“This baby will be related to Michael through…delusion.”
Dwight graphically simulates the birth with a buttery watermelon in the cold open. Which Michael is subsequently seen munching on as Dwight pulls his pants back on.
Jim and Pam are a bit strained with the long distance between them. Between classes, Pam frustratingly tries to update Jim on her art school drama, but the conversation is rushed and he’s having some difficulty comprehending.
Michael tells Holly that he will act cold to her only out respect to Jan’s “bloated feelings,” which Holly is oddly flattered by. He will also be doing the same to Ryan. Ha!
Jan enters the office with an infant–Astrid. When labor began, she decided it was best that Michael not be present for the birth.
“I thought today at the baby shower would be a good time for the two of you to meet.”
Jan let’s Michael hold Astrid, but only in the carrier.
“If a baby were President there would be no taxes, there would be no war, there would be no…government. Things would be terrible. It might actually be a better screenplay idea than a suggestion.”
Michael puts Holly down during the baby shower which, again, she appears to take as a form of flirtation. Kind of cute.
Most of the shower is obsolete. A game of “When will the baby be born?” is spoiled, a stroller that the office chipped in on is pointless after they see Jan’s $1200 stroller. Dwight confiscates the stroller to test its durability. Most of the shower is spent listening to Jan singing Aretha Franklin’s “Son of a Preacher Man” to Astrid.
“I usually love babies but when I held Astrid I just felt…shortchanged.”
It’s a bit heartbreaking to see Michael completely out of sync with the child he was so eagerly anticipating. The only reason Jan is still in his life now appears to be his burden.
Michael goes to Darryl for “baby daddy advice,” to which Darryl offers “You are not a daddy, and that is not your baby.”
Jim tries to relay the hilarious circumstances of the shower while she’s doing laundry and she can’t hear a word. Another rough spot for PB&J this episode.
Holly is noticably annoyed by Holly. Angela is found trying to take an Anne Geddes-ish picture of Astrid in a cornucopia. It is just as disturbing as it sounds.
Holly is getting more and more offended by Michael’s cold remarks about her hygiene in front of Jan:
“She smells like old tomatoes. And dirt.”
Dwight continues his stroller tests by backing into it with his car.
In the parking lot, Jan asks Michael to not date Holly “For her.”
In response, Michael returns to the office and immediately embraces Holly and asks her out.
“I didn’t feel much when I held Astrid, but I did feel Holly.”
Jim and Pam play phonetag. They call each other simultaneously, get the other’s voicemail, and the way the scene is cut is just too adorable. It was just one of those days for them, and their “conversation” is an indicator that this off day has not made a dent in their bond.
Overall, a bit of a downer and high on drama this week. The Jim/Pam and Michael/Jan disconnect were kind of depressing to watch, even if the ending showed some hope for those characters’ relationships. Reverted back to the season four format which is a strange step to take after the hilarious “Business Ethics.” Then again, that episode was very light on the drama, and I suppose “Baby Shower” is meant to make up for the lack of character development. Still good to see the dramedy. The writers are great at both, but I hope “Crime Aid” isn’t as lacking in laughs as this one was.
Mike Trevino is a rabid fan of House and The Office and blogs out of San Antonio, TX.
