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Review: The Office - Secret Santa
by Joel Keller, posted Dec 10th 2009 11:35PM
(S06E13) After the cringeworthiness of "Scott's Tots," seeing an episode where Michael merely acts like a petulant child is almost refreshing.But Michael's petulance had a purpose. Dunder Mifflin is in trouble. Office morale is at an all-time low. So, while Michael was still acting like a baby, he was doing it because he wanted to be the one to lift everyone's spirits. Still, it's funny to watch childish Michael, especially when we can see big ol' Kevin act indecisive while crushing Michael's lap.
I loved seeing Phyllis as Santa. She's right; she has the temperament, the figure, and she's got bad-ass Bob Vance to back her up in case anyone objects. And to think, at one time Phyllis Smith was a cheerleader for the NFL's St. Louis Cardinals.
Anyway, as soon as Michael walked in as Santa, you knew it was on, and that Michael wasn't going to win this one. It's part of the continual struggle Michael has with not being the only guy in charge anymore (Jim gave Phyllis the OK to be Santa... in September).
But what started as a traditional Michael-being-selfish episode -- which got ratcheted up when he was a heckling Jesus -- turned into one of the better episodes of the year when he found out that DM was being sold and that David Wallace and all the execs were being fired. Michael's sincerity came through after that -- first they needed a Santa, then they needed a Jesus, then they needed a Michael -- even though his facts were wrong.
When Michael thought everyone was getting canned, he riled up everyone and reassured them all at once. It's something Jim couldn't even come close to doing (maybe because he didn't know how to contact Wallace via his kid's school). That, and the fact that the Scranton office is, as Wallace put it, "the only good thing about the company," is why Michael somehow sticks around. And that's the reason why I liked this episode so much.
More fun stuff:
- I felt so bad for Andy when Erin found out it was him who, via misguided affection, gave her the gifts from the "Twelve Days" song. Most of those gifts either attacked her, attacked her pets, or gave her other nightmares. "It's the thought that counts," said Andy. "What were you thinking?" shot back Ellie. Oof.
- But Andy redeemed himself with the marching band (which is -- duh -- twelve drummers drumming). Why can't these shy kids just get together already?
- Very fitting that Michael's PIN spells "YMCA." Also very fitting that Dwight has no clue about that song. Can't imagine the Village People are on his iPod.
- Speaking of Dwight: now that his diabolical plot against Jim is on hiatus, I like him again. He makes the holidays... something. Not fun, but... interesting. Especially when he thinks that the gift Michael was sending him piece-by-piece must be some sort of gun.
- Very cute to see Pam try to set Oscar up with "Gay Warehouse Guy." "I only know two gay guys. But they belong together." Also interesting to see how shy Oscar was at first, then ends up playing hard to get.
- One of the biggest laughs was seeing Kelly get all teary over the New Moon poster Jim gave her. Perfect marriage of pop culture and character.
- Creed classifying his degree of being naughty as "more evil than strictly wrong."
- Michael: "Phyllis has uslurped my role!" Also liked it when he called her "Tranny Claus."
- Jim wore a jaunty red tie for the holiday. Have we see him wear anything but that solid navy tie? Ever?]
- Still unsure of Jim as co-boss. It's better to see Jim as the put-upon cog than the earnest middle manager. Also, it seems like Pam and Jim are fading into the background since the wedding, which is something I never expected to happen.
- More Michael: "If you need my help because I'm ruining everything, don't come to me." Pretty much sums up Michael Scott, doesn't it?
- Odd... both The Office and 30 Rock had episodes called "Secret Santa" tonight. Guess no one plans these things out ahead of time.
[You can see clips and free episodes from our friends at SlashControl.]
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