x-citing
Wow. Do I really need another word to describe last night's episode of "The Office"? Just ... wow.
One thing I really love about the show is its ability to stay just inside the lines of hilarity and realism, and it pulled that off admirably with last night's confrontation between Pam (Jenna Fischer) and Roy (David Denman). Man, that scene was as emotionally intense and shocking as last season's Pam-Jim Kiss cliffhanger.
It was shocking because his violent outburst was so sudden and so very real, but not because it was unexpected. Denman's Roy has always had those traits: the jealousy, the self-centeredness, the lack of consideration for Pam's feelings, the ... I'm not sure what to call it. You could just always tell, looking at him, that he was capable of trashing a barroom -- or a person -- if something set him off. Look at "The Alliance," an episode from early last season, when Roy came in at the end to find Pam and Jim just laughing together; he nearly knocked Jim out right then. That was another great intense, real moment. And I look forward to finding out what will happen now.
But it's still a comedy: The writers, producers and actors all walk that line so carefully between comedy and drama, keeping the whole thing both funny and grounded. It's ultimately about human interaction and the complex relationships between coworkers, bosses, friends -- which are, of course, in turns hysterically funny, deeply serious, and just plain weird.
And can we say a few words about the crazy mixed-up relationship between Jan (Melora Hardin) and Michael (Steve Carell)? It's so wrong, and that's what makes it so right.