Toby's back, everyone.  The Office hasn't really been The Office without the resident HR mope Toby Flenderson on hand to draw the ire of Michael Scott.  Surprisingly, there was no fall-out tonight from Michael Scott's phone tirade to David Wallace at the tail end of last week's “Business Trip.”  Instead, Michael's anger is directed furiously towards Toby and his sudden reappearance in The Office.  Meanwhile, Jim finalizes the purchase of his parent's house without telling Pam, and Ryan makes an important life decision.

Tonight's plot teetered on the edge of unbelievability.  Had Dwight and Michael's frame worked out, Michael likely would have been fired, along with Dwight.  But, thanks to Michael's ineptitude, and not his final change of heart, Toby remains employed and Michael will just have to deal with his presence for the time being.  This is not to say that the attempted frame wasn't hilarious, because it was, especially Michael paying $500 for a caprese salad. 

Michael isn't a rationale human being, but he also isn't a criminal.  His actions on tonight's episode really speaks to his hatred of Toby.  Michael's feelings towards Toby don't exist merely because the two were destined for conflict.  Toby isn't hateable by any means.  He's one of the least hateable characters on The Office.  However, just because of who Michael is, a person who has debilitating desire to get people to like him, he also needs a counterbalance.  He needs someone that he can project all his pent-up anger onto, simply because no one else fills that need.  Everyone has to have that outlet.  For some, it's exercise or video games or yoga.  For Michael, it's Toby. 

The Jim-Pam story tonight was predictably adorable.  Moving forward, where is the conflict going to come from?  I believed it when Pam said she was happy about the house.  She's not demanding or needy, and the gesture from Jim was symbolic.  As Pam said, he bought her a house.  The conflict, I suppose, will have to involve Pam's continued employment at Dunder-MIfflin and whether or not she will pursue her art any further.  I fear the writers have painted themselves into a corner with Jim and Pam.  Everyone wants to see them remain happy, but that just doesn't work dramatically. 

B.J. Novak is gone.  It was a quick and dirty departure for Ryan.  No reasons were really given, though we can assume that he was over the whole Kelly thing, the chase being the real attraction, and he wanted to get the hell away from her.  So, goodbye Ryan.  Enjoy Thailand. 


The 9 Best Quotes of the Episode

“I learned a while back that I if I don't text 911, they don't return my calls.”

“You haven't told the missus about the castle? You're in for a spanking.”

“Well, Mr. Kurt Russell, you're about to be served.” 

“That is like trying to be friends with an evil snail.  I feel like I'm dying inside.  I feel like Neve Campbell in Scream 2...learned a lot of lessons from that movie.  This is one of them.” 

“I love catching people in the act.  That's why I always whip open doors.”

“I framed a raccoon for opening a christmas present.” 

“It's mean, but sometimes the ends justify the mean.”

“It's illegal, but everything they do on The Shield is illegal.”

“Just pretend like we're talking until the cops leave.”


-Oscar Dahl, BuddyTV Senior Writer
(Image Courtesy of NBC)