I am perpetually behind on TSCC, so I have to skip that bit for now, but we just watched The Office last night, and... I kind of hated it! Not because it was poorly written, but because, as you said, it was so dark and wrenching, on a level that's unusual for that show. It was upsetting.
I kind of hated it! Not because it was poorly written, but because, as you said, it was so dark and wrenching, on a level that's unusual for that show. It was upsetting.
I didn't exactly hate it, because fundamentally I don't think either Meredith's self-destructive nihilism or what Dwight and Angela are doing to Andy is that funny, and I'm not sure I'd like to see them played too much for laughs. But there wasn't any counterbalance at all--even the Princess Unicorn plot was unbelievably depressing.
It is like twenty degrees here. NOT ON.
It seems like we're having crap weather all up the West Coast. I've been particularly enjoying the hail.
But there wasn't any counterbalance at all--even the Princess Unicorn plot was unbelievably depressing.
Right, exactly. I agree that those are not funny topics--the whole Dwight/Andy/Angela situation has been bothering me all season, because (as you know!) I have a pretty serious infidelity squick--but yeah, to see them dealt with all at once, and with that kind of unflinching focus, was upsetting to a degree I don't usually expect from that show.
But there wasn't any counterbalance at all--even the Princess Unicorn plot was unbelievably depressing.
And that was ultimately my problem with the episode. I can take one depressing, agonizing, cringe inducing plot, but the entire episode was like that. And the Princess Unicorn plot may have been the worst because some innocent little kid is going to be disappointed on Christmas morning because of the greed of two adults.
but the show did something I never thought it could, which was make me feel horrible for Angela.
I know! I am so distraught over how that whole thing is spiraling out of control, and yet it's entirely her fault. Mostly I just feel really sorry for Andy. And Toby. He never gets a win.
I didn't think anything could top Michael flinging Toby's lunch on the floor during "The Deposition," after Toby shared his own parents' divorce story in a moment of solidarity, but this was definitely worse.
Re: The weather outside is frightfullaurashapiroDecember 17 2008, 00:22:18 UTC
Fortunately I did bring my hat to work, I just didn't wear it out on my break. Idiot moi. But I should be okay waiting for the bus...assuming it comes quickly...
The only good thing about this weather is that it's so much worse in Eugene that my trip was cancelled. Which means I can sit at home tonight and finally watch the Spooks season finale.
I'm finding SCC fascinating if baffling. So we have yet another party in play, which makes four--no, five:
1) Sarah & John (& Cameron?) (& Derek?) 2) Skynet & its antecedents 3) Jesse (& Riley? Anyone else in the future?) 4) Catherine Weaver (assuming she's not part of Skynet somehow) and Ellison (who may or may not end up working in support of Weaver) 5) The unknown party who owns that warehouse, and, presumably, the three-spot ship.
That's a VERY complicated set of actors, and it's really not counting other parties in the future who may be acting in ways that affect the present.
Oy.
(ps: the office manager is wandering around telling people to "go home before the snow starts". *g*)
The only good thing about this weather is that it's so much worse in Eugene that my trip was cancelled.
That's a pretty good silver lining; at least you're not stuck at some airport.
The unknown party who owns that warehouse, and, presumably, the three-spot ship.
It does seem complicated. I wonder if any of them are connected, though it's nothing obvious now. I also don't completely discount the idea that junk from the future could have been discovered and developed by someone in the present besides Weaver. Not all conspiracies have to have robots at their center. Hm.
the office manager is wandering around telling people to "go home before the snow starts"
Apparently there actually was snow on the hills in the South Bay this morning. And it's 39 and dropping in the city! Which... my house was not built for. *huddles in a blanket next to the space heater*
I'm averting my eyes from your SCC comments because I've dvr'd the last few episodes and I'm going to watch them one after another. Soon.
But I have to say that I found this last "Office" , well, not funny, very involving(?). I did laugh out loud when Phyllis swept Angela's manger set into the drawer (letting her keep a camel and a wise man or two). Who else but Michael would stage an intervention at a Christmas party? I have the feeling that the show isn't as popular because there's not enough Pam/Jim squee but I'm loving this year.
I found the episode pretty crushing in some ways, but as I said above, I think that the subject matter it dealt with wasn't fundamentally very funny and was in some ways glad it got the weight it deserves.
I've actually, for the most part, really liked the way they've handled Jim/Pam this season; they haven't manufactured too much drama (yet) between them, and they're having their ups and downs, but it isn't the sturm und drang it was when their love was unrequited.
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P.S. It is like twenty degrees here. NOT ON.
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I didn't exactly hate it, because fundamentally I don't think either Meredith's self-destructive nihilism or what Dwight and Angela are doing to Andy is that funny, and I'm not sure I'd like to see them played too much for laughs. But there wasn't any counterbalance at all--even the Princess Unicorn plot was unbelievably depressing.
It is like twenty degrees here. NOT ON.
It seems like we're having crap weather all up the West Coast. I've been particularly enjoying the hail.
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Right, exactly. I agree that those are not funny topics--the whole Dwight/Andy/Angela situation has been bothering me all season, because (as you know!) I have a pretty serious infidelity squick--but yeah, to see them dealt with all at once, and with that kind of unflinching focus, was upsetting to a degree I don't usually expect from that show.
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And that was ultimately my problem with the episode. I can take one depressing, agonizing, cringe inducing plot, but the entire episode was like that. And the Princess Unicorn plot may have been the worst because some innocent little kid is going to be disappointed on Christmas morning because of the greed of two adults.
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I know! I am so distraught over how that whole thing is spiraling out of control, and yet it's entirely her fault. Mostly I just feel really sorry for Andy. And Toby. He never gets a win.
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I didn't think anything could top Michael flinging Toby's lunch on the floor during "The Deposition," after Toby shared his own parents' divorce story in a moment of solidarity, but this was definitely worse.
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I'm finding SCC fascinating if baffling. So we have yet another party in play, which makes four--no, five:
1) Sarah & John (& Cameron?) (& Derek?)
2) Skynet & its antecedents
3) Jesse (& Riley? Anyone else in the future?)
4) Catherine Weaver (assuming she's not part of Skynet somehow) and Ellison (who may or may not end up working in support of Weaver)
5) The unknown party who owns that warehouse, and, presumably, the three-spot ship.
That's a VERY complicated set of actors, and it's really not counting other parties in the future who may be acting in ways that affect the present.
Oy.
(ps: the office manager is wandering around telling people to "go home before the snow starts". *g*)
Reply
That's a pretty good silver lining; at least you're not stuck at some airport.
The unknown party who owns that warehouse, and, presumably, the three-spot ship.
It does seem complicated. I wonder if any of them are connected, though it's nothing obvious now. I also don't completely discount the idea that junk from the future could have been discovered and developed by someone in the present besides Weaver. Not all conspiracies have to have robots at their center. Hm.
the office manager is wandering around telling people to "go home before the snow starts"
Apparently there actually was snow on the hills in the South Bay this morning. And it's 39 and dropping in the city! Which... my house was not built for. *huddles in a blanket next to the space heater*
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But I have to say that I found this last "Office" , well, not funny, very involving(?). I did laugh out loud when Phyllis swept Angela's manger set into the drawer (letting her keep a camel and a wise man or two). Who else but Michael would stage an intervention at a Christmas party? I have the feeling that the show isn't as popular because there's not enough Pam/Jim squee but I'm loving this year.
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I've actually, for the most part, really liked the way they've handled Jim/Pam this season; they haven't manufactured too much drama (yet) between them, and they're having their ups and downs, but it isn't the sturm und drang it was when their love was unrequited.
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