Branch Wars vs. Job Fair

4.6 “Branch Wars” vs. 4.13 “Job Fair”

I know it has been a while since I updated the tournament, and things are going to change to make it quicker to review. I am no longer going to spell out the entire synopsis of the episode. I will only be evaluating the story based off of relevance in the overall progression of the series, creativity of the plotlines, etc. The jokes will be very simple; I will mention the best quote, moments that stood out, and then give a score. Mistakes and Cold Open will still be included.

4.6 Branch Wars

Cold Open

I was pleasantly surprised with this Cold Open. We see Karen talking to a Scranton employee about a transfer, then warped to Scranton where Michael was making a Ferris-Bueller-like contraption to make it look like he was asleep at his desk. Stanley then entered and explained that he was going to transfer to Utica because the pay was higher. Funny and important! + 2 Stars

Story

The main plotline deals with Michael, Jim and Dwight heading to Utica to try to prank Karen because they think she is trying to “steal” Stanley from them in retaliation for Jim breaking up with her. After the prank goes horribly wrong, Michael returns and tells Stanley he may leave. Stanley then admits that he was never considering a move, but was just trying to get a raise. The B story shows Oscar, Pam and Toby in their “Finer Things Club”. Andy tries to join and is hilariously rejected, but Jim is offered a seat after he was humiliated in Utica. Jim embarrasses himself and Pam as a result. Creed, Kevin, Angela, Kelly, Ryan, and Meredith were not in this episode. Overall, a very intriguing plot that kind of cheated us at the end. I thought it was a good idea, but ultimately very average.  + 3 Stars

Jokes

This episode was VERY funny! Michael, Jim and Dwight wearing mustaches was hilarious. Jim being a part of the finer things club was classic, and Andy was short and sweet in this episode. Michael had a confrontation with Toby that was so funny I had to watch it again! Oscar had a funny talking head moment, and even Phyllis got in on the action! Superb, but where was Creed to top it all off!?! + 4 Stars

Mistakes

When Dwight took Jim’s cell phone and threw it out the window, it was obvious that Michael was driving in the left lane. Being that Dwight threw the phone out of the passenger window, and judging by the speed the car was traveling and the angle that Dwight threw the phone, there would be almost no chance that Jim’s phone would still work after it was retrieved.

The way Michael, Dwight and Jim used their radios was completely unrealistic.

Best Quote

“Besides having sex with men, I’d say the ‘Finer Things Club’ is the gayest thing about me” –Oscar

Overall Score

9 Stars

4.13 “Job Fair”

Cold Open

Again, pleasantly surprised! Michael explained that Oscar, Pam, Darryl and he were going to “Valley View High School” to look for summer interns. Michael had some very good one-liners with Pam and Darryl, and that was that. It was short, to the point, and explained what we were about to see in a very funny and simple way. I really, really liked it. + 2 Stars

Story

This episode is presented in the classic “ABC” format. Our A story shows Michael, Pam, Oscar and Darryl head off to a nearby high school to look for a summer intern. Michael’s idea for his booth was incredibly dull, which led to zero interest in the company. Michael, in a last ditch effort to drum up business, publicly dissed all of the other companies, which resulted in nothing except him looking like an ass. The B story showed Jim, Kevin and Andy out playing golf with a potential client. Jim explained that getting this account was a big deal, and he ultimately closed it. Kevin and Andy offered comedic relief. Our C story was Dwight and Angela sitting at the office until 5 pm. Nothing much here, just an excuse to get Dwight in the episode. We discovered that Pam may consider leaving Scranton for New York or Philadelphia, and that Jim has big plans in his near future with Pam. A very nice, though average, plot. + 3 Stars

Jokes

The episode was very funny. Andy and his blisters, Michael disrupting the job fair, Dwight being Dwight. All of it was very good. The funniest part of the episode, arguably, was Andy wrecking the golf cart into the sand trap. In all, very good, but not better than average. + 3 Stars

Mistakes

Pam explains that she “used to pretend she had PMS” so she wouldn’t have to play volleyball during gym class. In the season finale of season 5, Pam is the BEST volleyball player in the entire company and even admits that she played volleyball in college. This is a mistake in that finale, not this episode.

Just like in “Basketball” from season 1, Oscar has no problem shooting hoops. In a late season 6 episode, Oscar is unable to even get the ball near the goal. That episode highlighted Oscar’s gayness, and having him be bad at sports was obviously something the writers wanted to drive home to underscore the fact that Oscar was gay. They forgot, however, that Oscar is actually good at basketball.

Best Quote

“Yeah, I’m trying to lure these kids into my booth, but kids are very wary of being lured these days. Thank you Dateline.”  -Michael

Overall Score

8 Stars

This was very difficult. I hated this because there are so many episodes that have advanced that are not as good as either of these two. I suppose it doesn’t really matter, but I am considering a “reseeding” for the next round because of the unbalance in the tournament. With that said, a very good episode will be leaving…

“Branch Wars” is the better episode and will be moving on by the score of 9-8