Ebert Did It Better: Gasbag Reviews

• The Writer – Jennifer Celotta
• Director – Roger Nygard
• A brief synopsis – Michael’s boss Ed Truck dies, and Michael, sensing apathy of the rest of the staff, goes overboard in making them face their “grief.”  At Stamford, Jim is inadvertently put in charge of Karen finishing a project.  This irritates her until he insists that she get her favorite bag of chips before starting her project.  Michael, internalizing Truck’s death as a reflection on his own mortality, is distracted by learning about the death of a bird earlier in the morning.  Pam loves the distraction and helps Michael and Dwight to plan a funeral for the bird.
• The best line – Andy: Hey. What are we doing? What’s the game? I want in.
  Jim: Oh, there’s no game. We’re just trying to get these chips for Karen.
  Andy: Did you check the vending machine?
  Karen: Oh, the vending machines! How did we miss that?
  Jim: I have no idea. We went right for the copier.
  Karen: Mm.
  Jim: And then we checked the fax machine.
  Karen: Yeah, nothing there.
  Andy: Did you check your… butt?
• The best moment – The going down stairs trick Michael did at the cold open of the show.
• The best storyline – Jim and Karen.  Not as sweet as Jim and Pam, but better than watching Michael freak out.
• Notable guest appearance – Ed Truck, via picture and Jan on the phone.
• Would Michael have been reprimanded? – One has to wonder how many times Michael can act in the capacity of HR before it actually gets back to corporate.  This would have landed him at least a talking to.
• Grade – C+

This kind of episode has been done better before.  Watching the progression of Jim and Karen is like watching the neatest train in the world heading for a wreck.