It Gets Better

The Office

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M. Giant: A- | Grade It Now!

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It Gets Better

By M. Giant | Season 9 | Episode 21 | Aired on 05.02.2013

In a hurry? Read the recaplet for a nutshell description!

Things are changing fast around the Scranton branch. Jim has decided that his marriage is more important than his business after all, and is putting in some major face time at the home office. Almost the opposite is true of Andy, who has been spending so much time and resources chasing acting gigs that David Wallace comes to the office to fire him. Dwight has finally earned his black belt, which is bestowed upon him by his sensei in the bullpen. And Angela is nearing rock bottom, as the county has confiscated her cats from her tiny studio apartment.

In the meeting with Wallace, Andy informs him that he's leaving to pursue fame, and Wallace is relieved not to have to actually fire him. Hearing the news, Andy's coworkers line up to advise him not to pursue a dream they insist is doomed. Erin is the last straw that causes him to lose his nerve. By this time, however, Wallace is already decided on the new manager: Dwight. I don't know how Dwight is going to juggle his new responsibilities with the farm and landlording the building, but he's pretty pumped. And everyone seems sincerely happy for him as well, including Jim and Pam.

Seeing Dwight accomplish his dream, Andy -- now back in the sales department -- regrets having given up on his own so easily, and sets about burning every bridge he can. However, I think his coworkers will remember his affecting musical farewell the most. Well, not David Wallace, who finds something else to remember Andy by on the hood of his car. And probably not Toby, either.

Oscar watches helplessly as Angela spends the day in an accelerating downward spiral that includes secret drinking at her desk, getting evicted from her apartment and shopping for tents to live in. At the end of the day, he offers to let her and her baby stay with him for a while. Dude, that should have been the spinoff.

Almost-finally, Jim gets word that the startup is going national. Too bad that calls for a three-month pitch tour. But he's serious about making his marriage a priority and turns it down. Which Pam overhears, so I suspect she'll be proposing an alternate solution in a week or two. And finally-finally, Angela breaks down and confesses to Oscar that she's still in love… with Dwight. Hell, after the day he's had, who wouldn't be?

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Want more? The full recap starts right below!

No cold open; just full-length, re-edited credits. Jim & Pam seem happy, and he explains that he's taking some time off from his other work. Sure, the phone has been going crazy from Philly, but Jim says that doesn't matter; his marriage does. They've had some nice days together, after all. "Nice morning, too," Pam adds mock-shyly. "Beesly! Oh my God!" Jim says, mock-scandalized.

Andy finds Jim in the break room, and after getting help from him in picking a tie for a furniture ad, chats Jim up about how the Big Tuna is back here in the small pond. Jim admits that he finally realized he can't give a hundred percent to two things at once, which Andy can relate to: "Half the time I don't know if I'm wearing my stage makeup or my work makeup." Jim advises him to "go all in for what's most important. That's my new thing." Well, bully for you.

Angela comes slouching into the office sucking on an off-brand Big Gulp and looking like she slept under a bridge. Oscar asks what's wrong, and Angela says the county took her cats: "Two sacks' worth." Obviously she's completely distraught and feeling totally alone. Oscar reminds her that she still has her son. "I guess," Angela sighs.

Dwight comes in and makes a whole production out of announcing that he's just earned his black belt. He invites everyone to his black belt ceremony, which will be held here in the office over lunch. "Lunch not provided."

David Wallace shows up at Reception looking for Andy. Erin stalls, not because she's covering for him, but because she honestly can't remember if he's in the office. Lucky for both her and Andy, he shows up behind Wallace. Wallace THs that he warned Andy that he was on thin ice after he ditched work for three months, and now he's found out that Andy bought the company a photo printer that he's using for his headshots, and asked Wallace to pay for his cheek implants. Long story short: as much as Wallace dreads doing it, Andy's about to get fired. Good call, that.

Inside Andy's office, Andy complains to Wallace that he's not focusing enough on his acting career instead of his "stupid paper company job. No offense." Wallace asks if this means Andy's quitting to pursue acting. Andy isn't committing to that: "Could be singing. Could be dancing. I owe it to myself and my future fans." Wallace doesn't seem too disappointed to not have to fire Andy now, and wishes him luck. "Well, that kinda worked out," Wallace THs afterward. In what is going to end up being a running gag this episode, Creed weighs in on Andy's chances of making it in show biz by THing that anybody could be a star. Except Andy, that is. "Charisma black hole."

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