As we inch reluctantly closer to Steve Carell's departure as the ringleader of the paper-shilling circus known as Dunder Mifflin, writers and producers are doing their best to build the momentum to the big exit with a delicate hand, offering subtle indications rather than a looming, top-heavy role-conclusion storyline. Their approach allows us fans to relish the time we have left without the constant reminder of his plans to leave, but a slowly-rising precipitation of one-liners and bit movements to lead us to the inevitable.
At the onset of this week's episode of "The Office," Pam is flexing her "office administrator" status by holding a lecture in the office on stopping the spread of germs. Dwight naturally finds the office hand sanitizer offensive, saying that using it is coddling your immune system and making matters worse for yourself, so we should have anti-sanitizer stations full of compost, vomit, etc. Jim, ever the solution-finder, asks if they should all sneeze on Dwight to give him as many germs as possible. Dwight agrees, after which we're shown a sneezing montage, with first Jim then Erin running from reception to sneeze on Dwight, and then Andy sneezing on his sandwich.
The episode revolved around Cece’s christening, for which the office employees show up unexpectedly. Always the self-promoter, Michael wants to sit in the family pew, awkwardly insisting he’s the godfather of the baby in his worst Brando voice - though he's not the godfather at all. Pam, seeing Michael's tendencies and knowing them well, puts him in his place and insists that he actually tell her in his own voice that he knows he's not Cece's true godfather. It pains him, but he relents.
Michael Scott's erraticism is once again his greatest charm, as he moves from ridiculous to goofy to infatuated & excited, to despondent and back again. An immensely telling moment arrives when Michael's standing outside the church, reflecting on how Pam & Jim seem happy, almost "as if they leave my office and go to another office that sells happiness. And good for them, that's great because... you know, the paper industry's not going to last forever." It's not so much what he says as how he says it, as if he's got a secret. He half-smiles, somewhat knowingly and with just a hint of sadness, looking off into the distance with what looks like a mix of determination and hope.
Never one to miss an opportunity, Dwight interrupts the church service right in the middle of proceedings to offer an unbeatable sales pitch to the congregation: if you buy a printer at full price, you'll get a 4% discount on paper products for one day only. Amazing. As this is happening, it becomes clear that Cece needs a diaper change, despite it being mere moments til christening showtime. Jim takes charge on diaper changing, and all we hear through the wall (mercifully, the visuals were omitted) is papa's reaction as Cece makes a mess all over her christening gown. And while he said he double-checked for the backup outfit in the diaper bag, he didn't, and as a result Cece gets christened wearing little more than an oversized Arcade Fire t-shirt. Charming.
The priest erroneously announces that the “Halberts” are hosting a reception next door for everyone, when Jim and Pam had only invited a few, so there was almost nothing for the guests to eat. Naturally, Stanley takes this as a personal offense, so a plan is put into action for a quick fix: Pam will go get subs for everyone while Jim.... well, Jim's job was to watch Cece. That didn't go so well, as she goes AWOL when Pam's mom takes her for a stroll around the room.
The best moment of the episode arrives when Jim yells across the reception hall to "stop that tiny blonde woman! She stole my baby!" The blonde woman in question is Angela, whose guilty face isn't due to any kidnapping, but rather the theft of a purse-full of scones from the table. Kevin, likely pissed that he didn't think of it first, wrestles them away from her and wheezes his way to condemnation.
As sitcom circumstance would have it, the youth group from the church is leaving on a mission to Mexico to build homes for the poor on the same morning of the christening. Michael, seeing their excited happiness, decides he wants to be a part of the feeling he's witnessing. At first he walks out to where the youth group is getting on the bus, joining the line of congratulators and well-wishers, and then he actually gets on board himself. The office crew tries to stop him from going but he refuses. Erin tells Michael what he’s doing is really great, so of course Andy hops aboard as well, desperate to win her approval back.
Less than an hour down the road, Michael and Andy start panicking. Second thoughts have kicked in hard, and through a fit of hysteria they get the driver to stop the bus and get off - along with another kid who didn’t want to go either apparently. When Erin comes to pick them up, Michael's relief is evident: "It is so nice to be back in a country that has movies."
How do you replace one-liners like that? Who could fill those shoes?
Looks like we'll find out soon.
