'The Office': Michael Has Father Issues

More
office2_post.jpg

NBC


In this episode, Michael goes to counseling for spanking his nephew, former office assistant Luke. In a classic Office twist (classic, in the sense that it would never happen in any real office anywhere), his counselor is Toby, his arch-nemesis, who somehow only wants to help. Toby cons Michael with Connect Four and coloring and gets him to share stories about his stepdad (or, in Michaelese, "my mom's boyfriend who she married") and his dog.

Outside of Toby Freud's office (the break-room, where we see Toby has meticulously arranged therapy-appropriate sofas), the rest of the staff was helping Dwight seek revenge against the Precious Heirlooms at the Steamtown Mall. Dwight suggests a boycott, Creed wants the gang to start their own mall, and Kelly says that Dwight should "Pretty Woman their asses!" Which is, of course, what Jim, Andy, and Dwight end up doing (Andy inserting himself into the situation in a populist disavowal of his own Ivy League patrician upbringing. "Did you assume that I would automatically side with the rich, snobby shop owner?" he asks, casting aside his cufflinks and tie clip.)

The staff dresses Dwight up in what we'll call Dwight-chic—he looks like Sherlock Holmes and is definitely using a paper towel as a pocket fold and might be wearing my grandma's favorite scarf—and they head down to the mall to get revenge. We find out why Dwight was really denied service:



The Michael Meter (scale of 1-10, Michael's importance in this episode): 5.33

Best Joke You're Most Likely to Forget: Erin's actual disposal of her disposable camera. "If it's an important event that you want to remember, I recommend using a real camera. But I don't care if I forget today."

Prediction of the Week For Who Will be Scranton's Next Regional Manager: Pam's new (self-given) job title of "Office Administrator" practically screams leadership coup waiting to happen.

Jump to comments
Presented by
Get Today's Top Stories in Your Inbox (preview)


Elsewhere on the web

Join the Discussion

After you comment, click Post. If you’re not already logged in you will be asked to log in or register. blog comments powered by Disqus

Video

Miami: The Next Big Start-Up City?

How the city became a center for innovation

Video

Video

A Brief History of Romantic Comedies

From The Atlantic's Chris Orr

Video

Life in 'the New Arctic'

A moving portrait of a fading landscape

Video

Video

The Rise of New York City

A fascinating look at Manhattan in the 1940s

Video

What Is Methane Hydrate?

"Flaming ice" is a vast natural energy source

Video

NASA's Time-Lapse of the Sun

Now with epic dubstep music

Video

Shaken Not Tuned: Cocktail Experiments

Can a tuning fork improve a cocktail?

Video

Video

Is He Cheating? A 1950s Guide

'That little blonde secretary from the office?’

Video

New Yorkers: Vintage Vacuum-Tube Amps

Risking electric shock to restore old amplifiers

Video

The DIY Piano-Bicycle

Everybody needs a hobby

Video

What Does It Take to Make Real Craft Gin?

Tour the Green Hat Gin distillery

Video

Letter From the Editor

The June 2013 issue

Video

What Straights Can Learn From Same-Sex Couples

New insight from decades of research

Video

The End of the Mall Rat

A tribute to that pillar of teen culture

Writers

Up
Down

More in Entertainment

In Focus

Picking up the Pieces After the Tornado in Moore, Oklahoma

Just In