The Office (3rd season, NBC, Thursdays)

Also reviewed by: Babs

Yes, I've reviewed NBC's The Office before. Back on the old Forum, I think. But it's a new season, so ... new review!

Last season, especially in the episodes leading to the season finale, was brilliant. The show really hit its stride. The actors, the characters' interplay, the situations and dialogue all gelled. Even tiny plot lines resonated. And all the characters grew a little more three-dimensional. And then, of course, the season ended with the revelation of the Jim's long-simmering feelings for Pam. That season was a keeper.

Problem is, where do you go from there? Before the season premiere, I was concerned about the future of the show. Have they pushed the unrequited love story out into the open too quickly? Would this result in the downfall of the show, the way Dave and Maddie hooking up lead to Moonlighting's slow and painful death? How can they top last season? And then on top of that, the show won the Emmy for best comedy. Talk about pressure...

Finally, the season premiere came. And, surprise surprise, I was disappointed. We learned Pam's engagement was off, but that Jim had already transferred to another office. Not a terribly surprising plot development (though too reminiscient of the aforementioned Moonlighting direction). And right away, you could tell that the show was just a little off. Without the subconscious flirting between Pam and Jim, the spark just wasn't there. And we don't just lose the Pam and Jim interaction, we lose the constant battling between Jim and Dwight. Cutting the legs out from beneath both of those relationships for too long won't be a good thing.

Also, Michael Scott, Steve Carell's character, had been slowly growing more sympathetic last season, even if he could still be a clueless asshole. Yet in the season premiere, he seemed to be slipping back into being annoying only. Even his banter with Dwight wasn't hitting the mark. And because the show now has to switch between "the" office and the office that Jim transferred to, the flow gets interrupted more often. Seemed to be too jarring of a transition.

The second episode was better, and since then, I think the show has started to find its footing again. In the past couple of episodes, I've had more of the side-splitting laughs that I could always count on last season. I've gotten used to the show being set in two offices now, so that's no longer taking me out of the storyline. With Pam and Jim still separated (unless they moved Jim back this week; I haven't watched the episode yet), the show is still missing a little spark, though. Still, the laughter has returned, and I'm hopeful that the writers and producers are leading the show in the right direction.