Fans of Stupendously Dry Humor Rejoice in the 3rd Season of The Office

Fact: The Office is the single best comedy show currently on (hiatus from) television. It takes the purposely bland setting of a paper company and turns it into what can only be described as an orgy of ridiculous personalities. And it does so with tongue planted firmly in cheek and smirk planted firmly on face.

Jim, Dwight, Michael, Pam, Ryan, Andy, Karen, Oscar, Meredith, Stanley, Kelly, Angela, Kevin, and Toby. These are the faces that you will surely come to either love or loathe–there is no middle ground when it comes to these types of personalities. The show focuses on this group of desktop warriors and their struggle to make it through each day at the office while overcoming little obstacles that cubicle-dwellers the world around can relate to. Each character is so different and, dare I say, so linked to a real life counterpart I’ve encountered at various points in my life that it’s almost painful to watch. And this is why The Office works.

In the 3rd season, the more things change the more they stay the same. Jim still plays some amazing pranks on Dwight (one particularly clever prank sees Jim sending Dwight a fax from “Future Dwight”), the sexual tension continues to escalate between Jim and Pam, and Michael can still do absolutely nothing right. Nothing. But all matters intensify when a few outsiders get added to the mix. The completely unexpected closing of the Stamford branch causes Scranton to absorb some of the deceased branch’s employees, including Jim’s new love interest, Karen, and Dwight’s all-too-similar rival, Andy.

Though this season has more laugh-out-loud moments than the previous two combined (in this reviewer’s humble opinion, anyways) its real merit comes from the rare glimpse into sincerity that some characters provide. Some moments will even have you quickly wiping away a tear before your friends notice. For instance, you’ll be hard pressed not to tear up when Michael is the only co-worker to show up to Pam’s art show, but ends up purchasing one of her drawings (even though they weren’t technically for sale) and telling Pam how proud of her he is. And some of the most touching moments come from the genuine, heart-to-heart conversations between Michael and Jim.

The Office isn’t your typical sitcom. It doesn’t follow the conventions of a 3-camera set-up and it is constantly allowed to break down the fourth wall because of its mock-umentary style. In short, it doesn’t look or flow like anything else on TV. And it holds a special place in my heart.

Question: Are you going to pick up a copy of the 3rd Season of The Office? There are basically two schools of thought, but both of them lend themselves to you doing exactly that.


Episode Highlights: The Coup, A Benihana Christmas, Branch Closing, Beach Games, Traveling Salesmen/The Return

Quotes to Lure You In:
"You don't call retarded people retards. It's bad taste. You call your friends retards when they are acting retarded." - Michael Scott, referring to Oscar's homosexuality.
"I had Martin explain to me 3 times what he got arrested for because it sounds an awful lot like what I do here everyday." - Kevin, talking about embezzlement.
"I miss Dwight. Congratulations Universe, you win!" - Jim.
"I don't care what Jim says, that is not the real Ben Franklin. I am 99% sure." - Dwight.