There’s been quite a bit of press from Greg Daniels on The Office this week, thanks to the TCA and an interview that Daniels gave to TV Guide. While it hasn’t been a particular strong season so far (and certainly not the rebound I’d hoped for now that Daniels is showrunning again), I’m hoping the last push will redeem The Office as it gallops into the sunset. As the series winds down to its May finale, I thought I’d round up a few of the turns we can expect along the way.
– B.J. Novak and Mindy Kaling will be returning for the finale. Daniels is hoping to that Kaling’s schedule will allow her to be on a few episodes near the end. Gabe (Zach Woods) will also return.
– There have been rumors suggesting that Steve Carell will return for the finale, but Daniels insists that there are no plans for that, and that Steve Carell is not interested in coming back. Personally, I think Daniels is bluffing, and that he’s trying to hold on to one last surprise for the finale. I understand that Steve Carell likes the way he went out in the “Goodbye Michael,” episode, but it seems very odd to end the show without Michael Scott.
– Everything won’t be resolved in the last hour-long finale. Daniels says that the wind-down will begin with the January 24th episode, and that each character will have his or her own “Goodbye.” “One of the ideas for the season was there would be a “Goodbye Meredith” episode, a “Goodbye Stanley” episode. We’re trying to give each character a really good interesting moment or send-off.”
– Someone will be fired in the 15th episode (February 14th). Daniels won’t say who, but it will involve a storyline surrounding the Scranton Strangler, who Toby will visit in prison. Maybe it’s Creed, because Daniels says, “Creed’s been pushing for some weird connection to this guy.”
– The documentary crew will become involved in the show somehow. They will come out from behing the camera.
– Ken Kwapis, who directed the show’s pilot, will also direct the finale, and Daniels has had an idea for the finale for years. However, he doesn’t know exactly how to arrive at that idea, yet. They’ve only written up through the 18th of 24 episodes.
(Sources: TV Guide, Vulture, Rolling Stone)
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How much is there to resolve? Also can Andy never come back?
Andy comes back, finds Pete making out with Erin, throws a rage fit and kills everyone in the office… The End.
Oh, please let Creed be the real Scranton Strangler.
He already admitted to killing a guy once.
I hope they don’t do that my beloved Creed! Blood thief is one thing, murderer is too much.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – Gabe is the Scranton Strangler. And seeing he’s marked to return, I’m more convinced than ever.
I always imagined Michael Scott and Holly returning for the final episode with their new baby. I’m guessing he’ll have a crazy name like Yoda or something like that.
What’s The Office?
Obviously it’s not great anymore, but I still enjoy watching The Office. I think that probably puts me in the minority though.
Probably. I’m in the same boat though. It’s more mindless entertainment now. But whatever, my friends are less interesting than they were years ago, so why not my TV shows too?
yeah i find it hard to get all up in arms or outraged about the decline in quality. there’s still a couple laughs per episode and that’s all i can ask for out of a comedy. this season has been a bit more of a rebound from the 8th than dustin thinks, imo.
Whoever can come up with an explanation for why they have been filming a paper company for nine years deserves an award. I hope they show everyone a room with boxes upon boxes of shot footage that has never been touched. And then the building burns down. The end.
Gabe’s got to be the Scranton Strangler right? That guy was a total weirdo.
Also, I still enjoy it too, even if it is a shadow of its former self.
I’m with you, it has to be Gabe. He’s the only person who the timeline of the Strangler strikes lines up with. Plus, total weirdo.
I knew her when she only gave dry blowjobs.
Guys love it when I flatten it out with my hands
Tellin’ ya… the camera crew need to reveal that they lost funding years ago and are just showing up because they’re caught up in what goes on there and would miss it.
They did just that in the 1st episode of the season. Pam asks them why they’re still here and they tell her they’re just following the employees around a this point.
well Homo is saying (i think) that they’re no longer making a documentary for any purpose of airing on television or anything like that, they’re only there filming for themselves and their own amusement. that’s different than what was said in the premier where they still never said who or what this thing is supposed to be for.
Haven’t watched in a while so I guess I wasn’t all that far off the mark then. Wish I was that good at predicting football games.
I thought this happened last year. I’m more out of it than I thought.
Jim should be the Stranton Strangler. He’s an irrational piece of shit who does cruel pranks to people who do something mildly annoying. Instead of using his words and be all like “hey Andy, can you not sing? It’s a little distracting” or “Hey Dwight, do you mind not using a bear horn everytime you make a sale against the computer?” he decides to play a cruel prank that only a sociopath would come up with.
Why does he do that? Because he’s going through killing withdrawal. Plus, serial killers are always the people you least expect. Jim fits that profile.
The show established fairly early on that asking Dwight to not be an incredible asshole is like asking the sun not to rise. Not that I think Jim is any better, but I understand why he decided to start pranking.
Really? First the British bitch who had no business being there, now there’s a serial killer? Put a bullet through this piece of shit now and end it early.
Sadly, this comment is on point. The Office being The Office, naturally they’ll have an overly sappy series of episodes that don’t have much to do with humor or plot but instead focus on the actors, not the actual characters. This is great for the writers who haven’t had a new idea in a long time. Instead they can focus on making sure their actor friends get lots of screen time.
They’ve actually done the unthinkable and made Nellie pretty damn funny this year.
Agree with dissident, I never thought I’d laugh at a single thing Nellie but this season has proven me wrong.
Also, the serial killer has been around for years, since season 6.
I still watch it because I am weak-willed and too lazy to figure out how to stop it from recording on my DVR. However, I’ve stuck with it this long, so I’ll stay on board for the finale. I won’t be expecting much, but hopefully Daniels’ and Co. will surprise me.
I’m going to put my (hypothetical) money on Angela being fired. It’s been warranted ever since she put up those awful posters of babies playing saxophones in her cubicle. I really don’t know what else Toby needs at this point.
Creed is the safe bet, I’d say. Erin would be the dark horse, but Andy may fire her in some sort of weird, “You’re fired. I quit. Don’t worry abut us, Erin. I already have us a gig with a barbershop quarter that performs Shaggy cover songs on cruise ships. When we have a day off from work, we will live on my sailboat. Because I’m Andy and I sail. Also, did I mention that I love acapella groups and graduated from Cornell University. You’re fired. I’m Andy!”
Not my biggest gripe, and I realize it was necessary to keep Ed Helms likeable and on the show, but Andy’s transformation from Stamford to Scranton is almost too much. Like I said, I understand developing the character and having them grow, but differences between third season Andy and present day Andy are huge. He went from shark to loveable, easily manipulated puppy dog.
The show is stupid as hell, lets hope it just disappears for good and nobody ever has to hear about it again.