John Krasinski - Survivor Man (4.11) Episode Discussion

girl in a cardigan · 11-04-2007, 10:45 PM

Survivor Man

Episode Summary:
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.

Note: This episode is part of NBC Universal's week-long “Green Is Universal” initiative.

Episode Promo:

Trip & Run · 11-05-2007, 09:27 AM

I'm happy to know Ryan will be in this episode!

The "Jim revolutionizing" part sounds the most interesting, though.

***Enigma*** · 11-05-2007, 09:54 AM

Well you guys know I love me some Ryan, so I'm happy he'll be in it too.

Though I gotta say, it's crappy of him to exclude Michael. I don't even know how he can if it's for all RM's and above, but ok.

Jim taking the lead on this birthday party thing should be interesting.

girl in a cardigan · 11-05-2007, 04:00 PM

I think the Jim/birthday party storyline is where the "green" part of the episode is, but I can't remember. I'm just curious whose birthday is it - Pam's perhaps?

**blue sky blues** · 11-05-2007, 07:05 PM

Oh this episode sounds pretty darn good, I cannot wait to see this!

girl in a cardigan · 11-06-2007, 05:11 PM

The trailer really makes me excited and I think it's going to be good. I'm trying not to get too excited just in case it doesn't blow me away.

***Enigma*** · 11-08-2007, 07:57 PM

I know there were alot of complaints about last week's episode but I laughed so much last week and after watching it a few times I really loved it despite there still being a few things that bugged me.

This week on the other hand wasn't funny to me. Maybe one of my least fave episodes (sorry Steve). If we hadn't gotten that last Jim/Michael scene I don't know. But, that scene alone made the whole episode. Totally pwned!!!

Poor Michael. I felt bad that he didn't get invited. Ryan, Ryan, Ryan.

I gotta admit it was nice for Toby to have a moment in the spotlight though.

Although why Toby would have gotten invited when Michael or Jim didn't is strange.

Jim: "When Michael plays the hypothetical game, I always say yes.
And I am always busy."

Dwight and his weapons around the office.

The overkill killer...............oh Dwight. Creepy indeed.

Michael and all the birthday party clips

Dwight not leaving Michael alone in the woods of course.

Jim and the birthday party thing: I liked that Jim had an idea and wanted to do something different, but as the whole storyline progressed I didn't think he came off that well which was disappointing. And I thought it was weird the way Pam was sort of egging it on like she knew it wasn't going to turn out well. I don't know. The big thing that did stand out though was that despite Michael's goofiness with the birthdays is that most everyone in the office liked having that "specialness" on their birthdays.........something in the office that they actually look forward to.

Loved Michael coming in at the end with his goofy singing and everyone being happy. And Creed's dancing.

The end result of the b-day storyline was amazing though. I loved, loved, loved the ending with Michael/Jim.

How Michael admitted putting the b-days all together once and it not working out and it being a rookie mistake and that give it 10 years and Jim would figure it out and then Jim saying he wouldn't be there in 10 years and just the look on his face.

And then the that's what she said...........who said...........I never know, etc.

Bravo my young lord.

This scene pwned all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

girl in a cardigan · 11-08-2007, 08:00 PM

Man, Steve Carell really knows how to write an episode that utilizes everyone, doesn't he? Loved this!

At first, I thought it was starting out slow, with too much Michael talking to the camera. I thought the wilderness survival thing was a little bit weird since it seemed like there was no connection between Michael not being invited on camping trip and Michael being dumped out in the woods. I mean, if he made it back, was he going to call Ryan to brag? Okay, probably. But still...

I loved the Dwight was watching over him because that's such a Dwight thing to do. It was weird to see the Dwight montage of weaponry - I don't know why, but it just struck me as off (maybe cause he did the same thing in "The Negotiation?" I was cracking up when Dwight tackled Michael and dug the mushrooms out of his mouth. For whatever reason, Rashida's line from the DVD commentary about how Rainn and Steve are always getting inappropriately close and touching each other on the show popped into my head.

Oh Jim! At first, again, I thought the storyline started out a little slow. Cutting from Michael to Jim just combining the birthdays was jarring. But then, it started getting awesome. I love that he gradually started turning into Michael. He was trying so hard to be cool and likable, but it just wasn't working. Promising all those cakes and then letting Andy get to him. When he went into Michael's office, I was stunned - Jim wants to work?! And then when everyone was in the breakroom and pissed? Wow, I kinda excited to see him on the other side - Corporate!Jim was back and it was not pretty. He had great interactions with almost all the characters and I loved it!

The Jim/Pam stuff was kinda interesting. Some of it seemed tacked on, but I think that maybe Pam could see what was happening before Jim could. I think she wanted to see how it was going to play out, perhaps knowing that he needed to see how this was going to go on his own.

But the capper was the tag scene. Jim's silent revelation talking to Michael just propelled his character forward and I'm so excited to see what he does with that. Michael was actually really likable in that scene, diffusing the tension in a predictable, but sweet way (even if he probably didn't really understand why Jim just shut down). Steve and John have such great chemistry and I love when they just get to sit and both be normal in a scene. The two of them just laughing always makes me happy.

Brighter Than Sunshine · 11-08-2007, 08:04 PM

Just one thing, Phyllis calling Jim Michael and him coming to the realization.

Trip & Run · 11-09-2007, 06:38 PM

Man, I should have posted directly after seeing the episode. I guess I'll just post what's the most memorable for me.

I was disappointed that we didn't get to actually see Ryan. He was in the episode description so I sadly assumed.

This is two weeks in a row and if he's not in next week's episode, I just don't know.

Overall, I think I was expecting a little more from this episode after Steve's glorious Casino Night, but I still liked it more than last week.

There were two scenes that had me laughing a lot. The first was just seeing all of Dwight's weapons. That killed me for some reason. I think it had to do with Rainn's deadpan face, that guy is awesome. The second one was Michael's surprises. The funniest part of the episode was him scaring Phyllis in her car. Man, that was great. I also loved Kelly's papers flying in the elevator so that gets an honorable mention.

I loved all the Dwight and Michael interaction. Gosh, I love those two together even if Michael is mean to him sometimes. Him saying to Dwight that he is as creepy as a serial killer was pretty darn funny. I also adored Dwight for staying by Michael's side.

I liked the Jim and Angela interaction. I think I was just excited as it was discussed on their thread, but it made me happy nonetheless.

I loved the Toby/Michael stuff we got last night although I didn't feel bad for Toby this time. I think it's because Michael was left out so I kinda felt bad for him instead. I laughed so hard when he interrupted Toby's TH and said something like, "Nobody cares!" Classic!

On a random note, Steve looked adorable in that sweater at the end. I just wanted to hug him so much. It's nice to see Michael out of a suit.

Back to the episode: I miss Pam. I know she was there, but she really didn't do much. I love my Pam stuff, so I just missed her!

What I did like, though, was seeing mostly everyone (missed Ryan and Darryl, though). I loved Stanley's line about taking an extra shot of insulin. That was cute. I also LOVED Andy's reaction to Michael's singing. A-MAZING!

Onto the load of Jim/Michael stuff we got: I'm sure everyone is discussing it and making better points than I would have, so I'm just going to say I agree, lol.

Overall, I did like the episode but it wasn't my favorite considering that it's the second to last goodness we'll be getting for awhile. *teardrop*

girl in a cardigan · 11-09-2007, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GuyanaBelle (View Post)

The second one was Michael's surprises. The funniest part of the episode was him scaring Phyllis in her car. Man, that was great. I also loved Kelly's papers flying in the elevator so that gets an honorable mention.

I totally forgot to mention that - but I LOVED THOSE! All I could think about was how fun it must have been to shoot all of those over the course of a week, with Steve being his usual crazy self. It was also a great use of all the characters we haven't seen for a while (like Kelly).

Trip & Run · 11-10-2007, 08:18 PM

That scene made me so happy. I keep watching it now to see Oscar hit the door and then fall to the floor.

Andy's facial reaction to Michael's high harmony is AMAZING, too.

girl in a cardigan · 11-11-2007, 01:58 AM

Thanks for posting that clip, Steph! I think it has all of my favorite moments from that episode in it

girl in a cardigan · 11-12-2007, 05:02 PM

Deleted Scenes from NBC.com:
Michael has a hypothetical request for Pam.
The last 10 seconds are my favorite.

Dwight prepares Michael to face the wild.

Trip & Run · 11-12-2007, 06:40 PM

Thanks for the links!