After a long hiatus, The Office finally graced our televisions with a new episode once more. Tonight's episode was entitled "Garage Sale," and while there was indeed a titular garage sale, though it took place in the warehouse, this episode had a lot grander plans than regaling us with a tale of the gang trying to sell things they didn't need/want any longer.
Not that there wasn't plenty to enjoy related to the garage sale. Things started off with a funny, brief cold opening where everybody argued with Dwight to try and get him to close the door since it was chilly outside. Cold opening, indeed. Hi-O! Dwight was the star of the garage sale, and his journey sort of brought most of the good moments for the other characters along it.
Dwight has a Dwight-esque plan, which is to start from a humble thumbtack and trade up to something glorious. He talks Kelly into trading him a bunch of her books for a half melted candle. He gets a whole box of Ryan's pesto for Stanley's old photo album by invoking the name of James Franco. As an aside, Ryan's pesto and salsa stuff was quite funny. The very fact he had the plan I liked, and then the fact he put Phyllis' photo on the pesto (because she had a more "motherly" look than his own mother evidently) and Oscar's on the salsa was a nice touch.
However, Jim's got designs of his own, and they mostly involve getting Dwight to buy some magic beans, or should I say miracle legumes. At first, Dwight won't have any of it, but when the legumes seen to magically appear after Jim destroyed them (apparently Dwight never considered that Jim had more than one pack) he is willing to trade a telescope for them. This whole thing was very arch, but that was intentional, and that's mostly what made it so enjoyable. Everything Jim did was so clearly a goof, but Dwight still bought into it anyway. In the closer, Dwight is seen watering the beans in pots outside the office building, and when he walks away Jim wheels out four partially grown bean stalks. Talk about commitment to a bit. Jim clicking his heels was also excellent. Also, these are the kind of Dwight and Jim stories I like. We got to see the best of Dwight and the best of Jim.
There was some other good stuff from the garage sale. Oscar selling a bunch of Will and Grace DVDs because people keep giving them to him as gifts, assuming he enjoys the show. There was a small storyline involving Andy, Darryl, and Kevin playing a board game based on the primetime soap Dallas for money. Since there are no instructions, Andy and Darryl start making up rules of their own, in bad Texas accents no less, and their rules clearly don't favor Kevin. Then, Kevin finds the money gone, and storms off in a huff. Ah, but he had taken the money himself, pulling one over on the two guys who tried to snow him. Kevin doesn't usually get the chance to get the better of people, so that was nice to see. Plus, Kevin and Darryl also always a good combo these days. Also, remember when those three had a band? Those were good times.
However, this episode wasn't really about the garage sale, as I said earlier. It was about Michael and Holly. One of the items Michael is selling is his St. Pauli's Girl neon beer sign. You may remember it's sickly glowing green glory from the thoroughly excellent "Dinner Party." For Michael and Jan, it was a point of contention. Now that Michael is with Holly, on the other hand, he's more than willing to sell it, since it has too much of a "bachelor pad" feel. Of course, Michael is not willing to negotiate from what he thinks is a "fair price," and he does the same for a Slip N' Slide he couldn't possibly have any use for, but the sentiment is clear.
Riding high on Holly's love, Michael calls her dad to ask for her hand in marriage, but he has to leave a message and then heads out to work on his big proposal. It involves lighting a lot of gasoline in the parking lot, but fortunately Pam stops him. She's happy for Michael, and really wants to help him with his proposal idea. She also doesn't want to see the building burn down. Thus, she assembles a team to help Michael with his proposal. It includes Jim, Oscar, and for some reason Ryan. I suppose Ryan is there because he's "hip" and in the know. Or maybe he's there because Pam knows Michael values Ryan's opinion and his "coolness."
They try and tell him to keep it simple, Oscar's advice was particularly excellent, and well delivered by Oscar Nunez, but Michael wants it to be big. We get a chance to relive the simple, well done proposal of Jim and Pam, which allowed them to play the romantics role that they've sort of set by the wayside. Michael, however, is none too impressed with their story, what with the gas station and the pouring rain. Meanwhile, Holly talks to her parents on the phone about Michael's call to her father, but it becomes quite clear neither of them have their full cognitive faculties anymore. After a quick heart to heart with Phyllis, she realizes she needs to be there for them.
However, "there" is Colorado, so she sits with Michael in the break room and tells him that she has to head back home to be with her parents, and since it is important for the story that Michael not be petulant right now, he completely understands. Then again, family has sort of always been the one thing Michael seems to sort of understand. Holly wants Michael to move with her, and she starts to begin a proposal, but Michael cuts her off and leaves the room. He won't be proposed to in a break room, and delivers the line of the night about how he, "Should have burned this place to the ground when I had the chance," or words to that effect.
Now, Michael has to kick the wheels in high gear, and the episodes turns up the emotion and romance to the max. Holly says she'll stay with Michael if that's what he wants, but Michael then begins giving Holly a tour of the building, pointing out places that have a connection to her in his heart. Then, he opens the door to the kitchen and everybody else is in there with candles. Some of them ask Holly to marry her, and of course she says no and it's all just a big romantic gesture. Nevertheless, Michael expresses that he had concern she might say yes to Ryan. They head into the annex, which is full of candles. He gets down on one knee, and then the smoke alarms go off and sprinklers turn on.
So now, much as was the case when Jim proposed to Pam, Michael and Holly are getting poured on. Still, they are too happy about things to care, and they begin to laugh. Then, Michael pulls out his very expensive, Pam stunning engagement ring (three years salary) and proposes. In a shocking turn of events, Holly says yes. Everybody runs into congratulate them, and at that point Michael drops the bombshell that he's leaving to go to Colorado with Holly.
Since the return of Holly this season, the show has been building to this episode. The main thrust of this season has been the departure of Michael Scott, and clearly the show wanted him to go out on a high note. He's not being fired for incompetence. He's not quitting in a huff like during the Charles saga. He's leaving with the love of his life, and his soon to be bride. What will he do? Who knows, though I'm sure we'll find out someday. I imagine, at the very least, Michael will be back for the series finale.
As far as possible exit strategies for Michael go, this one works just fine. It's not comical, but it's plausible, and the show has really played out Michael and Holly's romance well. I thought they stuck the landing very well with the proposal. It was serious and romantic, but not precious, and they undercut it with some comedy as well. There's not going to be any sort of "Michael and Holly's wedding" episode, so this is the big emotional payoff for that couple, and kudos to the show for the way they handled it.
In fact, kudos to the show for this whole episode. I thought it was great. I don't think there was a single thing that fell flat to me. There were plenty of funny jokes, including some really funny ones, and I thought all the storylines played out well. The low key, low stakes garage sale stuff was a nice pairing with the big time Michael proposing storyline, and I of course just discussed how I felt that worked. With Steve Carell's time on The Office winding down, I'm glad they've started the exit strategy so strongly.
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