What I’m Watching: The Office

The Office: Season 7, Episode 3 “Andy’s Play” (B)

This is quite a peculiar episode, mostly because it starts out in a way that’s completely unexpected and then takes the cast out of the office for a full-episode field trip. Usually, that wouldn’t be so advisable, and in this case, it works, for the most part. My problem with what many dub “classic Michael episodes” is that sometimes his behavior is just too uncomfortable and grating to be bearable, let alone funny. That was certainly the case in “Scott’s Tots” last year (not sure why I gave the episode such a favorable mark), and his repeated auditioning and heckling of the universally-acclaimed plumber lead star isn’t quite as bad as that, but it is squirm-inducing. Back to the titular character, however, I was absolutely delighted to see “The Ballad of Sweeney Todd” performed in the office in spectacular fashion, considering I love that number and it’s not actually featured in the film version of the play starring Johnny Depp that was released in 2007. Andy did do a great job, much to everyone’s surprise, but answering his cell phone on stage was deathly embarrassing and cringe-worthy almost on the scale of something Michael would do. Erin truly is the dumbest character on this show, bringing Jim and Pam’s baby to the play, yet her relationship with Andy, however nonexistent at the moment due to the absent Gabe, is endearing enough. Angela’s ploy to get Dwight to fall back in love with her is touching, and it’s nice to see that relationship starting back up again. Anytime Darryl appears in an episode, it enhances it, and therefore it’s a pleasure to have him here, if only to recognize the actor who plays Sweeney Todd as none other than his plumber.