially would think.

I don't see a decline in the quality of "The Office" until the beginning of Season 5, but narrative issues cropped up as the result of some decisions prior to that point.

Anyone agree?

ImBrotherCain · 02-08-2012, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xiomera

Having watched many older episodes on TBS lately, I've come to identify "Fun Run," the season 4 premiere, as a critical episode in the start of the show's decline.

I think breaking Dwight and Angela up had bad repercussions on the narrative, not necessarily at the time, but in the episodes to come.

The Andy-Angela relationship was a bad mis-step, in my opinion, and ended up effecting far more storylines than you initially would think.

I don't see a decline in the quality of "The Office" until the beginning of Season 5, but narrative issues cropped up as the result of some decisions prior to that point.

Anyone agree?

Yeah I have to agree to some extent. I still think season 3 was the best but I have to say that I loved the Michael Scott Paper Company Inc. episodes. While season 4 was a down point I think they did bounce back a bit in season 5 only to go down hill again.

I just think they have left the formula that worked. Some because they were forced to continue the story others for god knows why. I would have to say losing Michael Scott is going to be the shows ultimate downfall.

They are trying to take a completely one dimensional character in Andy (Not to mention one they have made over at least 3 times) and have him take the roll of the most dynamic character on the show. I think Spader was as decent addition to the show but they should have brought in an outside character to be manager instead of hiring within.

Xiomera · 02-08-2012, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ImBrotherCain

Yeah I have to agree to some extent. I still think season 3 was the best but I have to say that I loved the Michael Scott Paper Company Inc. episodes. While season 4 was a down point I think they did bounce back a bit in season 5 only to go down hill again.

I just think they have left the formula that worked. Some because they were forced to continue the story others for god knows why. I would have to say losing Michael Scott is going to be the shows ultimate downfall.

They are trying to take a completely one dimensional character in Andy (Not to mention one they have made over at least 3 times) and have him take the roll of the most dynamic character on the show. I think Spader was as decent addition to the show but they should have brought in an outside character to be manager instead of hiring within.

Well, to be clear, I think Season 4 had several of the very best episodes of the show — Dinner Party and Money, in particular are candidates for the 5 best episodes of the series, in my opinion. Local Ad, Goodbye Toby and The Deposition are also excellent.

Season 4 was the strike-shortened season, so I'd be curious to know how that may have altered the trajectory of the show. Season 5 is where things unraveled in my opinion. But like you said, the Michael Scott Paper Company arc was a temporary return to greatness that was bookended with poor stretches of episodes.

As for Steve Carell's exit from the show, I think it's been handled poorly this season in every way. The show could have easily succeeded without him though.

Mr. Goosemahn · 02-09-2012, 08:30 PM

I really liked tonight's episode. Thought it was funny and for such a simple premise, I didn't find it stale or boring.

Giantsfan1080 · 02-09-2012, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Goosemahn

I really liked tonight's episode. Thought it was funny and for such a simple premise, I didn't find it stale or boring.

I couldn't disagree more. I didn't laugh once.

Giantsfan1080 · 02-09-2012, 08:37 PM

I also hate this Jim "affair" storyline that's begun out of nowhere. I know it won't happen but I don't like how they keep pushing it on us.

Mr. Goosemahn · 02-09-2012, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Giantsfan1080

I couldn't disagree more. I didn't laugh once.

I liked the quick remarks, like Angela's monster baby and Dwight defending it, the pork anus one, Casey Anthony on the wall.

Also liked that there was no Robert California and that there wasn't a lot of Andy.

Jim storyline sucked though.

Giantsfan1080 · 02-09-2012, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Goosemahn

I liked the quick remarks, like Angela's monster baby and Dwight defending it, the pork anus one, Casey Anthony on the wall.

Also liked that there was no Robert California and that there wasn't a lot of Andy.

Jim storyline sucked though.

I did love that part.

Brodeur · 02-09-2012, 08:38 PM

I like the cold open at least, and parts of Dwight being pissed off. I cannot stand Jim or Pam anymore though, god I hate them (and I really am annoyed at Kathy's continued existence).