By Kevin McCarthy

It was definitely a surprise to see Jim’s old flame Karen (played by the ravishing Rashida Jones) make an appearance in Thursday’s episode. After the two hit a rough patch at the end of season three, she essentially disappeared for the current season with not much of an explanation as to what happened.  As it turns out, she is now the regional manager of the Dunder Mifflin branch in Utica – which is to say, she holds Michael’s job at another office. And at the start of the episode, she’s offering Stanley a salesperson position for more money at her branch. He accepts and immediately informs Michael of his decision.

While it’s difficult to imagine the show releasing Stanley, his largely peripheral role means that there is at least the potential for being expendable.  But any fan of the show would be wary of upsetting the balance, so I was naturally concerned that Stanley was on the chopping block.  After all, the change over in the cast from last season was a bit absurd.

Michael takes the news even harder than the viewer.  His concept of the Scranton branch as a family is seriously challenged by Stanley’s proposed departure.  He’s willing to do anything to keep Stanley on – except give him a raise, but you understand that his claim there’s no room in the budget are sincere. Stanley makes it abundantly clear that money is the deciding factor and Michael’s attempts to dissuade him are fruitless. So Michael turns his efforts to making the Utica branch pay for “poaching” his workers.

Elsewhere, Pam, Tobey and Oscar are organizing their meeting of the Finer Things Club.  The three gather in the common area and discuss the finer things in life: artwork, literature and ideas.  Oscar admits that, next to having sex with men, it’s the gayest thing about him. Beyond discussion, the trio normally dresses up, makes finger sandwiches and prepares meals (no plastic or paper allowed). No one else in the office is allowed to attend, including Jim, who Oscar complains would dominate the conversation by trying to be funny.

Michael and Dwight trick Jim into a road trip to Utica.  They tell him they’re going on a sales trip and when he uncovers their ploy, he immediately objects and has them pull over after Dwight throws his cellphone out the window.  When Jim learns what his coworkers have in mind (hint: it includes arson and assault), he agrees to come along and dress as a warehouse worker as long as Dwight doesn’t try to destroy anything. The prank fails (anyone surprised?) and Karen spots Jim (in a jumpsuit and fake mustache) hiding in Michael’s PT Cruiser.


Back in Scranton, the Finer Things Club meeting is a bust.  The other workers keep on interrupting them. Andy, who has decided that he needs to be in the most exclusive club in THE OFFICE, picks up the month’s book and tries to grab a seat with the others.  He’s rejected, but continues pestering them.

The Karen and Jim encounter was overdue – and though it was definitely awkward – I was slightly disappointed.  Obviously they were building up the face-to-face, but the exchange was fairly anticlimactic.  John Krasinski basically just kept the same uncomfortable look plastered on his face that has been there all episode.  If anything, however, the scene did prove that there’s little chance of a future rekindling between the two. I doubt we’ll see much of Karen moving forward.  She was just one of the many obstacles that kept Pam and Jim apart – and like all the others, she has been swept off.

That brings me to the next observation about Thursday’s OFFICE.  As I predicted last week, the Dwight-Angela-Andy went completely unaddressed.  I can’t even recall Angela getting any screentime.  This is typical OFFICE.  In fact, I was expecting them to slow up on the drama sooner, so it was a welcome change of pace to concentrate on the lighter side of the series. With this little palette cleanser, next episode is open to take us in any direction.