What I’m Watching: The Office

The Office: Season 6, Episode 23 “Body Language” (B+)

It’s been a while since this show has tackled diversity head-on, and it’s one of the things that it does best. Now that Darryl has been given an office, his eligibility for the diversity management training program makes for an interesting situation since he’s one of the people at the office who doesn’t buy anything Dwight says. Kelly, on the other hand, is infinitely more gullible, and it’s fun to see Dwight try to use her as a pawn only to see her strings being pulled by a different office worker. I loved how Kelly tried to get into character by donning the garb she wore in the local Dunder-Mifflin ad from a few seasons ago, and her telling Dwight that she never forgets anything was brilliant. The arguably main plotline of this episode was a bit painful but ultimately worked out pretty well, and the nicest part of it was seeing Pam stand up for Michael and encourage his preposterous shenanigans. It’s always peculiar to see anyone actually taken in by Michael, and I think that what was likely holding her back was not wanting to make out with him in front of the entire office. There really isn’t much privacy in that place, though. I know that some people disagree, but Jim freaking out while ridiculous things are going on around him never gets old. When Pam is the one siding with Michael and continuing to indulge his ill-fated urgings, it’s even more of a blast, and I’m so glad it paid off this time.