Episode Title: "New Boss"

Synopsis: Michael plans for his big 15th-anniversary party at the branch, but the celebration fizzles when he encounters the new vice president, who comes with direct, no-nonsense concepts; Jim pulls yet another prank on Dwight, but this time with a surprising outcome.

Guest Star: Idris Elba

Discuss.

Really excited to see Elba; what a great addition!

I thought in an episode from a previous season, maybe even the pilot, Michael said he had been there 10 years. Wouldn't his 15th anniversary be next year than?

I LOVE this episode. It's just relating with me, which makes it so much better. I'm loving Elba more than I did the overrated Amy Ryan. Fun episode!

Oh, best part is seeing Jim squirm! LOL!

I didn't enjoy this episode as much. Intermittent bursts of hilarity, but the bursts of childishness from Michael made me more uncomfortable than they amused me. I prefer Michael when he is a lovable man-child. This week, he was more of a spoiled narcissist. I hated him. The Jim stuff made me uncomfortable too; he had it coming, but he should be smarter than to try to keep ingratiating himself while wearing that ridiculous tux.

Did anyone feel like the uncomfortable awkwardness of this episode made it feel like Season 1 almost? It definitely had a different feel to it. I don't know if that's good or bad, honestly!

This was the first real clunker of the season for me. There was some interesting stuff here, like Jim looking like a fool, and Michael quitting...but I didn't laugh once. I actually didn't see where the laughs were supposed to be.
Idris Elba was an interesting casting choice, but he doesn't seem like he's going to add much to the show.
C-

I know some people may enjoy the cringe-inducing scenes on the show; but I am not one of them. With the economy in the toilet, the new VP was a sobering reminder of reality that was not necessary, especially since the Scranton branch is performing very well in these troubled times. If the show was going for laughs with most of the scenes involving Michael and Charles (or Charles and Jim), then I think they missed. If they were going for uncomfortable or possibly reflective, then they hit the bull's-eye.

The few brief moments with the rest of the Scranton DM staff meeting and/or lusting after the new VP were generally amusing, though.

Grade: D+

One of the weaker episodes in recent memory. The uncomfortable scenes were just that: uncomfortable. I was actually cringing when Jim went to explain himself to the new VP.

There were some funny moments (Angela and Kelly at the end). Overall, though, a bit of a disappointment.

I have to agree with everyone else...the episode was pretty weak. Krasinski was the best part and the ending with Angela/Kelly which was pretty funny. Everything else just seemed uncomfortable and not really funny. Oh well, I guess they all can't be great and The Office has been so good this season I think they were due for an "off" episode.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: jss0058,

Kind of an odd episode, but I did laugh out loud once, at Michael's "I believe I function best under a lack of accountability".

That is SO the mantra for my workplace.

While not a typical episode, I thought it was quite good and sets up for some interesting future plots. Elba was excellent here. Charles vs. Michael and Charles vs. Jim were awkward, but fits in to the reality of everything that has been questioned about Michael and Jim. Michael quitting was an unexpected moment, and it will be exciting to see what David and Charles do now.

I thought it was a good episode. Lots of funny moments.

I have to say, this is probably the most dramatic episode they've ever produced. Jim is in a similar situation to Frank Wheeler in Revolutionary Road in that he thinks he's above everyone else in the office and makes fun of them but the reality is, he's still there. He's still working at this pointless job and I think his interaction with Charles gave him a dose of reality that he really needed. Will Jim try to quit by the end of the season? This episode made it seem like it would set up him quitting or at least re-thinking where he is in life.

This is all great for an episode of Mad Men maybe but for The Office, it almost ruined the fun. The point of The Office is the banality and awkward humor with this little paper company and it's fun to watch their interaction but an outsider coming in with a realistic standpoint telling everybody how pointless all of their antics are almost completely spoils the mood. So it would seem that an inexperienced writer wrote this episode but, in fact, it was written by Lee Eisenberg & Gene Stupnitsky. Very weird.

Aww you guys are such downers! lol.

Did not like this AT ALL. I hope that reality check Jim got will wipe that smug look off his face. What the hell happened to him? I used to love this guy. Now I can't stand him.

C-

Eh, I kind of loved it. This show is very dark and always has been. This episode was very reminiscent of season one in terms of awkwardness and cringe-worthy behavior from the characters. Also, I don't see Jim's smugness at all. I thought he was worse in the third season as he dated Karen and was a total douche toward Pam. That was the worst I've ever seen of Jim. I thought Idris Elba made a great addition and Michael quitting at the end was a stunning turn of events (that has been long overdue).

This from EW.com:

'Office' exclusive: Is Pam being replaced?!
Mar 20, 2009, 06:34 PM | by Michael Ausiello

Categories: The Office

If you thought Michael's abrupt resignation on last night's Office was the only personnel change in store at Dunder Mifflin, you thought wrong.

Sources confirm to me exclusively that Ellie Kemper, a veteran of the SNL breeding ground known as Upright Citizens Brigade, has been cast as the show's new (wait for it... ) receptionist!

What does this mean for Pam? Is the new boss promoting her or firing her? Or is Jim's honey following Michael's lead and quitting, too?

The cold open with Jim, the tuxedo, and what's "classy" was great. I liked the idea behind Michael finally having a supervisor that makes him accountable for things, and even though they really made him childish-acting here, it came from a relatable place. I can't say that I disliked Idris Elba here, but it's not the kind of role to especially like him in either. It's kind of a letdown anyway when great character actors that have had a chance to shine on cable have to come to network and do thankless roles like this, but work's work I guess. Jim making a bad impression with Charles was funny just to watch cool Jim squirm some, and Kelly and Angela battling over Charles at the end was priceless (especially Angela's confessional where she says that Charles is a sophisticated man who doesn't have to go "dumpster-diving" with Kelly like that -- wow). Michael quitting won't last, but I liked seeing him taking a stand like that. As ridiculous as Michael has been at his job in the past, he is taken for granted in a lot of ways there by David. "You have no idea how high I can fly". LoL.

Grade for "New Boss": B

Not very funny. Which has been a constant with this show AND 30 Rock which wasn't very good this week either.

I couldn't stop laughing with Kelly and Angela or with "I need to talk to him ASAP as possible"....

Not very funny, but i thought it worked exceptionally well. Dramatically it was great, and i like that the show didn't allow us to totally sympathize with Michael nor did it make Charles a complete villian.

Best Parts:
The end
Michael mimicing Charles and Pam's explanation of it
The Suit, and Jim's awkwardness w/Charles
Kelly's "I'm gonna get him to buy me prime-rib" and Angela stealing the scarf

Episode grade: A-