“You’re an idiot.”
It is so rewarding on The Office, if only as a form of relief, when a character figures out what the audience has seen for weeks on end. In “Pool Party,” Dwight finally told Andy what we’ve been thinking since the Nard-Dog turned Erin down when she asked him out in the finale of the last season of The Office. He really is an idiot. And even though in every other way this episode typifies what is wrong with this show, it is a good example of why we’re – or at least I’m – still watching.
While “Pool Party” was not without its good moments – particularly the tag in which Robert, hosting the party, keeps Gabe and Ryan at his home dancing up a storm long after the rest of the office have returned home – it was not among the better episodes of the show. But compared to Office episodes of late, a concession must be made. This episode was, more than last week’s “Trivia,” anyway, a feat in the way of plot progression.
It appears as though finally, after seasons of waiting, we may see some sort of answer to the eternal “will they or won’t they” question that has constantly hovered over the Andy/Erin camp. These are two characters that are clearly destined to be together within the confines of the show, with the latter seemingly created as a direct complement to the first.
While there is certainly not enough enthusiasm for this romance to rival the Jim/Pam courtship, it is impossible to help but feel the need to get this sorted out.
We have seen them become friends and later participants in an awkwardly veiled form of flirting. We saw them date and break up and date other people and break up and try to date again and fail. It would be an understatement to say that this episode in the Office romance series has been a never-ending story.
But finally, a change might be on the horizon.
Andy is considering a proposal to his current girlfriend, but is obviously conflicted over his feelings for Erin which have prevailed despite his denying it in seasons past. It is certainly a drama boiling up within the recesses of The Office story arch, but it’s one we’re still waiting on.
Aside from the Andy and Erin debacle, there was little to rave of in “Pool Party.” Following an ever-present theme in the eighth season of The Office, it had its own form of a weird Dunder Mifflin bonding scheme. Maybe it is just my perspective, but for some reason it is hard to wrap my head around an entire office of employees being willing to spare an evening to go to a pool party or drive to another city to participate in a trivia tournament or take a trip to Gettysburg or attend a garden party.
Are they just out of new ideas? The Office field trip has become an episode archetype that simply does not make sense. It evades all the logic of a workplace and of the characters’ motives. Why would Jim, with a family at home, even make an appearance at the pool party? Why is Dwight, Michael’s old crony but friend to none of the remaining employees, even consider attending when all it allows him is the opportunity to lie awkwardly by the pool?
In years past, watching The Office was about story and dialogue. We basked in the cleverness of the scripts, the subtle nuances and the random and hilarious banter. But now, this alternative form of sitcom has lost its focus with story only being part of every other episode and comedy being a semi-failed attempt in each.
While I am anxious to see the progression of Andy and Erin’s relationship, it is hard not to let that interest fall by the wayside in the interest of locating better entertainment. Because that is what The Office is supposed to be – entertainment. It is not a drama, nor is it even a dramedy. So where is the comedy? When the tag is the only good moment worth mentioning, there must be something wrong – but due to a several year allegiance to the show, we must venture forth and say “maybe next week.”