When we last caught up with the folks at Dunder Mifflin Scranton, Phyllis revealed to the entire Office (minus Andy) that Angela and Dwight are sleeping together. This week, the tension comes to a head in “The Duel,” when Andy finally finds out the truth… from Michael.

This episode had its key funny moments, like when Michael tries to explain his “philosophy” to David Wallace (Verbatim: “Don't ever, for any reason, do anything to anyone… for any reason, ever, no matter what, no matter where or who, or who you are with, or where you are going, or where you've been…ever, for any reason whatsoever.”) or when Dwight reveals another choice tidbit from Schrute family lore, this time in the form of a song: “[Singing] Learn your rules, you better learn your rules, if you don't, you‘ll be eaten in your sleep… HAARGGCH!” (Yes, that was my attempt at a monster-chomping noise.)

But the rest of the episode, I thought, was a little weak. Or, to put it more accurately, a waste of potential. I had been looking forward to this episode because of the big reveal about the affair. I thought the writers would surely push it to the limit between the two most WILDCARD! (It's Always Sunny, anyone?) characters on The Office. I'm talking about Dwight and Andy, of course—both have violent tendencies, both live in their own realities, and both are in love with the same cat-loving ice queen. The co-workers all gather around the windows, anxiously awaiting the clash of the crazies. Anything could happen!

Unfortunately, not much did. The Duel just didn't hit the super-high-up Outrageous Bar that The Office has, over the course of four seasons, set for itself. The episode built up for a big, dramatic fall out—first the “He doesn't know yet?” tension, then the reveal, the confrontation, and finally the challenge to “take it outside.” An epic battle was about to ensue, which, if it was going to stay true to the spirit of The Office, needed to be both realistic and totally over-the-top. And then… Andy pins Dwight against a hedge with his Prius.

That's it? He's so angry that he… puts Dwight's legs to sleep? Did Andy's Anger Management Counseling actually take? Well, I'm bored.

But wait… we've still got Dwight. We can count on him to pull out a samurai sword, or a light saber, or a live badger, or… to put some dents in the hood of the Prius and call Andy a “stupid idiot” a few times. Wait. What is HAPPENING here?

Am I supposed to be reading more into this anticlimactic duel? Should I be using both men's lack of real violence to retrospectively conclude that neither of them really loves Angela enough to resort to it? Or that they just never had it in them in the first place? It makes sense that Andy would be more talk than walk when it comes to kicking ass. But Dwight—oh, Dwight. I have no words.

There was no clear winner in the duel, but there was a clear loser. So that's one good reason that Andy and Dwight didn't come to serious blows: Angela loses both of them, which serves her right. Now they can team up against the one real villain here. I'd love to see the guys mutually think of awesome ways to make her life miserable. Because that's what the show is all about, when it comes down to it—whether it's by Michael's idiocy or Jim's pranks, somebody in The Office should be being tortured in an incredibly uncomfortable, frustrating, or offensive (and thus hilarious) way. And nobody deserves it more than Angela right now. She played both sides for way too long. And I felt genuinely sad for both men when they realized it.

Speaking of Michael being an idiot, I had mixed feelings about his sub-plot at Corporate. It felt a little unnecessary, but it also provided a great ironic twist for the viewer: As Michael was sitting there being praised as a great boss, we see two of his employees back at The Office duking it out in the parking lot.

I, for one, am happy that the secret Dwandela triangle is coming to an end—so much drama! “The Duel” just didn't give me that gleeful, queasy schadenfreude-feeling I've come to expect and cherish from The Office. But now that the wedding and the affair are off… Game on!

What did you think of The Duel? Sound off in the comments below!

Best Quotes from the episode:
“I mean, eventually, he'll figure it out, when their kids have giant heads and beet-stained teeth. But right now, it's just awkward.” – Jim

“I'm sorry I did such a WHORISH job filling out that form.” – Kevin to Angela

“There are 40 rules all Schrute boys must learn before the age of 5. [Singing] Learn your rules, you better learn your rules, if you don't, you‘ll be eaten in your sleep… HAARGGCH!” – Dwight

“I am off, thank you, okay, I will... Dwight and Angela are having an affair, so… Dwight and Angela are having an affair. They've been sleeping together for some time. That was the news. I wanted to letcha know. Alright. See you later.”  – Michael to Andy

“My philosophy is basically this, and this is something that I live by, and I always have and I always will: Don't ever, for any reason, do anything to anyone… for any reason, ever, no matter what, no matter where or who, or who you are with, or where you are going, or where you've been…ever, for any reason whatsoever.” – Michael

“The Prius is silent if he keeps it under 5 MPH. He deserves the win.” – Oscar

-Meghan Carlson, BuddyTV Staff Writer
Image courtesy of NBC