The Office: Season 8, Episode 9 “Mrs. California” (B-)
There’s something about this episode that just felt one-note, in that, aside from the gym subplot, there was really only one thing happening and nothing else. Andy’s inability to read Robert is funny to a point, and that’s amplified considerably by the fact that Robert is working so hard to make Andy’s job impossible by relaying certain information to him and then repeatedly intimating the opposite. Maura Tierney’s guest spot as Mrs. California was actually rather lifeless and disappointing, which is a shame considering just how fun and fantastic she was in her recent arc on “Rescue Me.” Jim’s non-involvement in the entire debacle gave him the opportunity to do some humorous physical comedy, but little more. His speech to Robert and Mrs. California about how much he loves working with his wife was sweet and actually rather helpful, providing the episode’s emotional high point. Her apparent proposition of Andy in the parking lot was peculiar at best, and I hope that nothing more comes of that. Dwight’s farm-like gym was decently entertaining, and it gave Darryl a welcome chance to have some fun completely messing with the well-meaning Dwight, whose execution often leaves more than a bit to be desired. The best line of the hour was Darryl’s correction of Dwight’s citation of Lebron James, telling him that it’s Lejon Brames. Aside from that, however, this episode was largely devoid of laughs, mainly because the focus was on too few characters, and didn’t utilize its ensemble properly, which has always been this show’s strongest asset.
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