#(tiny fastforward through them getting drinks)

[spaceorphan18]

SO’s Guide to JAM (The Office)

And no, I don’t mean preservatives.  ;)  For @redheadgleek - because she wanted to know.  

So - the thing about the Office is that, unlike lots of sitcoms where you can jump right in during the middle, The Office (at least at the beginning) benefits from character development - and a lot of things later on don’t resonate as well if you don’t have the context and backstory to set them up.  There are plenty of things to skip, but it’s worth sitting through some of the uncomfortable things to appreciate the story.  That said - hopefully, this guide will help you decide if you want to pass or not.  

I am going to use a ** to designate episodes I think you should watch.  

Season 1

I think Season 1 is the hardest for people to get through.  They were very much trying to model the British version, but the British version is very dark at times, and the American version just won’t allow itself to get that way, so season 1 feels really weird tonally -- and honestly different than the rest of the series.  Plenty of people skip it all together, but there are some things worth watching. 

Pilot - They used the script from the British pilot, and even that was kind of bland.  I find this episode boring, and while it introduces Jim and Pam, it’s entirely skippable.  

Diversity Day - So, there’s a lot of cringe here, but this is what made me really enjoy Jim and Pam, because Jim’s entire day sucks, and then at the very end, he and Pam have a special, sweet moment.  This worked for me, but I can understand wanting to move past all the Michael. 

Health Care - There are some fun Jim/Pam hijinx against Dwight in this one.  The Michael plot is entirely skippable if that’s too much.  But not huge in the Jam story. 

**The Alliance - I would recommend this one, if only because the show comes back to it a lot.  Jim and Dwight form an alliance, which is really Jim messing with Dwight.  Again - the Michael portion of this episode is entirely skippable - so you can fastforward through that if you don’t want to endure it. 

Basketball - Everyone plays basketball.  It’s not really that interesting - but there are some flirty moments between Jim and Pam. 

Hot Girl - I think this is the funniest of Season 1.  Amy Adams shows up to sell purses at the office.  There are great little Jam moments, but the only thing to really take away from this one is that Jim ends up asking Amy Adams out, which sets up season 2.  

Season 2

Season 2 gets rid of a lot of the cringiest stuff from season 1, and lets the show be itself.  While there are definitely Jam heavy/focused episodes, a lot of why the story line works is that there are little moments that build up in each episode that make it worthwhile. 

**The Dundies - This is a great introduction to the show.  Michael is more tolerable than he usually is.  A ton of great Jam stuff in this one.  Really a must see. 

Sexual Harassment - There is a lot of cringe in this one.  However, Pam’s mom shows up, and there are a few smaller Jam moments. 

**Office Olympics - Michael (and Dwight) are out of the office and everyone goofs off.  It’s a fun episode, and the Michael subplot is entirely skippable (though it’s not really that bad) 

The Fire - There’s a fire in the office, so everyone goes outside and they play games.  Lots of fun Jam stuff, though nothing life changing.  The Michael/Ryan stuff is a little awkward.  But the episode is good at expanding all the side characters so it’s recommended, even if it’s not a must see.  

Halloween - Michael has to fire someone, so it is cringy in that regard.  Jim and Pam have a subplot of getting Dwight to go to another job, which leads to some delicious angst.  

The Fight - Michael and Dwight physically fight.  Jim and Pam kind of parallel with a mini-fight of their own.  The episode as a whole I’m a little meh on, but if you just watch the Jam scenes, you’ll get what you need. 

**The Client - Michael goes on a sales call - and is actually a good salesman.  Meanwhile, the office reads a script Michael wrote.  It’s great, classic Jam stuff in this one. 

Performance Review - I personally find this one funny because it’s fallout from The Client, but not Jim/Pam heavy.  They have a minor subplot where they prank Dwight. 

**Email Surveillance - Not entirely essential, but Jim throws a BBQ at his house, and there’s some good development here.  The Michael plot at improv can be completely fastforwarded through. 

**Christmas Party - I actually used to find this episode difficult (until I became really desensitized to it), but it is sitting through the terrible Michael stuff to get to the Jam stuff that will be relevant for years to come.  

**Booze Cruise - The office goes on a Booze Cruise.  Yes - watch this, feel angst, feel joy, feel all the things. 

The Injury - there’s really zero Jam in this, however, it is incredibly funny and Pam and Dwight become friends, and I love that.  Oh, the plot is Michael cooks his foot. I do recommend it, even if it’s not essential.

**The Secret - Jim tells Michael his feelings for Pam. Yes, lots of Jam-y stuff in this. 

The Carpet - Someone puts weird stuff on Michael’s carpet forcing Michael to work in the office.  I like it - there’s a lot of good Jim stuff (and a lot of angst) but not a lot of Jam.  The ending is classic, though. 

Boys and Girls - Jan throws a women in the workplace seminar.  There’s some good Pam development in this one, so I recommend at least watching the women scenes. 

Valentine’s Day - There is zero Jam stuff in it, but that’s the point.  I think it’s really cool what they do with this - but not essential.  However, it does have one of my favorite Pam/Dwight scenes. 

Dwight’s Speech - Dwight wins salesman of the year.  I’m a little meh on this one, too, tbh.  Jim decides he’s not going to Pam’s wedding, but that’s the only Jam stuff in the episode. 

Take Your Daughter to Work Day - People bring their kids to work.  There’s some tiny bits of Jam in this one, but another I’m slightly ‘meh’ on.  

Michael’s Birthday - No one pays attention to Michael on his birthday.  Jim and Pam take a shopping trip that’s kinda cute, but there’s a lot of Michael pouting in this episode that makes it difficult. 

**Drug Testing - Dwight finds a joint and grills the office.  Has one of the best Jam subplots of the show. 

**Conflict Resolution - Michael decides to resolve all the office conflicts.  Of course this goes over well.  Not a ton of Jam, but some relevant stuff, and some fantastic Jim stuff.  

**Casino Night -- Yes, watch this.  Enjoy this.  One of the best Jam episodes, and one of the best episodes in the series hands down. 

Season 3

The thing about Season 3 is -- while Season 2 was kind of Jim’s story, Season 3 is Pam’s story - and it’s one of my favorite arcs of any TV show.  Again, while not all the episodes are essential, Pam (and Jam) get developed in every single episode - so I do recommend seeing all of Seasons 2 and 3, but it’s not required. 

Gay Witch Hunt - Michael finds out Oscar is gay.  Jim and Pam miss each other.  Not essential, and does contain one of the most cringy moments of the show, but it does show the resolution of Casino Night, and you’ll probably end up watching it anyway, even if I don’t mark it as essential. 

The Convention - Michael and Dwight meet up with Jim at a convention.  Pam goes on a date.  Good episode, little things sprinkled throughout. 

The Coup - Dwight tries to get Michael fired.  This one is dark.  Pam gets new clothes, Jim plays Call of Duty.  It’s well written, but again, very dark. 

Grief Counseling - Michael is upset that his former boss has died, and so Pam helps him grieve.  Great Pam development in this one. 

**The Initiation - Dwight takes Ryan to his beet farm.  I love this episode, it’s hilarious.  There’s also a huge Jim/Pam thing at the end, worth watching. 

Diwali - Kelly invites the office to her Diwali celebration.  This one is a bit cringy.  Some good bits, though, with Pam coming out of her shell a bit. 

**Branch Closing & The Merger - kind of a two parter. I recommend both of them, because they’re both good episodes (though The Merger has some high cringe) and some good Jam development going on. 

The Convict - Michael finds out one of the employees has been to prison.  I don’t think it’s as cringy as it might seem.  Jim gets Andy to hit on Pam by using all the things she hates - it’s classic, and the main plot can be skipped if you only want to see the Jam stuff.  

**A Benihana Christmas - It’s hard to explain - lots of Xmas things going on - and possibly the best Xmas special they do, so I do recommend it. 

Back from Vacation - Mostly about Michael trying to cover up the fact that he sent a nude photo of his gf to the company.  It’s not that bad.  There is an essential Pam moment where she breaks down and is comforted by Dwight, but the rest of the episode isn’t essential at all.  

**Traveling Salesman & The Return - All the salesmen pair up to go on sales calls, and Oscar returns to the office.  Another 2 parter of sorts.  Andy gets a bit much, but otherwise, they’re really solid and entertaining episodes across the board, with a bit of Jam development.  

**Ben Franklin - Michael throws a bachelor party in the office, and to even it out, throws a bachelorette party for the girls.  Their stripper is Ben Franklin.  Some cringy stuff here, but not too bad - and I think the Pam story line is worth it. 

Phyllis’s Wedding - this has some of the most cringy stuff in the show.  However, if you skip the wedding and go to the reception, there’s some great stuff -- including some delicious angst for Jam. 

Business School - A majority of this is Michael going to Ryan’s business school, and Jim convincing Dwight he turned into a vampire.  Not a lot here - but the ending with Pam’s art show is great in Pam’s arc. 

Cocktails - Michael, Dwight, and Jim go out to a corporate party while Pam and the rest of the office go out for drinks.  I’m a bit meh on the episode, but some good Pam development in this one. 

The Negotiation - A lot of it is focused on Darryl wanting a raise, and therefor Michael asking for a raise.  This ties up some Pam story loose threads so worth it for that. 

Safety Training - Like the Injury, this is not essential at all, but I think it’s one of the funniest episodes, and I do recommend it on that merit alone. 

Product Recall - the office deals with having to recall a product.  There is really zero Jam stuff in it.  This is really the only one of seasons 1-3 that I have a tendency to skip when I’m just wanting to watch for Jam related stuff.  But it’s not that bad (comparatively to stuff later on). 

**Women’s Appreciation - Phyllis is flashed, so this leads to Michael wanting to appreciate women more.  It’s actually very good, and a great Pam story line.  

**Beach Games -- Yes, watch this episode, it’s amazing, and possibly one of my favorites -- plus one of the best Pam moments on the show. 

**The Job -- also yes, watch this, it’s kind of the conclusion of the original Jam arc.  

I can’t stress it enough, though, in order for The Job to land, I really, really recommend watching all of seasons 2 and 3.  

Okay, so because there are a lot of episodes here, and seasons 4+ are a little different, I’m gonna change up this guide a little.  

Season 4

Season 4 is shorter because the writer’s strike happened then.  There are a lot of delicious Jam moments, and the show is still functioning pretty well as a sitcom (though it steers into more cartoonish when Michael drives literally into a lake).  I recommend watching the whole season, but highlight episodes are ---

Fun Run (not the best - but great Jam stuff, and resolution to The Job); Money (Jam visits Dwight’s farm); Local Ad (it’s just a fun episode); Dinner Party (Michael and Jan host a dinner party - considered one of the best episodes of the show, but I think that hinges on knowing the characters, so don’t start here, lol); Chair Model (Michael is annoying but great Jam stuff); Goodbye Toby (season finale, lots of good Jam stuff.  

Season 5 

Season 5 I also recommend watching all of.  Jam stuff in pretty much every episode, and it’s still a funny and solid show.  However, highlight episodes include --

Weight Loss; Crime Aid; Customer Surveys; Business Trip; Frame Toby; The Surplus; Stress Relief; Lecture Circuit; The Michael Scott Paper Company Arc (Eps 5x20-5x25); Cafe Disco (one of my favorites), and Company Picnic. 

Season 6

I feel like if you reach Season 6, you know whether or not you want to keep going.  This the first season where I think you can really see a decline in quality.  It’s also the first season that doesn’t heavily feature Jim and Pam as earlier seasons, (they are still main characters, so they do get things in every episode, even if it’s not much) and while there are some great episodes, a lot of this season (to me) feels a little meh and boring.  However - essential episodes -- 

Gossip; Niagara; Murder, Sabre (if you want to understand what’s going on in the rest of the show); The Delivery. 

Okay, I guess that’s not a whole lot.  However -- this season also features an episode I do not go back and watch -- that is the infamous Scott’s Tots.  The less said, the better. 

Season 7 

I like Season 7 a lot better than season 6 - the episodes are better all around, and it’s Steve Carell’s last season.  There’s not a ton of Jam stuff here, but more than season 6.  (I also like Jim and Pam’s dynamic in this season more than season 6′s).  Essential episodes -- 

Nepotism; Andy’s Play (it’s a musical!); The Sting; Costume Contest; Viewing Party (for the Glee!); Classy Christmas; The Search (if you want to know where my URL comes from); PDA; Threat Level Midnight; Garage Sale; Goodbye Michael (minus the subplots).  I don’t really recommend the season finale - Search Committee - but it does set up season 8.  

Season 8

Season 8 isn’t very good.  It’s not that Steve Carell left, it’s that the show didn’t know what to do because he left -- and despite having some great characters to work with, they end up focusing on Ed Helms and James Spader, too much.  You can probably skip to season 9 without missing much, however, there are a few half-way decent things.  I wouldn’t call these essential, but in case you want a taste of season 8

The List; Pam’s Replacement (which is really the only Jam stuff this season); Special Projects, Test the Store.  

Yeah, that’s kinda it.  The post Florida episodes are really terrible (Get the Girl-Fundraiser), and are possibly the worst episodes of the show, so I recommend burying them in the sand and not thinking of them. 

Season 9

I think season 9 is a little underrated, and while a far cry from its heyday (and still way too much Andy), I think overall it’s rather enjoyable.  Also, Jim and Pam get a story line spanning the entire season for the first time since, maybe, season 5 - which is a nice change.  It’s a little hit and miss but it’s nice to see them treated as main characters again.  Honestly, it’s hard to recommend just a handful - so, really, just watch all of it and skip the Andy stuff.  

[oneweekobsession]

And so

it actually took me a while to get into Frightened Rabbit, if I'm honest. The first I knew of them was that they were on the bill for Bowlie 2, and so, in the run up to that, I did a bit of youtube research, hitting up a couple of their songs. They were ok I thought, but honestly, I didn't get on with the pronoun switching in 'Swim until you can't see land' (who's swiming here - me or you?)

So they weren't a real priority to see at Bowlie, but I did catch the end of their set, in the weird-as-fuck big tent space, as I was on the way between somewhere and somewhere else. I remember that moment, and I remember thinking, this is alright, this, but still, I wasn't bowled over.

But in the weeks that followed, it turned out that their choruses were echoing in my head, and so, apparently, that was that.

I wasn't in a great place in 2010-11, when all this was happening. A relationship had ended, but the ending became as messy as hell. And that was tied up with work. And I moved into a new flat, but it was a place that was not set up for putting me in a good head space.

And so, the sound track to all of this ended up being The Winter of Mixed Drinks (which I still have a tendency to misname The Winter of Mixed Veg, but I'm sorry for that). I know most people's favourite FR album is Midnight Organ Fight, but honestly, for me, it is Winter of Mixed Drinks. There are certain songs that you associate with certain places, and for me, this album was the album that got me home every night. It's the walk from work to the busstop home. It's the soundtrack of making the adjustment from the preoccupations of work to the alone time of home. It was my anaesthetic, or it was my therapy, or whatever it was, it was essential.

And so, we plough through our misery for a while, and we find ourselves in September 2012. [No wait, before we move on, we need to go back to August 2012, when someone died far too young. And I came home from finding that out, and I cried, and I what kept me, what kept me, was 'while I'm alive, I'll make tiny changes to earth'.]

So there was that, and then, September 2012, out came the State Hospital EP. This was something that actually stopped me in my tracks. So much so that I wrote the beginnings of a couple of fucking essays about it.

What seemed important for me about this group of songs was that, after so much self-scrutiny, these were pieces that were were starting to look outwards. They were carefully crafted narratives, and fuck me, they were the point at which I noticed how special Scott is as a lyricist. State Hospital and Wedding Gloves, in particular, are such extraordinary pieces of lyric narrative. Scott had kept me company, in my depression, and now he was looking around himself, at the world and the stories there were there to tell. And he was doing it exquisitely. And this new mode, of telling other people's stories, carried into Pedestrian Verses. And here it was Backyard Skulls that obsessed me with its cleverness; Scott would later say that it was inspired by a Christopher Brookmyre book, I think, but I think the brookside resonances still hold good. And there was that whole thing where I fantasised about writing a dissertation about this album.

And then. And then. Well, I got a new job, and a new place to live, and less time to listen to music. And fastforward, and we're in 2016, and Painting of a Panic Attack came out, and I didn't get into it, really. After Pedestrian Verses, it was a return to self-scrutiny and self-evisceration, and at times in the lyrics, in songs like The Wreck, it felt pushed to really uncomfortable and damaging extremes, And honestly, I didn't really like it.

And so I drifted. It was the new job and the new place to live as much as anything else. And, I mean, an annual fixture was still the Frightened Rabbit Christmas Playlist (Scott's version of Walking in the Air is murderously brilliant; Cheap Gold is one of my favourite things ever; It's christmas so we'll stop is so careful and devastating; and Boxing night, yeah, well, that's Boxing night.)

But fucking hell. There have been ups and downs, and hot patches and cold patches. But more than any other band in the last ten years or so, FR have been there, and Scott's lyrics have meant so much. They have connected with me emotionally. They have often been the support that I have needed. They have made me think. And they have delighted me in their cleverness. There isn't another band, I think, for which I can document their impact on my life in the way I can for Frightened Rabbit. 

And so, where we are now is in a fucking awful place, and I'm anxious like I've never been for a person I've never met. This is fucking awful.