The Office Review: Gossip

Last time we saw our favorite Dunder Mifflin employees, the big news was Pam (Jenna Fischer) getting pregnant. We pick up a few weeks later, no one in the office knows she's pregnant, and Jim (John Krasinski) and Pam only just told their parents the big news. After learning an employee may be having an affair and telling everyone, Michael (Steve Carell) starts spreading false rumors about any and everyone in hopes that they will shrug off the affair rumor. Little does Michael know, he hits a little too close to home with some of his made up rumors. It makes for a slew of hilarious exchanges between characters, especially when Andy (Ed Helms) seems to think he may actually be gay.

What the episode does so well is mix all of the crazy and ridiculous antics the office is known for with more recent developing story lines that this season will most certainly be focusing on (the baby and the affair fallout). Aside from all of the funny false gossip Michael spreads, the episode opens with Michael, Dwight (Rainn Wilson), and Andy recklessly navigating the office in a poor attempt to imitate a Parkour video they saw online. They are all terrible at it, and they have the most useless stunts throughout the office. It's vintage Office at its best.

The episode also had a new but very fitting addition. It was the summer interns' last day in the office, and they are part of the reason Michael became so obsessed with gossip. They are the butt of a handful of jokes, including probably the episode's funniest one. I won't spoil the joke, but I will paint a small picture to get your minds buzzing if you haven't watched this yet. Dwight is wishing the three interns the best of luck, and he offers some of his wise advice about their futures. Two interns are guys, one is a girl, and the joke is something only Dwight would ever say. It's was absolutely hilarious and still has me laughing.

Verdict: The Office picks up where it left off last season. Jim and Pam will be having a kid, one of the characters is having an affair, and all of the crazy and hilarious antics are back in fresh, full force. It's a great season start for one of TV's best shows. ☆☆☆☆1/2