John Krasinski - The Office - Season Four Discussion/Appreciation #1

girl in a cardigan · 05-11-2008, 09:19 AM

The Office - Season Four Discussion / Appreciation Thread

4.01 & 4.02 - Fun Run
Written & Directed by Greg Daniels
A freak accident causes Michael to feel the office is cursed. He explores the religious beliefs of his employees before deciding to hold a charity 5K fun run. Meanwhile, further developments in the romances of Pam and Jim, and Dwight and Angela are explored.

4.03 & 4.04 - Dunder Mifflin Infinity
Written by Michael Schur
Directed by Craig Zisk
Much to the dismay of Michael and many of the employees, Ryan returns to the Scranton branch of Dunder Mifflin to bring the company into the digital age. Angela is still upset about her cat.

4.05 & 4.06 - Launch Party
Written by Jennifer Celotta
Directed by Ken Whittingham
The Dunder Mifflin Infinity website is launching and Michael is excited about going to the big launch party in New York while Angela plans a satellite party for the Scranton branch. Meanwhile, Dwight competes against the website to see who can sell the most paper in one day.

4.07 & 4.08 - Money
Written & Directed by Paul Lieberstein
As Jan renovates the condo, Michael confronts his growing debt every way he can, which includes pressuring his employees for a loan. Pam and Jim spend a night out on Dwight's family farm, now a bed and breakfast.

4.09 - Local Ad
Written by B.J. Novak
Directed by Jason Reitman
When the Scranton branch is asked to participate in a Dunder Mifflin ad, Michael seizes his chance to exhibit his creativity. Meanwhile, Dwight explores the online world of Second Life.

4.10 - Branch Wars
Written by Mindy Kaling
Directed by Joss Whedon
When Karen (guest star Rashida Jones) tries to woo Stanley away from Scranton, Michael fights back, dragging her ex, Jim, into his war. Meanwhile, the existence of a "Finer Things Club" further disturbs Dunder Mifflin's calm.

4.11 - Survivor Man
Written by Steve Carell
Directed by Paul Feig
After Ryan excludes Michael from a corporate wilderness retreat, Michael heads into the woods for his own survival adventure with nothing but the suit on his back. Back at work, Jim tries to revolutionize the office birthday party.

4.12 - The Deposition
Written by Lester Lewis
Directed by Julian Farino
Michael finds himself between a rock and a hard place when Jan sues Dunder Mifflin and Michael is deposed as a witness. Meanwhile, Kelly trash-talks Pam after Darryl beats Jim at ping-pong.

STRIKE HIATUS

4.13 - Dinner Party
Written by Gene Stupnitsky & Lee Eisenberg
Directed by Paul Feig
Pam and Jim find they have run out of excuses and are forced to go to Jan and Michael's house for dinner. When Andy and Angela are also invited to dinner, Dwight's jealousy gets the best of him.

4.14 - Chair Model
Written by B.J. Novak
Directed by Jeffrey Blitz
Michael's fascination with a woman modeling a chair in an office supply catalog makes him feel things he hasn't felt in a while. With Michael distracted, Kevin and Andy team up to win back Dunder-Mifflin's stolen parking spaces, forcing them into a showdown with the bosses of the five businesses of the office park.

4.15 - Night Out
Written by Mindy Kaling
Directed by Ken Whittingham
Michael and Dwight decide to surprise Ryan in New York for a night of clubbing and meet his friends. Meanwhile, the Scranton branch is upset when they find out they have to come in on a Saturday for Ryan's website project. Jim's plan to save them has unexpected results.

4.16 - Did I Stutter?
Written by Justin Spitzer & Brent Forrester
Directed by Randall Einhorn
When Stanley snaps at Michael during a meeting, Michael tries to give Stanley an attitude adjustment. Dwight decides to buy Andy's car. Meanwhile, Pam deals with an unexpected inconvenience after spending the night at Jim's.

4.17 - Job Fair
Written by Lee Eisenberg & Gene Stupnitsky
Directed by Tucker Gates
Jim hits the links with Andy and Kevin to try and land his biggest client ever. Meanwhile, Michael sets up a booth at a local job fair, which happens to be at Pam's alma mater, to find "the best and the brightest" for Dunder-Mifflin's summer internship.

4.18 & 4.19 - Goodbye, Toby
Written by Paul Lieberstein & Jen Celotta
Directed by Paul Feig
It's Toby's goodbye party at Dunder Mifflin and Michael demands a huge celebration that matches the joy in his heart. Angela, sick of Michael's unreasonable last minute demands, refuses, and Michael turns to Phyllis to take over the party planning committee. Meanwhile, Dwight and Meredith haze the new HR woman, Holly (Oscar Nominee Amy Ryan).

***Enigma*** · 05-11-2008, 11:49 AM

I'm going to wait for the finale before I say how I think this season stacks up.

But, I will say I'm glad that the strike ended in enough time for us to get several more episodes.

girl in a cardigan · 05-11-2008, 11:55 AM

Yeah, until I see the finale and I see where everyone is coming and going, I don't know that I can really make a judgment about this season.

However, I will say that up to this point, I think I am happier with season four as a whole than I was with season three. Because with season three, I had to see 'Beach Games' and 'The Job' in order to balance some of the really horrible and awfulness of the early and middle part of the season. But as of now, I'm pretty content with the direction the characters (for the most part) are going and I'm eager to see what happens next.

***Enigma*** · 05-17-2008, 09:27 PM

Well the finale kind of disappointed or maybe I should say depressed me so I'm still getting over that.

At this moment I'd have to say I liked Season 3 better as a whole.

**blue sky blues** · 05-23-2008, 04:49 AM

I have to agree with you Mel, I was a huge fan of season three. Season four actually kind of disappointed me.

***Enigma*** · 05-23-2008, 07:52 AM

It was great seeing JAM together though finally.

And I thought it was nice to see some development with Jim later in the season.

**blue sky blues** · 05-27-2008, 06:25 AM

I agree, that I enjoyed seeing.

Most of the other stuff I wasn't really fond of though.

**crazycait714** · 05-27-2008, 11:19 PM

I liked S4. I think it would've been better if it hadn't been affected by the stupid strike.

**blue sky blues** · 05-30-2008, 05:18 AM

Yeah I agree. I think it could have been better if the strike hadn't effected it. I really hated the time jump though.

ETA: I'm topping this thread so we can discuss the previous season, and when season five gets closer I'll top that one.

**crazycait714** · 05-30-2008, 09:53 AM

The time jump did suck.

Thanks for topping this!

**The Crow** · 05-31-2008, 06:18 AM

I liked season four overall, but the finale really disappointed me. I was hoping for something awesome, and I just got something okay. There were some great moments in the finale, but overall it felt like just another episode, not the episode that is supposed to sustain me over the summer hiatus.

**blue sky blues** · 06-07-2008, 08:50 AM

I detopped this thread and topped the season five speculation thread.

**crazycait714** · 06-10-2008, 11:05 AM

Here is my ranking of which seasons I liked the best.

S2, S4, S3, S1. Season one is last since it was so short.

lilstinker · 06-10-2008, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Crow (View Post)

I liked season four overall, but the finale really disappointed me. I was hoping for something awesome, and I just got something okay. There were some great moments in the finale, but overall it felt like just another episode, not the episode that is supposed to sustain me over the summer hiatus.

I agree. But, I also agree that it was because of the strike. If there wasn't a strike we would have seen some relationships unfold a bit better.

They could have

Developed Toby's crush on Pam more
Developed Ryan's and Jim's rivalry
Shown more of Jim and Pam's relationship outside the office
We got almost no Kelly and Darryl time
We could have seen some more Stanley time and then his blowing up at Michael might not have been so out of character

I think the Dwight and Angela and Michael and Jan relationships were perfectly time. But then again they were so odd to begin with...

Also, did you notice how once again, we are left with a season finale where we don't know what's going on with Jim and Pam and Michael has two love interests.

Perhaps we are getting just a wee bit tired of Jim and Pam cliffhangers at the end of every season.

**crazycait714** · 06-11-2008, 10:23 AM

That is so true.