What I’m Watching: The Office

The Office: Season 9, Episode 2 “Roy’s Wedding” (C+)

This show is not headed anywhere good. Revisiting an old character whose life is completely different now reminds of the days when things on this show were simpler, when Roy was just an impatient, insensitive jerk who was getting in the way of Jim and Pam’s true happiness. I’ve always been a fan of Jim and Pam as a couple, while most critique their having gotten together as a negative downturn in the show’s quality. Their conversations about having no mystery left are legitimate, and Pam won’t be happy when she finds out that Jim has accepted the job with his old buddy. That may take longer than it should, however, and I’d really prefer not to see their marriage and relationship tested so much. I did laugh at Pam bringing a banana to the wedding because she thought there would only be hot dogs, as well as her embarrassed disposal of the peel to the server. Nellie starting a charity drive so that Andy can’t shut her down was a decent idea, but Dwight’s invocation of the Taliban was rather silly, resulting in a complete waste of time with her prepared to have him cut off her hand. Mainly, it’s just not that funny, though Darryl distracting them with “127 Hours” was mildly amusing. Clark’s request for Erin to come over and get filmed reading the news was idiotic, and the only silver lining of the plotline was Pete’s solution to ruin Clark’s fun. The fact that everyone is so stupid is eternally frustrating, and anyone who watched “Better With You” knows that Jake Lacy is being wasted so incredibly in a role that doesn’t allow him to do anything other than react with as little emotion or enthusiasm as possible.