From the Mind of Nate: My Views on the Current State of "The Office"'s Final Season

It's always difficult to say farewell to a beloved television series that has been on the air for a number of seasons. Over the years, fans get attached to the characters of a specific program and has eagerly awaited to see what obstacles they will face week after week. Audiences also love the engrossing storylines penned by the writers; who carry the task of establishing narratives that cover part of or an entire season. And, as the countdown to a series' conclusion progresses, fans do everything they can to not miss a single episode in hopes they don't miss any important plot points. However, what happens when certain elements have negatively impacted the final season?  Such is the case with NBC's“The Office,” which is ending this upcoming May. Since the series' final season started airing this past September, certain aspects have caused me to consistently frown and lessen my excitement for the finale; during which we'll be finally be saying goodbye to the employees of Dunder Mifflin Paper in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

One of the main problems I have with the final season of “The office” as of now is the questionable decharacterization of Ed Helms' Andy Bernard;the former-paper-salesman-turned-Reginal Manager of Dunder Mifflin. For the past few seasons, Helms' on-screen persona was depicted as consistently trying to win the heart of Ellie Kemper's Erin Hannon; the workplace's secretary-- who first appeared on the show in the later part of Season Five. In Season Six, Ed Helms' character fell in love with Kemper's on-screen persona; and as Seasons Seven and Eight progressed, audiences hoped for the two characters to get together. However, the pair would experience several challenges along the way. Finally, in the Season Eight episode “Get the Girl”, which aired on March 15, 2012, Ed Helms' Andy Bernard profoundly declares his love to Ellie Kemper's Erin Hannon; thus finally solidifying their relationship. Thus, we were happy for the characters and glad to see the storyline that ran through the past couple seasons wrap up perfectly.  However, at the start of this current season, Ed Helms' Andy Bernard returns from manager training; having been sent by Dunder Mifflin Boss David Wallace, played by Andy Buckley, to become a better employer. Upon returning to Dunder Mifflin, Helms' on-screen persona, though now more decisive, becomes overly cocky and self-absorbed. Furthermore, he treats Ellie Kemper's Erin Hannon and treats her with little consideration; eventually not inviting her to come along when going on a trip to the Caribbean to sell his family's boat; which he later turned into an extended vacation-- informing her through a rather self-absorbed e-mail. While he's gone, Kemper's on-screen persona bonds with Jake Lacy's Pete Miller; a new Dunder Mifflin employee hired to help deal out with customer service. The two characters bond; and Kemper's character begins to have romantic feelings for him. Now viewers are anticipating a confrontation with Ed Helms' Andy Bernard when returning from vacation.



Image of Ed Helms as Andy Bernard and Ellie Kamper as Erin Hannon taken from http://www.google.com/imgres?hl=en&sa=X&tbo=d&qscrl=1&rlz=1T4ADFA_enUS473US477&biw=1440&bih=618&tbm=isch&tbnid=fqoZuui7-cR3bM:&imgrefurl=http://www.vulture.com/2012/09/office-recap-season-9-episode-2.html&docid=lIDRcM3MCKaBmM&imgurl=http://pixel.nymag.com/imgs/daily/vulture/2012/09/28/28-the-office.o.jpg/a_560x375.jpg&w=560&h=375&ei=FGH_UJzMKsaB0AGb7oCADw&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=172&sig=108834442758546808520&page=1&tbnh=141&tbnw=247&start=0&ndsp=19&ved=1t:429,r:1,s:0,i:88&tx=46&ty=44

I have no problem with Jake Lacy's performance as Pete Miller. I think that Lacy and Erin Hannon posses decent chemistry and their interactions are interesting. My main problem is that the whole love triangle seems like an attempt to create drama for the series' final season. But most importantly, I am very unsatisfied with the confusing decision to transform Ed Helms' Andy Bernard into an inconsiderate individual after the past three seasons; during which he was a very likable and sympathetic character. It seems as if the writers to add drama to the series' final season by doing so. Unfortunately, in doing so, they have greatly affected the consistantcy of the series. Throughout the past few seasons, we were rooting for Ed Helms' Andy Bernard and Ellie Kemper's Erin Hannon to get together. In addition, we were always hoping for Ed Helms' protagonist to succeed; whether he was trying to increase his sales numbers in Season Seven or finding the courage to stand up to James Spader's Robert California; who served as the intimidating CEO of Dunder Mifflin throughout Season Nine. Now, the writers have decided to make a complete 180-degree turn and now seem to want viewers to dislike him. To me, it seems as if the they are so desperate for ideas now, that they are resorting to unnecessary personality changes. Furthermore, Ed Helms' performances alongside Ellie Kemper for the past few seasons have been very enjoyable, and the whole situation that's taking place right now is very unfortunate. Henceforth, even if Ellie Kemper's Erin Hannon does end up with Jake Lacy's Pete Miller, a redemption for Ed Helms' Andy Bernard would be more-than-welcome.

My other main concern as to how the final season of “The Office” is shaping up is the apparent fact that the writers are resorting to over-exaggerated comedy to get laughs from the viewers. Since Season 8, I've noticed that the writers are assigning material to the series' talented cast that causes them to look completely foolish during what's intended to be hilarious sequences. Among several sequences, there are two prime examples of how the writers are having the castmembers make absolute fools of themselves in hopes to get laughs. The first example occurs in episode “Lice”; which aired on January 10^th. In the episode, Pam Halpert, played by Jenna Fischer, accidentally brings lice to the workhouse, and tries to cover it by accusing Meredith Palmer, played by Kate Flannery, for the infestation. As a result, Ellie Kemper's Erin Hannon suggests that everyone spread mayonnaise on their heads in hopes to drown out the parasites. What follows are not-so-hilarious sequences in which the characters team up to put the dressing on top of each other. Watching the cast walk around with mayonnaise on their heads wasn't funny in the least, and it made them look completely ridiculous. This is completely different from the subtle humor of the series' early years; which primarily consisted of subtle humor that relied more the cast's on-screen personas interacting with each other. The other main situation that episode; during triggered my dissatisfaction with the writers stooping to cheap humor took place during this past Thursday's episode entitled “Suit Warehouse”, during which some of the office workers drink many cups of coffee; causing them to get immense sugar rushes. Seeing the castmembers running around while reeling from the energy of the caffeine was irritating; as they came off looking like cartoon characters as opposed to real people. The storyline got even more ridiculous when the characters become peevish after running out of the coffee, leading to them to rip apart the workplace carpeting in a frenzy. The whole sequence was just too off-the-wall that I had to keep reminding myself that this is a series about the lives of employees working at a paper company. Watching the characters act in such an inane manner made me feel sorry for the talented cast; as they are more capable of bestowing truly genuinely comical performances. I truly blame the show's writers for penning such weak material for the cast to act out; as these instances are making me sigh heavily rather than laugh heartily.

However, I must credit the writers for creating the storyline of a new employment opportunity for John Krasinski's Jim Halpert and how it will effect his marriage to Jenna Fischer's Pam. At the start of the season, John Krasinki's on-screen persona accepts a job offer from his friend to work at an up-an-coming sports entrepreneurship. However, Krasinski's protagonist takes the offer without telling his wife at first; obviously setting up drama for their relation. After eventually telling

her about the new job, which is located in Philadelphia, Jenna Fischer's on-screen persona eventually accepts his decision; she is hurt that John Krasinski's Jim did not tell her beforehand. The storyline of John Karaski's protagonist and his new job continues throughout the season; as seen in the episode “The Target,” which aired on November 29^th. During the episode, John Krasinki's protagonist

to get Leslie David Baker's Stanley Hudson and Phyllis Smith's Phyllis Smith to agree to cover for him part-time while working in Philadelphia. Then, in aforementioned episode “Lice,” Krasinski's protagonist meets with his childhood hero Julius Irving; who wants to invest in the new company. And this past week, in the above-mentioned episode “Suit Warehouse,” we actually get to see the inside of Jim Halpert's new job when Craig Robinson's Darryl Philbin applies for a possible job and Jenna Fischer's Pam Halpert tags along in hopes to surprise her husband. However, upon hearing an employee say that everyone's looking forward to seeing them move to Philadelphia, Jenna Fischer's Pam begins to immediately worry about the future; primarily leaving Scranton possibly forever. By the look of how the story arc is progressing, I am keenly anticipating some great confrontations between John Krasinski's Jim and Jenna Fischer's Pam about the latter's uncertainty about raising their children in a new state and beginning anew. And because both Krasinski and Fischer are very good performers, I am truly waiting for some authentically emotional scenes. I'm truly hoping the writers will give them a truly happy ending.



Image of John Krasinski as Jim Halpert and Jenna Fischer as Pam Halpert taken from http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&tbo=d&qscrl=1&rlz=1T4ADFA_enUS473US477&biw=1440&bih=618&tbm=isch&tbnid=E4CZBByjsp0luM:&imgrefurl=http://calitreview.com/31508&docid=M-yI44Oz_kPH_M&imgurl=http://calitreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/02-JimPam.jpg&w=480&h=320&ei=AF__UI2GGMLH0QGG5YDoDg&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=987&vpy=77&dur=5047&hovh=183&hovw=275&tx=124&ty=124&sig=108834442758546808520&page=3&tbnh=125&tbnw=183&start=48&ndsp=30&ved=1t:429,r:68,s:0,i:301

So who knows? Maybe the writers are capable of adding some genuine drama in hopes to make the final season of “The Office” completely worthwhile. And with recent reports revealing that we will finally learn who has been documenting everyone for the past nine years and that a Dunder Mifflin employee will be fired at some point during the fifteenth episode of the season, I am more-than-willing to seeing what surprises the writers have in store for us. So hopefully it will still be business as usual for “The Office”; thus allowing viewers to laugh, cry, and most importantly, enjoy.

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