[DrStrong]

Can't stand Andy, really can't stand Ed Helms recently.

[surfwaxsideshow]

Lost a bit of steam in the second half, but damn if that wasn't one of the best episodes they've done in the weaker years. Odenkirk was hilarious, especially at first. Shocked AV Club panned it, tbh. One thing I'm noticing among the more critical detractors of this season is the decrying of storylines and character developments that "don't make sense." The thing is, I'm not sure I care. As far as I'm concerned, the show really, really dropped the ball over the last 4 seasons, but has done a better than expected job of making this last one a satisfying conclusion to the show. Is villain Andy completely in line with the way his character had been developing in the past? Not really. But the storyline of his character this season is, in my opinion, a pretty entertaining one, especially in the way it has allowed the other characters to react and develop as a result. If this season being good requires a bit of suspension of disbelief that discredits certain aspects of seasons 6-8, I don't mind at all if they do that.

Likewise, that's why I wasn't too bothered by the idea of the Brian plot. Introducing the crew as characters is an interesting angle to take even if not entirely consistent with 8 years of them being virtually invisible. It's a shame that it was executed so poorly - a better actor, and some more patient pacing would have worked wonders. But in general seasons 4-8 did so much to hurt the legacy of the show that I'd rather a great season 9 that takes chances over a safe, mediocre season 9 that worries about every teeny little bit of continuity.

[Smash Adams]

I loved Odenkirk's The Odd Life of Timothy Green poster

[Gaugzilla]

I'm still laughing at his "Django" line. Too good.

[nowFace]

"Djangooo!" "I do NOT approve of the use of the N word in that movie"

[jtresk26]

The more I see Odenkirk on shows, the more I love him.

[bobcatbob18]

Originally Posted by ZeoVGM

I lost it at that line. Haha.

After my disappointment from last week's episode, I say this with no hyperbole: that was the best episode of the series since Michael left. It was legitimately great.

Andy felt like older Andy and all the stuff in his storyline was great. The Jim/Pam stuff was adorable until that ending which I don't think was forced or anything like that. (The complete lack of Brian helped.)

I'm now going to pretend that I didn't get a little choked up at the Dwight/Angela scene on the porch, especially when he called her "monkey" for the first time since, what... season 4 or 5?

That scene really made me get that "Oh, wow... The Office is really ending, isn't it?" feeling.

Me too.

I'm really just wondering what they're doing with Jim and Pam. They've added a LOT on conflict with only a little amount of time to see it through. Here's to hoping the writers don't screw the pooch!

[Drew Beringer]

I would watch an OFFICE spin-off with Odenkirk as the boss of that real estate firm. haha

[herestoyoufla]

Originally Posted by Drew Beringer

I would watch an OFFICE spin-off with Odenkirk as the boss of that real estate firm. haha

Absolutely, i was thinking that the entire time he was on screen, haha.

[ZeoVGM]

Originally Posted by bobcatbob18

Me too.

I'm really just wondering what they're doing with Jim and Pam. They've added a LOT on conflict with only a little amount of time to see it through. Here's to hoping the writers don't screw the pooch!

There's actually plenty of time for the Jim/Pam story to play out. There's still 7 episodes left, with the finale being an hour long.

Speaking of, some cool news about the finale: it's going to be directed by Ken Kwapis -- the director of the very first episode. He left after directing the season 5 finale but he's coming back to do the last episode.

His other episodes: Diversity Day, Sexual Harassment, The Fire, The Fight, Booze Cruise, Casino Night, Gay Witch Hunt, The Job (Parts 1 & 2), Lecture Circuit (Parts 1 & 2), Company Picnic.

Good news, I'd say. I assume Greg Daniels is writing it but I don't think it's official yet.

[surfwaxsideshow]

Originally Posted by ZeoVGM

Diversity Day, Booze Cruise, Casino Night,

So basically three of the best five or so episodes of the whole show. Yes.

[CellarGhosts]

Pretty sweet news.

[Maiaophilia]

SO MANY FEELS.

[drudo182]

We need to be worrying about the writing on this series not the directors at this point...

Last episode was actually pretty good. Odenkirk was hilarious.

[kyle is hk]

Originally Posted by ZeoVGM

There's actually plenty of time for the Jim/Pam story to play out. There's still 7 episodes left, with the finale being an hour long.

Speaking of, some cool news about the finale: it's going to be directed by Ken Kwapis -- the director of the very first episode. He left after directing the season 5 finale but he's coming back to do the last episode.

His other episodes: Diversity Day, Sexual Harassment, The Fire, The Fight, Booze Cruise, Casino Night, Gay Witch Hunt, The Job (Parts 1 & 2), Lecture Circuit (Parts 1 & 2), Company Picnic.

Good news, I'd say. I assume Greg Daniels is writing it but I don't think it's official yet.

Wow Casino Night, Booze Cruise, Gay Witch Hunts and Diversity Day are 4 of the top Office episodes. Really excited for this.