The Office (US) S3 E20 - 'Safety Training' Mini-Review


NERF Life.

Michael sets out with a point to prove when Darryl accuses office work as being "shenanigans". Naturally, he takes it way to far as he attempts to fake a suicide. It's an amusing concept for an episode and well written, but I didn't laugh nearly as much as I have with other episodes throughout the season. The side plot revolving around betting seemed a bit pointless, although had a few pay off moments such as when Kevin made Karen uncomfortable and Kelly's long speech about how to use Netflix. Seeing Darryl get so much screentime was awesome, as his deadpan humour is always appreciated. Overall, this episode did little to move any plot threads forwards, although we did discover that Michael and Jan are going through a rough patch. If they do break up I hope he finds someone more suited for him, as the viewer is truly invested in this poor man's plight to find love at this point.

BEST MOMENTS
  • Drew
  • "A bunch of new techniques for dealing with the grumpies"
  • Dwight being shunned from the age of 4-6
  • "If I know Darryl, it's going to be zoppity"
  • The warehouse crew making sure Michael actually pays attention
  • "We've never made it a full year"
  • "Hey Darryl, how's it hanging?"
  • "It would be the worst thing in the world"
    • "What the hell is wrong with this man?!"
  • "Yeh that dim light is a bitch, aint it?"
  • "Dude, please tell your girl to shut up" "Kelly you insulted this gentleman, please apologise"
  • Darryl brutalises Michael!
  • Dropping the watermelon on that car!
  • "If it's Stanley's car, call the offices of James P. Albini. See if he handles hate crimes?"
  • Weird now seeing Andy trying to win Dwight's affection rather than defeat him
  • "Try and land like an eight year old"
  • "He wants you all to come out to the parking lot and watch him die" "Is it nice outside?" "It's gorgeous let's go"
  • "Dwight you ignorant slut"
  • "Attention blue collar workers"
  • "They found the castle Michael"
  • "I Braveheart. I am"
  • Darryl being (kinda) nice to Michael was sweet
  • "Am I a hero? I really can't say, but yes"
  • IT WAS STANLEY'S CAR!!
DID YOU KNOW?!*
  • According to the DVD commentary, Greg Daniels thought of the scene where Jim and Pam try to talk Michael down from the roof as if Jim and Pam were a divorced couple, speaking in code to their child (Michael), which makes the new wife (Karen) feel "left out."
  • The hand movement used by Dwight Schrute to "shun", and then "un-shun" Andy Bernard was improvised by Rainn Wilson
  • At the end of episode 13, "The Return", Andy says he will complete his anger management training in 5 weeks instead of 10 by using "name repetition, personality mirroring, and positive reinforcement". When interviewed at the beginning of this episode Andy says that he did, in fact, complete anger management in 5 weeks. However, in the end of the last episode Andy said that he graduated "on time"
  • "Dwight, you ignorant slut" is actually a reference to classic Saturday Night Live, when Jane Curtin & Dan Akroyd were the Weekend Update hosts. Dan said to Jane "Jane, you ignorant slut!" It's fitting as SNL is a clear favorite of Michael Scott, our terrible improv actor and lover
RATING: 8.1/10











*Trivia from IMDB

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