The Office: “Goodbye, Toby” Recap

Posted by Mike, Ryan and johnnysweeptheleg

Today is Toby Flenderson’s last day. Obviously Michael has been looking forward to this for a long time — so much so, that he couldn’t sleep last night. The only order of business for the day is the planning of Toby’s going-away party, for which Angela has planned a buttercream cake and a slide show featuring two pictures of Toby. Not quite what Michael had in mind. He wants the kind of party you’d throw “if the devil were to explode and evil were gone forever” — like a beach blowout or toga party. Maybe even a New Orleans funeral. He’d settle for an anti-gravity machine. He’s even willing to spend his own money, which he has saved from the birthday checks his senile grandma has been sending him nine or 10 times a year lately. When Angela refuses to comply with his wishes, Phyllis usurps control of the party-planning committee.

The new HR rep, Holly Flax (played by Oscar nominee Amy Ryan of Gone Baby Gone and also The Wire), arrives — as does news that Pam has gotten in to the Pratt School of Design. The latter means that Pam has to go to New York for three months (something that Roy never would have allowed but Jim wholeheartedly supports). The former means that Michael has a new nemesis. Or does he? All it takes is a brief conversation with Holly to abandon his initial plan to haze her, for his new plan — to make her a mix CD. Dwight is still on the hazing plan, and he convinces Holly that Kevin was hired as part of a special program because he’s slow. Believable enough. In fact, even if Dwight hadn’t made it up, Holly might have come to that conclusion anyway after meeting Kevin. As a result, she’s very nice to Kevin, who, of course, thinks that means he’s going to score.

Jim calls to deliver news of his big sale from last week’s episode to Ryan, who in return is a complete douche to Jim and tells him to re-enter the sale on the Dunder Mifflin Infinity website. Michael also wants Jim to do something for him. He’s looking for perfect songs for Holly’s mix CD that work on two levels: “moving to Scranton” and “I love you.” Jim, who knows a little something about office romances, tries to convince Michael to back off. That doesn’t work so well — Michael still flirts incessantly, and Holly shockingly reciprocates — but Jim does convince himself that the office is the perfect setting for his proposal to Pam. He’s going to do it at Toby’s party, and to set the mood he’s going to pay for fireworks to be set off that night. What he doesn’t count on, is that Andy will also think that it’s the perfect moment to propose — which he does to Angela right as Jim is reaching into his pocket to retrieve his ring for Pam. Surprisingly, Angela says yes — or more accurately, “OK.” But we’re getting ahead of ourselves.

Before the party even begins, Jim leaves a scathing message on Ryan’s voicemail, calling out all of Ryan’s recent acts of douchassery (a mix of douchebaggery and jackassery). Also, Michael conducts Toby’s exit interview, where he asks questions such as “Who do you think you are?” and “What gives you the right?” and presents him with a gift: a rock with a note attached that reads “Suck on this.” We were kind of expecting something more along the lines of the gift that Todd Packer left on Michael’s office floor in the Season 2 episode “The Carpet.” While all of this is going on, Ryan is being hauled away by cops for fraud on a YouTube video titled “Whoa!! Check it out!!!

Back to the party. Kevin is sent on a mission to procure some more barbecue sauce, and while at the store he sees something that Michael needs to know about. Michael arrives at the store to see Kevin and Jan walking out together. He can’t believe that Kevin made him drive over for that, until he notices that Jan is pregnant. It happened while she and Michael were together, but it’s not his and she didn’t cheat on him — at least that’s the story she’s going with. Regardless, Michael forgets about his pursuit of Holly and agrees to become Jan’s Lamaze partner.

There was a lot going on in the episode, which is appropriate given that it’s the season finale. But there’s one more surprise in store. As Phyllis cleans up after the party, she walks in on an unsuspecting Angela having sex in the office … with Dwight! It’s going to be a long wait until new episodes start up again in September.

Mike says

Best Quote: “Because she stinks … with her ways and her head.” — Dwight, explaining why he doesn’t like Holly.

Best Moment: Michael’s musical tribute to Toby, a parody of Supertramp’s “Goodbye Stranger.” It’s no “Beers in Heaven” or “Total Eclipse of the Fart,” but we enjoyed it anyway.

Employee of the week: Jim. We always knew he had it in him, but we enjoyed every word of this: “Hey, Ryan. It’s Jim. Look, man, I don’t know what’s gotten into you lately, but you know what? I really don’t care, because you’re trying to get rid of me and I bet you don’t think that I care enough about this job to actually fight back. But you’re wrong, because I do and I will. So you can keep trying to push me out of this place, but guess what? I’m not going anywhere.” The follow-up call was a nice touch, as well.

Ryan says

Best Quote: “You cheated on me? When I specifically asked you not to?” — Michael, to Jan

Best Moment: The appearance of Cousin Mose with the non-rabid raccoon, and his quickly fleeing to hide.

Employee of the week: I’ll take Phyllis. Perhaps the easy choice, but Phyllis was undaunted in assembling the best office party, going so far as to call businesses looking to rent an antigravity machine. But for Kevin, the bounce house proved to be a more than adequate substitute.

johnnysweeptheleg says

Best Quote: “The real crime I think, was the beard.” — Oscar commenting on Ryan’s numerous problems.

Best Moment: I’m a simple man. Andy walking with the microphone and causing Darryl’s keyboard to smash to the ground was enough to make me laugh out loud this week.

Employee of the week: Kevin. This was a very special episode for our beloved coworker, who thinks he’s “totally going to bang” the new HR lady.

1 Comment

  1. I have to admit, when Phyllis walked into the office with sounds of baby-makin’ in the background, I thought it was Kevin and Holly.

    Can you imagine?!

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