Colette Marie Murphy

Yes, I am speeding through my first-ever binge of The Office. If you’re new here, make sure you read my first three (#1, #2, and #3) blogs about being The Office N00b.

Now, upon reaching Season 6, I cheerfully chided my friends on Facebook for not enticing me to watch the series by sharing with me one important fact: Christian Slater guest stars. 

Yes, the cameo is brief. No, if I’m being totally honest, I don’t think it would’ve been enough to make me watch the show before now. But I, like any other red-blooded vampire/fairy tale lover, have a long-standing crush on Malloy/Will Scarlett, and I will not apologize for it! Plus, I’m a fan of The West Wing, and who doesn’t love Lt. Cmdr. Jack Reese? (actually, most people, but shut up. Not the point. The point is CHRISTIAN SLATER.) And have you SEEN Bed of Roses? (As a side note in this tangent, I haven’t seen Mr. Robot yet either; I probably need to watch that one soon too, right?). I mean, you guys, there’s a reason that Christian Slater is the name that Alicia Silverstone’s character Cher mentions in Clueless… 

…oh, right, I was talking about The Office. 

Anyway, Christian Slater guest stars in a brief cameo as himself and it’s amazing.

That’s…kinda my biggest takeaway from Season 4-6. That’s probably bad, isn’t it?

I do blame myself a bit for this, because I think the neck-breaking speed at which I’m racing through these episodes is probably watering down the effect somewhat. I am moving from charmed/endeared to annoyed much more quickly than I was before, and I don’t know if it’s just because it has been too much, too soon or if the writing is getting sluggish and lazy. Could very easily be a bit of both.

I will admit that the show did finally elicit honest, genuine tears from me. Now, that’s not to say this is hard. I’m a very emotional person, especially when it comes to beautifully crafted stories (books, movies, television series, live theatre), and it’s not strange or out-of-character for me to be moved to tears by something like this. So it should be of no surprise that my cheeks were stained with salt rivers during this:

And that “take a mental picture” advice? SWOON. So sweet. So amazing.

(However, for the record, Marshall & Lily did the “do a quick secret ceremony first before the big wedding so mistakes don’t bother you” thing TWO YEARS before Jim & Pam did it. Marshmallow + Lily Pad > Jim + Pam, #sorrynotsorry, don’t @ me). 

The struggle I’m having now is that, now that they’re married…they’re kinda boring. Like, we spent a loooooong time on the “let’s see Jim and Pam live happily ever after” train, and now that it’s pulled into the station, I don’t really care much about them anymore. Jim is also back to irritating me a lot, like he did in Season One. His jerk-ish tendencies are becoming pronounced one again.

I am somewhat, but not as sincerely/emotionally, invested and interested in the Andy/Erin story line. It helps that I like Ed Helms and Ellie Kemper, I guess.

The thing that’s exciting me now, though, is the buy-out by Sabre (are you sure it’s not Sah-bray?), because that is bringing in new and interesting characters. I mean, first of all, Kathy Bates as the CEO with her giant dogs? That’s hilarious.

And I’ve been assured that the cameos and guest stars just get better and better in Seasons 7-9, so I’m looking forward to that.

So that’s the latest! More episode viewing is in my future (though I may slow down a bit. This recent binge took a lot out of me, and I don’t want over-watch fatigue to continue to cloud my judgement of the show).