A Farewell To The Office

My favorite (and least favorite) episodes, a few predictions, and a thank you.

It's no secret that I'm a huge Office fan. If this is news to you, then this must be the first time you're reading my blog. Hi! I'm glad you're here! I promise I'm not as crazy as this post makes me sound. That's a lie. Sorry, that was our first lie. I promise that even though I'm crazy, I'm super fun and I'll try to always make you laugh.

I want to take some time to talk about a few of my favorite episodes, my favorite cold opens, my least favorites (ugh), and a few other things. Let's get started, shall we?

I don't have one favorite episode, but I do have several that I love. Spoiler alert: most of them involve Jim and/or Pam and/or Dwight. #sorrynotsorry

Niagara, parts 1 & 2 (season 6): Jim and Pam's romance was one of the first TV romances that I really felt invested in. I'm not one of those people that sits around and wishes for their own Jim, because helloooo, he's a fictional character. But I would be lying if I said I didn't cry at the end of the episode when he said "plan A was marrying her a long time ago." And I'd be SUPER lying if I said I didn't still cry every time I watched it. Definitely one of the best TV weddings I've ever seen. 

Conflict Resolution (season 2): This episodes starts with Oscar and Angela fighting over one of those creepy baby posters. Michael (in true Michael style) goes to his handy Office Conflict binder and smartly decides that they should shoot for a win-win-win outcome, instead of a lose-lose or win-lose scenario. I love this one because eventually Michael reads through all of Dwight's complaints against Jim, and since Jim/Dwight pranks are one of the main reasons I love this show, seeing a bunch in one episode was kiiiiiiind of amazing.

Fun Run (Season 4): I love this episode because we get to really see how clueless, narcissistic and endearing Michael Scott really is. He runs Meredith over with his car in the beginning, and while she's in the hospital, they discover that she has rabies. This inspires Michael to put together the Michael Scott Dunder Mifflin Meredith Palmer Memorial Celebrity Rabies Awareness Pro-Am Fun Run Race for the Cure. Because of course it did. At the end of the episode, Michael says into the camera, "Guess what, I have flaws. What are they? Oh, I don't know. I sing in the shower. Sometimes I spend too much time volunteering. Occasionally I'll hit somebody with my car. So sue me... No, don't sue me. That is the opposite of the point that I'm trying to make." which I've always loved and thought was one of my favorite Office quotes. This is also one of the first times we see Jim and Pam hold hands!!!

A.A.R.M (Season 9): Okay, this was only from last week. But I thought it was SO GOOD. It had a lot going on: Jim and Dwight's relationship has evolved into a pretty adorable one, first of all. Watching Oscar and Angela try to co-parent was hilarious. "Saddle shoes with jeans? I will call CPS myself." Darryl's final dance with everyone was adorable. Being able to see the DVD that Jim had the crew put together for Pam was great, and I was THRILLED to see Jim finally give the letter to Pam he's had since season TWO. (I cried.) But as much as I love Jim and Pam, my favorite part of the episode was at the very end when Dwight pulls Angela over and tells (yells at) her that he really does love her. I'm so excited for the wedding tonight, and that Dwight and Angela get their happy ending. In some ways, it feels like more of a payoff than Jim and Pam's did. I mean, there was so much suspense before they got together, but we all knew they'd get together eventually. With Dwight and Angela, it's been nine seasons of will they? won't they? we love them! we hate them! we love them again! I'm so excited they're going to end up together.

I only have three least favorite episodes, but I really, really hate those episodes. Ugh. What were they thinking? I have no idea. I don't even know how I made it through Scott's Tots. So awkward. I was physically uncomfortable the whole time. Same with The Dinner Party at Jan and Michael's. I still cringe when I think about Hunter's awful, awful song. And Business School... I can't pinpoint exactly why I hate that episode, but I find myself quickly changing the channel every time I see it on TV. Ugh.

A few predictions, or what I would like to see tonight on the Finale:
I hope we get to see Michael Scott. I'm not sure if he'll be an attendant at the wedding, because I'm not sure Steve Carell wants that for Michael's story. He said upon his departure that he was incredibly pleased with how they wrapped up his story, so I'm not sure if a return to Scranton is in the cards. However, I would like to see at least a quick shot of his life with Holly. I'm hoping they have a kid or two (maybe adoption?) because ultimately, that's what Michael always wanted. And I hope they show him viewing the documentary, because his last words to the camera when he left were "call me if this ever airs." I hope they do a little something with that.
I hope they wrap up Jim and Pam with the Athlead situation fully resolved. I kiiiinda wish they would go for it, and move to Philadelphia. I could see them living there, and I think Pam ultimately would like it.
Since the episode is set a few months into the future, I hope that Dwight and Angela have another baby (or that she's pregnant with a second). I want them to be able to experience the baby process together.
I kinda hope Andy gets some kind of theater break, but then again I kinda hope he doesn't. I love Ed Helms, but I kinda have a hate-boner for Andy Bernard. I'm just sick of him a little. But seeing him achieve some fame would be nice. I guess.

Dear The Office:
Thank you. Thank you for nine years of hilarious Thursday nights. Thank you for providing the world with That's What She Said jokes. Thank you for introducing us to some of the best characters television has see in my lifetime. Thanks for giving us all the jokes and laughs and quotable quotes. (PSA: I'll be quoting The Office for a long, long time.) Thanks for being that show that I have to explain to people because they just didn't "get it." Thanks for being consistent in my life for nine years. Nine years. What else has been this consistent? Not that many things. But The Office has always been there. I'm really going to miss you, you ridiculous TV show. Thanks for everything. We'll miss you.
much love, alyssa


I know I usually try to keep language off my blog, but this is the only gif I can find that appropriately demonstrates how I feel: