The Office continues to be a popular show on NBC.  Once I finally started to watch the show, I really enjoyed it and I eventually started to pick the DVD sets when I found them on sale.  I just finished watching The Office - Season 3.

I will be mentioning a few things in discussing The Office - Season 3 that will be spoilers for the first two seasons.  This series really builds on what has happened previously, so people really should start at the beginning.  If someone would start with the third season, several things won't make sense and other things will be spoiled.

The first version of The Office originally aired in England.  The show only lasted for two short seasons and a movie special, but it was very popular.  The US version of The Office began to air in 2005 with the creators of the original version serving as producers.  The first season only has six episodes and is a bit more like the original British version of the show.  The show does different things during the second season.  The Office is currently airing the sixth season on Thursday nights at 9:00 p.m. EST.  The show began airing in syndication in the fall of 2009.

The Office is a bit different from most half hour comedies that air in the United States.  There isn't a laugh track and the show isn't filmed in front of a live audience.  The show is set up like a film crew is taping what is going on at the Dunder Mifflin, a fictional paper company.  The series is mostly focused on the branch of Dunder Mifflin located in Scranton Pennsylvania with the corporate office and a few other branches being mentioned every so often.  The series is mainly about what happens with the employees at work, though some things that happen outside of the office are shared too.  

During the first two seasons of The Office, it was established that Jim, one of the salesmen, had feelings for Pam, the receptionist who was engaged to Roy.  Jim and Pam have a good friendship, but it is clear that Jim is bothered by her relationship with Roy.  At the end of season two, Jim decides to tell Pam how he felt and she turns him down.  The third season picks up a little later and several things have changed.  Jim, deciding that he can't handle working with Pam anymore because of her relationship with Roy, takes a position at the Stamford branch.  Pam has changed her mind and is no longer with Roy.  Jim going to Stamford does open up some new situations and introduce a few new characters to the show.

The first seven episodes of the third season are split between showing what is happening at the Scranton and Stamford branches.  Jim does seem to have some trouble fitting in with Andy and Karen at Stamford.  They don't appreciate his sense of humor or pranks and Jim is horrible at the video game the branch takes so seriously.  Things do seem a bit off with the show during these seven episodes because the dynamic has changed.  Thankfully, it isn't long before Jim is back in Scranton after the Stamford branch is closed.  Some other employees from the closed branch transfer to Scranton, including Karen and Andy.  Pam is thrilled when Jim is back, though it does take a little while for their friendship to get back on track.  The fact that Jim has started dating Karen doesn't help the situation, though it does add tension to what is going on at times.  Things are still a little different in the office for a while because of the new employees, though it is more on track by the end of the season.

I think that The Office is a very funny show.  The humor is a bit different and even twisted or dark at times, so it may not appeal to some viewers.  Most of the characters say and do things that I find funny.  Michael and Dwight are always doing goofy things that I find funny.  I also think the pranks that Jim plays are funny even if they are a little juvenile at times.  It cracks me up when he shows up for work dressed like Dwight.  Jim plays a few pranks on Andy, including one with Pam's help.  Andy's reactions to the pranks are so extreme that they are funny.  Awkward moments turn up frequently, some of which are funny and others which are uncomfortable to see.  That is part of what works for this show, though some people may not appreciate it.  Those moments are part of what makes the show so entertaining.  Every so often, a more serious issues pops up, though it usually isn't dealt with in a serious way.  

Romance turns up throughout the third season of The Office, though it doesn't over take everything that happens.  I never cared for the relationship between Pam and Roy, so I was very happy when it came out that Pam had dumped him.  She does seem to be happy with the decision, though she has doubts at times and even go backs to Roy for a short time.  Jim and Karen start to date and I really hate that development.  Ryan and Kelly are still involved in their highly dysfunctional relationship. It seems like Ryan really can't stand Kelly, but he stays in the relationship.  Dwight and Angela are continuing their relationship and still keeping it from everyone else.  The two of them are actually sweet together in a bizarre, weird sort of way.  Michael has more issues with his love life as well.  He is with Carol for a while, though he does something that causes her to end the relationship.  He and Jan then start a relationship that doesn't seem healthy.  Nothing much about any of the relationships is shared, though there are several sexual remarks and conversations throughout the season.  Some of those things could be offensive to some viewers.

The same main characters plus two new ones are featured in the third season of The Office.  A few more new characters are around for a few episodes, but they slowly disappear until only Karen and Andy are left.  The fact that the others are gone is mentioned at one point and it is hinted that they left because they didn't like working in the Scranton branch.  Karen seems nice enough for the most part, but I just don't like her.  She does act like she thinks she is better than the others in Scranton.  I do think she is a bit bossy with Jim at times as well.  Rashida Jones is fine in the part.  I just don't like Karen and see her as a negative to the season overall.

Andy Bernard is a salesman who schemes once he arrives in Scranton.  He tries to suck up to Michael and shove out Dwight.  Andy does come across as a jerk at times and can be annoying.  He enjoys singing and has an anger problem.  Ed Helms does a really good job with the part.  Once again, since there are so many characters, most of them aren't shown as much.  For several episodes, some of them are basically just there in the background, occasionally doing something.  A little bit more is shared about the characters, but only a few of them are developed much.

Michael Scott is still the regional manager of the Scranton branch.  He continues to try to be friends with all his employees without realizing what many of them actually think of him.  He isn't a bad guy, but he frequently screws up and does bad things.  His kindness and good side does come out every so often.  Steve Carell is wonderful in the part.  Jan Levinson works for the corporate and turns up every so often when she visits the branch.  She remains stern and somewhat distant at times, but she does agree to a relationship with Michael.  Melora Hardin is fine in the part.

Jim is still one of my favorite characters.  He tries to fit in at Stamford and even says at one point that he is going to stop pulling pranks, though that doesn't last long.  He does deal with some changes during the season.  Jon Krasinski continues to do well with the part, making Jim an interesting and likable character.  Pam is moving on from her relationship with Roy, though she is hesitant to start dating.  She is happy when Jim returns, but the friendship isn't the same for a while.  She does get more assertive late in the season.  Jenna Fischer is really good in the part.

Dwight Schrute is another one of the salesmen who is almost constantly with Michael, seeking approval.  Dwight sees himself as the second in command and believes that he has authority over the others that he tires unsuccessfully to use at times.  He does seem like a jerk at times, but he does have his good points that come out more during the season.  Rainn Wilson is wonderful in the part.  Angela is one of the accountants and she is involved with Dwight.  The two of them share several views and seem to work together well.  She is very reserved, uptight, and judgmental.  Angela Kinsey is really good in the part.

Kevin and Oscar are the other two accountants.  Oscar is gone for a chunk of the season after Michael does something extremely offensive to him.  Once he is back, he and Angela end up bonding a bit and finding that they have more in common.  Stanley and Phyllis are also in sales.  They are always around even when they don't do much.  Phyllis tends to be more soft spoken.  She does get married and her husband is mentioned or seen a few times.  Creed and Meredith are always around, though they only stand out a few times.  Toby is in human relations and still intensely disliked by Michael.  Toby almost always looks sad, though he does start to try to bring up the feelings he has for Pam.  

Ryan is still at the office, though he is no longer a temp.  He is in sales and can't make any sales.  He is arrogant and clearly feels that he is better than everyone else in the office, including Michael.  Ryan isn't featured as much as some of the others, but he is one of the most annoying characters and I really don't like him.  B.J. Novak does fine with the part.  Kelly is in customer support and seems to be good at her job.  She is always perky and she babbles about all sorts of stupid stuff.  She is very clingy where Ryan is concerned and a bit delusional since she thinks they have this great relationship when he barely tolerates her.  Mindy Kaling does well with the part.  Some of the people who work in the warehouse turn up a few times, as does Roy.

Main Cast

Leslie David Baker - Stanley Hudson
Brian Baumgartner - Kevin Malone
Creed Bratton - Creed Bratton
Steve Carell - Michael Scott
Jenna Fischer - Pam Beesley
Kate Flannery - Meredith Palmer
Melora Hardin - Jan Levinson
Ed Helms - Andy Bernard
Rashida Jones - Karen Filippelli
Mindy Kaling - Kelly Kapoor
Angela Kinsey - Angela Martin
Jon Krasinski - Jim Halpert
Paul Lieberstein - Toby Flenderson
B.J. Novak - Ryan Howard
Oscar Nunez - Oscar Martinez
Phyllis Smith - Phyllis Lapin
Rainn Wilson - Dwight Schrute

DVD Information

The Office - Season 3 has four discs.  The case unfolds and has two discs per panel, with one slightly under and higher than the other one.  I really don't like this type of case.  Two other panels of the case have an episode list along with short summaries of the episodes.  The main menu for each disc has the option to play all the episodes or to play them one at a time.  When they are selected one at a time, it is also possible to play the deleted scenes from each particular episode from that menu as well.  The deleted scenes are also available from a different menu.  They can be played by episode or one after the other.  The deleted scenes have a finished look to them and several of them do further explain some things.  There are commentaries for some of the episodes that I haven't listened to yet.

Most of the extras are on the second disc.  There is something called Kevin Cook Stuff in the Office which shows Kevin fixing food.  There is an exert from the Emmys and from the 2006 NBC Primetime Preview that was hosted by the cast of the show.  There is a short interview with Joss Whedon, who directed one of the episodes, the video that Michael made to welcome the new employees is included, as are Toby Wraparounds, short segments featuring Toby.  The blooper reel is funny and worth watching.

The Office is a fun, entertaining show.  The Office - Season 3 is a great DVD set for fans of the show.

This review is part of CaptainD's Good Movies EpiGuide 3 Write Off.

The Office Collection ~ The Office - Season One ~ The Office - Season 2 ~

Recommended: Yes

Viewing Format: DVD