The Office S2Ep8: Performance Review
When work and love collide
“It is a fitness orb and it has completely changed my life.” -Dwight
Beginning
It’s performance review day at Dunder Mifflin, but Michael is too distracted by the voicemail Jan left him. Melora Hardin’s acting on phone calls (and through sighs) is off the charts.
We see how the office reacts to a new romance. Michael is sloppy. Stanley just wants his bonus. Dwight recommends an aphrodisiac. Kevin focuses on the intimate details. Angela thinks office romances are private…hello Dwangela! (We also get a hint of their relationship in the cold open. Dwight gives a knowing look to camera after Jim says, “You’re not having sex.” I think he is!)
“I really enjoy being judged.” -Angela
As for Jim and Pam…
In the kitchen, they give each other quick updates about their days. This moment feels very couple-y to me. They’re busy, but still find time to connect. They process their lives through each other.
Michael learns his performance review with Jan will be “anything but” a formality. Oops. In need of concrete ideas to improve the branch, he schedules a last minute suggestion box meeting in the conference room. Jan arrives and Michael manages to grab her boob within five seconds. Here we go.
“Sometimes women say more in their pauses than in their words. Let’s listen to it again. And this time, really listen to the pauses.” - Stanley
Middle
Pam helps Jim with his Dwight-prank-of-the-week (convincing Dwight it’s Friday, not Thursday). A lot of their bonding revolves around teasing Dwight.
The suggestion box meeting is a disaster. Michael has been pushing Jan to talk about their “relationship” all episode and she has adamantly refused. The meeting ends with Dwight reading the suggestion that Michael “not sleep with his boss.”
Angela: “Sometimes you talk to us real close.”
Michael: “Yeah, is that hard for you?”
Angela: “Well, when you have coffee breath…”
End
“Pam you’re trustworthy…”
“Thank you.”
“…and a woman.”
“Oh no.”
Jim and Pam debrief after the meeting. Pam wonders if Michael and Jan actually had sex, and the two shiver-laugh at the thought. But when Pam asks, “How do you come back from that?”, it’s clear Jim isn’t thinking about Michael and Jan anymore. He’s thinking about his own office crush. And he doesn’t think you could come back from it.
Even when Pam clarifies, “No, how could you come back from doing that with Michael?” I still don’t think she realizes that Jim is thinking about her.
Jim is aware he likes Pam. But Pam isn’t always aware of her feelings for Jim. She pushes it down. Even when explicitly thinking about office romances, she doesn’t think of herself.
“Please don’t smell me, Michael.” - Jan
Jan hits her limit during Dwight’s performance review. Michael follows her out and the entire office overhears their conversation by the elevator. It’s…awkward. Jan finally tells Michael what she thinks, and she thinks pretty lowly of him.
Jim and Pam end the episode all smiles. It’s 12:20pm the next day, and Dwight still hasn’t come to work because he thinks it’s Saturday. Last week we saw Dwight in his underwear. This week, we see him half-dressed running through the parking lot.
And that’s it! This episode lays the ground-work for next week, when Pam’s lack of self-awareness will hit a whole new level…………………..
“Also, it is Thursday, but Dwight thinks it's Friday. So, keep that going.” - Jim
