I agree that Season 3 has been sort of lackluster, but I think it's mainly because (as Anna said) the bar in Season 2 was set so incredibly high with episodes like "Booze Cruise"and "Casino Night". But there have been surprising character relationships this season: Dwight and Andy, Michael and Darrell, Michael's irrational dislike of Toby, etc. I trust the writers to get it together...and writers, if you're listening: more Toby and Pam!

wow, i cant believe it, you totally misunderstanding the meaning of this Show.
This is NOT, i repeat, this is NOT a soap opera.
Nobody (among the fans) cares about love relationships.
This is a mockumentary and you're taking everything too seriously (re: your rant about Dwight believing Jim is turning into a vampire).

So, dont watch this show again, dont write about it, it doesn't fit to you, go away.

I couldn't agree more. I haven't gotten excited about watching this show since the beginning of this season, as my enthusiasm soon dropped. Instead I can't wait to get to 30 Rock. One of my main problems with it though is Michael - he's often too ridiculous this season and beyond believable. You say the show's become too real but I say with the way Michael and Dwight have gone this year it's lost its realism.

I agree completely, and I hate how anyone every (even rightly) criticizing the show or saying it has dropped in quality is immediately attacked and told they're wrong. Everyone's entitled to their opinions, and it's fantastic that some people still think The Office is as good as it was last season. Some people don't think that, though. That shouldn't produce a knee-jerk reaction to people which makes them come in and spew the same canned phrases ("It was the hiatus, you're just confused because of the hiatus," "if your problem is Jim and Pam, them getting together will ruin the show, so get over it," "it's still the best thing on TV, so that make it immune from criticism," "you can't compare season 3 to season 2 because if you do, you don't want character development which makes you dumb," "Andy is hilarious and a great addition to the show," "Dwight has always been ridiculous - remember (insert cited example)? the fact that his character has gone from believably ridiculous to just ridiculous is not true," "Karen is super-fun and a great addition to the show, even though she is a boring place-filler with no personality who takes time away from genuinely interesting characters," or, my personal favorite, "If you don't like it - DON'T WATCH.") People, even if it's your favorite show, it isn't infallable. This author says they still think it's the greatest show on TV; they're just saying the last couple of episodes have been sub-par. I know A LOT of people that feel that way.

Maybe Pam should get with Toby and stir things up. Har.

I don't think the Office is in a slump at all. Sure there have been a couple episodes this season that don't stand with the rest, but that was the same in season 2 and especially season 1.

I think the reason the show doesn't seem as good this season is similar to what I think is happening with LOST. Forget The Office's first season for a minute. Season 2 was this incredibly new and excitingly funny show that surprised a lot of us and we fell in love with it. By this season nothing is really that different, but because it isn't new and exciting the way it was a year ago we are able to look at it more analytically and start finding all sorts of flaws. But I don't think the flaws exist. All of the things people complain about have been part of the show from nearly day one.

Just watch it and be entertained and be happy that there is even a comedy of such beautifully high quality on television at all.

Hmmmm... I think I couldn't disagree with this article more. I wonder if you really meant any of what you said or it was merely intended for shock value.

First, you say there is no conflict, but one of the most important parts of last weeks episode was Roy's reaction to what Pam told him and the conflicts it caused between Roy and Pam, Jim and Roy, and even Pam and Jim. Also, the conflict between Toby and Michael was a somewhat important part of the episode and you dismissed it as if it was a minor detail.

Dwight has become unbelievable? Dwight is very rarely believable in the first place. That's the beauty of his character. You say the show is becoming boring because it's too much like real life, but then you complain that a character is not believable...

You say that uncomfortable moments are missing after last weeks episode, but I think last week had some very uncomfortable moments. Angela's inquiries to the incident involving Roy and Dwight, Angela and Dwight making out, the conversation between Jim and Pam, and many other incidents were extremely uncomfortable.

Jim is almost always pulling pranks on Dwight. They changed things up and the pranks didn't work. It was a nice change. It was only one episode without successful pranks. How does that warrant a slump?

I do agree that Karen could use some more attractive qualities, but it wasn't long ago (Cocktails episode I believe) that she was pulling a prank on Jim that was extremely entertaining. While she could use some life, I think this complaint is minor.

Lastly, everyone wants Jim and Pam's relationship to go somewhere. If it changed dramatically every single episode it would get to be ridiculous and annoying. It's nice to see that it is going on in a more realistic fashion. Also, when something big happens it's all the more exciting.

This article really came out of nowhere.

I think you're missing the point of Dwight's personality. I think we all know nerdy people like that, that for one reason or another actually believe the things Dwight believes. Dwight is a caricature of those people.

And I just can't agree that The Office is in a slump. Why call out a show that is 10 times better than any sitcom on TV even on a bad day?

When something's broke there's no need to fix it.

I LOVE this show.

Seriously, you should really wait before posting these kinds of things. I mean, for one, the killing on scrubs was NOT random at all. People have been talking about it for a while, and me and a friend even guessed it was laverne, now you say a show that just returned from hiatus is in a slump?? I must say, i am verrrry dissapointed with you...