This week’s episode opens up with Dwight (Rainn Wilson) acting suspiciously nice by bringing in delicious bagels for everyone’s breakfast. But we all know Dwight, and he’s not nice. And the fact that he keeps saying, “You owe me” as he hands out bagels is a sure sign that he’s up to something sneaky…and then he reveals his genius plan: to stock up on favors that he can one day call in for the ultimate favor of all time—for Jim (John Krasinski) to become fired so that he can be co-manager. That sneaky Dwight.
But Andy (Ed Helms) is ruining Dwight’s brilliant scheme. “Do not test my politeness,” Andy states. His version of polite includes returning a favor as soon as possible. What ensues is a hilarious favor-swap that goes on for an inappropriate amount of time between Dwight and Andy.
The fun really gets started with Pam’s (Jenna Fischer) mother, Helene (Linda Purl), stops by to enjoy a birthday lunch. It normally would not be a big deal, but as we all remember, Helene is now dating Michael Scott (Steve Carell). Therefore, the lunch celebrating Helene’s birthday is comprised of Michael, Jim and Pam. Talk about awkward!
As the lunch goes on, however, it becomes undoubtedly clear that Michael actually makes Helene happy. He goes out of his way to make her birthday special, including decorating the restaurant, slipping a necklace around her neck while she’s sleeping, and making her a romantic scrapbook. All of this adds up to a great development: Pam starts to not mind so much that her mother is dating her boss.
But the happiness gets a little stilted when Michael realizes exactly how old his new girlfriend is: a healthy 58 years old. All of the talk about her being a grandmother and having lived through so much starts getting to Michael. We all know how tactless Michael is, and he proves just how tactless he is when he breaks up with Helene. On her birthday. In front of her daughter and son-in-law.
Pam’s upset and frustrated by her mother’s disappointment, and Michael knows that he messed up. He first tries to offer a raise as a bribe for gaining Pam’s forgiveness. In exasperation, he asks, “What do you want? Do you want a million dollars? Do you want to hit me?” And the answer is clear. Pam wants to hit Michael as hard as she can. And the whole office must be present to see it happen. But the climax falls short. Pam feels no better after she has slapped the crap out of Michael. It was worth a shot, though.
But my favorite part of the episode? The awkward silence that ensues during Michael’s break-up speech when the waitress comes over to fill water glasses. Comedy at its best.
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