The Office: Season Three

Painful, hilarious
OK, so it's an imitation of a British show. But it's a good imitation. The Pam/Jim saga is heart breaking and wonderful, the Dwight/Jim hostility is satisfying in a naughty way. The supporting characters are wonderfully real and flawed. Not to single any one of them out, as they're all worth watching (and how often can you say that about such a big cast), but Creed is a scream. How many layers of creepiness can one guy have? I haven't mentioned Michael Scott (Steve Carell) because his obvious comic brilliance is sort of compromised for me by the pain of watching his character in action. It's almost too painful to bear.

Utterly fantastic
This is by far one of the most clever and creative shows on television. It delights in taking a politically incorrect stance about just about everything and, in so doing, shows how susceptible we all are to stereotypes and prejudice. To say that this show is a sendup of corporate culture is really only discussing one aspect of the show. It is a complex and colorful story whose characters continue to grow and to shock and amaze the viewer. It also happens to be one of the funniest shows I have ever had the pleasure of viewing.

This season is a standout because of the continuing evolution of the characters. Like real people, they sometimes act in ways that seem out of character but are the perfect example of the contrast between the face we put on in public and what really makes us who we are on the inside.

One of the best examples of the evolution of the character of Michael Scott can be seen in "The Job". As always, Michael assumes too much and thinks too...

The Office - The Most Compelling Show Not Yet Cancelled
Not too long ago, Arrested Development had me laughing hysterically, dropping my jaw in shock, and then laughing even more hysterically every episode. Until, of course, it got canned.

I went through all 5 stages of grief. Denial: another network will pick it up! Anger: why this show? WHY? It is so funny! Bargaining: Cancel my other favorite shows, I don't care, just don't take this one! Depression: A show this funny will never come again! NEVER! *Cries*

It wasn't until I saw The Office, specifically season 3, that I finally reached stage 5 with acceptance. This show is not only as hilarious and shocking as Arrested Development, it actually has a sweet sprinkle of heart that Arrested Development never really had.

The Pam/Jim struggle has always been compelling, and season 2 left off with a frustrating cliff hanger. But this time, the romance is switched from Jim chasing Pam to Pam chasing Jim. It's truly compelling TV, watching Pam try to win...

Click to Editorial Reviews