The Office (UK) S1 E6 - 'Judgement' Review


Good News and Bad News.

 The Office (UK) series one finale sees David Brent face a huge decision - whether to take a promotion and watch his staff be made redundant, or to turn down the offer and  force the Swindon branch to merge with Slough.

A decision which David decides almost immediately and one which goes against all that we have learned about his character this season - he chooses to take the promotion. After talking about the importance of staff for six episodes, Brent abandons them in favour of a higher salary. The decision felt strange to me and didn't sit right, so I was initially glad when it was revealed David turned down the job to save the branch (an arc which fitted better with his character), only to then discover he actually failed the medical so was forced to return. It was humorous in its own way, but just didn't feel like a satisfying conclusion to the series.

 Elsewhere, Tim gave up his dream to go to university and study Psychology. He claims it is due to a promotion he has been offered, which would be an apt representation of the failure of individuals to grasp their potential and seek out their dreams when their present situation is adequate. However, I interpreted it more as he wanted to stay to continue to be near to Dawn, as he cares so much for her he still wants her in his life, even if only as a friend. I suppose we can only guess what the real reason was.

 Gareth is emotional this episode upon discovering David is leaving, and David certainly didn't feel the same much to his dismay. He later got to pull an attractive girl at least (despite apparently taking her out with some martial arts demonstration mid-party). I'm struggling to say anything else about his story this episode as it was pretty bland and average.

 Dawn is clearly still affectionate towards Tim, even if she has made her mind up on Lee (who once again projected how much of a bellend he is by jokingly threatening Tim). Now that Tim's job is free, it also was implied that she may too stay at her current boring 9-5 in an attempt to stay close to Tim, which was a sweet idea.

 Overall, this finale was a solid conclusion to an amusing series, although David's uncharacteristic actions this episode tainted the experience for me personally. 

 DID YOU KNOW?!

  • You might have noticed a weird moment in this episode where an old cleaner stares creepily into the camera. This man is in fact director Stephen Merchant's father, Robert Merchant
  • Tim mentions there a 3 nightclubs in Slough, including one called Henry the Eighth. There was actually a nightclub in Burnham Beeches, which is next to Slough, called Henry's for many years.
REVIEW: 7.2/10

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