I love television almost as much as I love film. I feel that a complex story with large casts can be told better through the medium rather than one long two and a half hour film. You can use entire episodes to delve into the lives of one of your main characters. You can twist your story arch to match current events. It just works for elaborate plots. However, it is not without its pitfalls. The worst thing a TV show can do is out stay its welcome. What ends up happening is a show that was once loved by all turns into a train wreck that everybody collectively hates. I'm sure you've heard the term "jump the shark" before. Do you know where it comes from? Happy Days. Yes, the show that introduced the world to "The Fonz" also introduced the world to what it was like when a tremendously successful show simply sticks around too long. Like the last person at a party. You're tired and ready to hit the hay, but Chatty Cathy insists on telling you all about whatever the Hell is going on in her life at the moment. The term comes from the season premiere of the fifth season of the show. The show runners decided that rather than continue to make a program that people had grown to love, one that told relavent stories with a 1950s backdrop, they try and turn everything upside down. They had Henry Winkler dress in swim trunks and a leather jacket and filmed him (at least I hope it was really him...because that'd be awesome) literally jumping a shark in a tank on waterskis. This phrase became commonplace for anyone or anything that tried so desperately to be relavent that they ended up completely destroying any credibility they once had. The Office got that way for a lot of people. While I cannot pinpoint an actual "jumping the shark" moment, I believe many think that the show should have ended with Steve Carell leaving. I would have agreed with this statement a few months ago, however this past season has been one of the best in recent memory. Even though it seemed like the writers were trying to break up Pam and Jim (one of the best TV couples of all time. This is not debatable.) they redeemed themselves this past episode. What I'd like to do is give a BRIEF recap of where we are at in the show and what I think the finale will have in store. Please share your thoughts and opinions below!!
It's been a few years since Michael Scott has left. Robert California (James Spader) came in and took over the managerial duties for a season.
He was incredible.
Without James Spader, I would've stopped watching. I hated the character Gabe. I didn't like the direction the show went when they were bought by Sabre. Most of all, I really didn't enjoy the extreme character behavior modifications. Kevin (who has always been a little slow) has been turned into a barely functioning adult. It is surprising that he is able to do simple math, because of how moronic they have made him. This applies to Andy (Ed Helms) as well. Andy has always been a quirky nice guy with a short fuse, but recently he has become an unstable dolt. A similar situation occurred on one of my favorite shows growing up, Boy Meets World. Eric Matthews (Will Friedle) was the older brother to Cory (Ben Savage). He usually had good advice and was as supportive as any other big brother would be. However, as the seasons went on, Eric's intellect dropped off the table. It was as if he spent his entire high school career huffing glue and slamming his head into the wall. Every now and then we would see glimpses of a truly intelligent person peeking through the idiot's eyes, but he was quickly scared off by the nonsensical ramblings being spewed at him by the imbecilic dominant portion of his being. What Spader brought to the show was order. He was whimsical but also sincere. It was like having the antithesis of Michael and it worked. When Spader left, Andy took over and things were still pretty good. However, the show really started falling apart when Andy discovers that his family has gone bankrupt. He goes through a crisis and leaves the office to sell his family's boat. Jim takes a part time job with a start up athlete representation company in Philadelphia that some friends started. Darryl decides to go with him and things begin to turn for Jim. The separation from his family begins to weigh on Pam and Jim's relationship and they start to resent each other. For a few episodes it seemed that Pam was going to have an affair with the boom mic operator (I swear I think his name was Mike) but that was nixed when people lost their sh*t. David Wallace (who now owns Dunder Mifflin) ends up firing Andy and places Dwight in charge of the branch. Dwight assigns Jim as his Assistant to the Regional Manager and the old antics arise again. In a lot of ways the final episodes of the show have gone back to what made me fall in love with it in the first place. Great characters, funny dialogue, and classic Jim pranks.
In the episode that just aired, Dwight confesses his love for Angela and he proposes to her. She accepts and they FINALLY end up together. Jim is back at the branch full time and he begins to rebuild his marriage with Pam. Andy embarked on a journey to become an actor/singer but ends up failing miserably. We also learn that the documentary that has been filming for the past ten years is set to air. The episode ends with all of the current staff (and Andy) watching the premiere at a local pub.
The series finale is set to air on May 16 from 9-10:15 and I am stoked. The trailer for the episode reveals a lot about what we can expect.
It's six months after the documentary premiere and every is gathering for Dwight and Angela's wedding. It appears that it is taking place on Schrute Farm so surely Mose and cousin Zeke will make appearances. I think that Andy may have found success as an actor after the airing of the documentary. Darryl has gone on to sign numerous famous athletes for AthLead and is now "Oprah Rich". It appears that Kelly and Ryan have a child but there is another man of Indian decent with them. Three way relationship? I wouldn't be surprised. Phyllis is giving Angela away because she has always been the matriarch of the office. It seems that it is an old Schrute custom for the bride to be to ride the mother down the aisle like a donkey. I would like to be a Schrute. Dwight's bachelor party is sure to be epic because of his complete lack of social skills. I hope that Michael will come back as Dwight's best man, but I feel that that duty will be reserved for Jim. Perhaps by the time that the wedding rolls around, Toby and Nellie will have finally gotten together. Erin and Pete will still be together and I think that Clark will show up to the wedding with Jan Levenson. Stanley will be getting a divorce because his unfaithfulness will be known to his wife due to the airing of his confessional tapings. He will show up with a young date. Creed will be Creed. I want Meredith and Creed to be each other's dates. I think they deserve each other. Bob Vance from Vance Refrigeration will be there with Phyllis and perhaps he has donated something for the wedding. Oscar and the Senator will be there because no hard feelings, right? I would really like to see Karen and all the other short lived characters come back but I doubt it will happen.
The Office Series Finale will be an epic ending to a show that will be talked about for years to come. The three time Emmy winning show has been the source of many watercooler conversations and has given the culture a punchline that never gets old (when used properly). I am sure that I will need a tissue or nine while I watch the episode, and there will be hole in my heart shaped like a Dwight Schrute bobblehead. I am going to miss the show, but I am excited to see where everyone ends up now that they can test other avenues in their careers.
What do YOU think will happen? What is your favorite Office moment? Share down below!
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