The Office – Episode 5-6 Review

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“That dude’s not engaged. I’m not a big believer in therapy, but I had to pay out of my own pocket to cover his copay.”

“Customer Survey” opens with Michael being congratulated by the office by his alleged engagement to Holly. At their urging, he calls his mother to deliver the news but she doubts that he’s actually going to get married. Michael’s forced to admit he’s lied.

There’s a brief scene between Jim and Andy regarding using each other coffee mugs (Andy’s has his own face on it…this is pretty important later).

The bulk of the story revolves around Jim and Dwight perplexed by Kelly’s poor customer service reports regarding their clients. Jim is particularly affected by this as his sales will affect his bonus, which may cost him when it comes to buying his parents’ house for himself and Pam later on.

Pam: “Maybe it’s because you spent the whole year flirting with the receptionist.”

Throughout the series, both of them have been known for being excellent salesmen. Michael stages a mock sales call with Jim as the customer, ending in Dwight’s possible mock firing because of his abrasive behavior (Jim pretends to be hard of hearing).

Pam has the most active role in an episode yet this season, as she and Jim have both acquired the world’s smallest bluetooth, and they can both constantly hear what’s going on on the opposite end at all times. This is yet another tiny plot device that pays off big later.

“I caught Jim talking to himself today…get a friend, loser.”

Andy continues planning the wedding, and Angela implies that she wants it to be in a barn (Schrute Farms).

Dwight becomes extremely paranoid about Kelly spying on his sales calls as Jim tries to start a conversation her, only to have it end within thirty seconds (?!). Pam notices this and Jim knows that he’s done something to upset her. Noticing that Ryan also has a “face” coffee mug like Andy’s, he goes through the kitchen, finding that everyone but him and Dwight have gotten mugs from her. They realize had failed to attend her America’s Got Talent Party over the summer. Dwight’s conspiracy theory turns out to be right.

Kelly is forced to admit to Michael that she intentionally gave Dwight and Jim poor customer service reviews because they missed her party, and Michael sympathizes because he has such a difficult time getting people to attend his own parties. To appear that he’s punished her, he tells her to pretend to cry, but they both wind up laughing out loud in his office.

Pam’s art school friend shows up to corporate and tells her that she should stay in New York because of the greater opportunity she has to follow through with her art career. Pam contemplates this when he leaves, and Jim (listening via bluetooth) is speechless.

The closing scene has Andy and Angela closing the wedding plans with Dwight. He is surprisingly delighted to plan their wedding, and he and Angela appear to be turned on by the prospect.

This episode absolutely tops “Business Ethics” as the best of the season. Pam’s bluetooth role is well written, and the Dwight-Angela-Andy situation just keeps getting weirder. Is he happy to plan the wedding because he’s excited about making it a difficult process, or out of his love for Angela? Holly’s name isn’t even mentioned in this episode, but it’s good to give that plotline a rest. The show seemed to be on a bit of a drama-comedy-drama rollercoaster week to week until “Customer Survey.” If only they managed to strike this balance every time.

Mike Trevino is a rabid fan of House and and blogs out of San Antonio, TX.