For my first foray into a classic episode review, I’ve chosen The Fire, one of my favorite Office episodes. Remember Season 2, guys? Remember when all we had between Jim and Pam was pranks, and meaningful looks, and the infamous Twenty Seven Seconds of Silence? (a Booze Cruise reference, for you non-obsessive people) Prepare to be taken back to such idyllic times, ladies and gents.
Speaking of remembering things, do you guys remember Katie? The Hot Girl who was played by this little known actress called Amy Adams?…yeah, I don’t think she ever became anything. She’s still not really that famous.
/sarcasm.
I adore Amy Adams, and this was the beginning of my adoration. Yay for Katie/Katy. (Not sure how it’s spelled.)
And Ryan was once a temp! How innocent he was before he learned to commit fraud and dye his hair blonde! Ryan brings the first challenge to the Dwight-Michael bromance. Well, the bromance that Dwight wishes to have with Michael despite the fact that Michael wants to have a far creepier bromance with Ryan. (See the Who Would You Do? game later in this episode.)
Cut to the fire. Dwight and Angela make a wonderful safety team. I also love how Dwight violently saves Kelly. I somehow remember him having a crush on her momentarily—something from an episode commentary, maybe? He did seem to have his hands all over her…
Random! When everyone has evacuated, Dwight mentions that Ryan can be 14 because “Marjorie isn’t here today”. Who is this mysterious Marjorie? Did she go the way of Devon before we even met her? Intrigue!
This Desert Island sequence is something I’ve tried to recreate many a time in many a screenplay. It’s got great character development possibilities- “The Da Vinci Code. I would bring the Da Vinci Code so I could burn the Da Vinci Code.” “A Physician’s Desk Reference. HOLLOWED OUT. Inside…”- these little bits of dialogue speak more about their characters than any awkward five minute exposition scene ever could.
Jim and Pam cuteness also begins with this Desert Island sequence. “Unforgivable.” “I take it back!”
And the Michael and Ryan saga continues…”Shut. It.” With interjections (and abuse) from Dwight. I feel somewhat sorry for Dwight; Michael projects his awkward feelings onto Dwight in the form of angry outbursts. However, I don’t feel bad for Michael once I see how he’s cornered Ryan into sitting in the backseat with him.
More Jim and Pam. “In my top 3, so suck it!” I feel awful for Pam once the Who Would You Do scene starts. Everyone wants to do her. And then I feel awful for Dwight, who can only crank REM to express his sadness at being rejected by Michael and who is taunted by Jim and Pam (while he doesn’t even notice). “Dwight, use WORDS.” “You know, I bet Ryan thinks to himself, I wish I were a Volunteer Sheriff on the weekend.”
And then Roy comes in, and I feel sorry for no one but Jim.
“Well, I would definitely have sex with Ryan because he’s going to own his own business.”
Dwight decides that the best way to get back in with Michael would be to die by flames, so he rushes back in to save his cell phone. Which eventually does give Michael some worry.
This episode also marks the first mention of a Pam-Toby flirtation. She does say she wants to do him, and later in the series we definitely find out that he wants to do her. But I’m pretty sure Pam was just saying that so she didn’t have to admit that she wanted to sex up Jim in front of her fiancé.
Dwight returns victorious, however. He retrieves a cheesy pita instead of a phone, and receives love from Michael again. “Did you miss that day? Toaster Oven 101?”
We close with Ryan Started the Fire. A wonderful way to end a classic season 2 episode of genius. We had awkwardness, Jim and Pam flirtation and disappointment (He does go out with Katie at the end, and Pam kisses Roy in front of him), Dwight and Ryan rivalry, and Michael being a dork. I can has fulfillment.
