Rants and Ramblings: random commentary about culture, media, politics, technology and whatnot.

office games

I finally got to see last week’s episode of The Office tonight. Great episode, and, cliché as the “big speech” plot device is, I was so proud of Pam for walking over the coals — both literally and figuratively.

Another “high point” for me was a throwaway bit of dialogue, in which boss Michael refers to the day’s activities as “mandatory fun.”

A while back, I worked in an office that I utterly hated. And there are moments in The Office (both the British and U.S. versions) that remind me of that experience — occasionally to the point of wondering if someone was there taking notes. “Mandatory fun” — a phrase often bandied about our office — was one such reminder.

(Point of fact, I first watched the first season of the British version of The Office in one sitting, all on a Friday evening, while I was still working at that job. It was horribly, horribly depressing — particularly the fourth episode (the one with the training consultant), which hit especially close to home.)

Still, I can’t say that I completely regret the experience. Without it, I wouldn’t have met my “Jim,” nor one of my closest friends.

But I think that experience is also why I’m so personally invested in The Office. Sure, it’s a fictional show, but there are elements that resonate in a very personal way. (And given the show’s “funny but sometimes not far from the truth” depiction of office life, I presume that a good many other fans feel the same way.)