Ebert Did It Better: Gasbag Reviews

• The Writer –  Amile Gillette
• Directed by – David Rogers
• A brief synopsis – Dwight and Andy debate while deciding which employees will go with Dwight on a special project that he is assigned to in Tallahassee.  Pam, meanwhile, is back from maternity leave, only to be upstaged by Angela, who is back after 4 days, and stacked.  Darryl tries to figure out if Val is making a move.  Kathy decides to make a move on Jim.
• The best line – Jim (to Dwight): Hey quick question: Do you shower at night or do you shower in the morning.  Because I want to shower when you shower and save some water.*
  
• 2nd best line – Dwight: Have you ever tried to make a chain with 3 weak links?  Well I have.  And now I no longer own an arctic wolf.
• The best moment – Dwight’s reaction to the final lineup.
• The best story line – Jim and Pam actually have it with their attempts to decline Robert’s invitation to Florida via text.
• Notable guest appearance – Val and Kathy are becoming more romantically prominent.
• Grade – B+

This is a great toe dip for Jim and Pam, with the realities of their situation demonstrated aptly, romantically and comically.  There is a dearth of really good lines, more than made up for with the cohesive script.  This episode demonstrates how well The Office works when unencumbered with the over-lording presence of a featured star.  The ending is tantalizing without being a shark jump.

*- I originally recorded it as “to save some money”