The Return (The Office)
"The Return" | |
---|---|
The Office episode | |
Episode no. | Season 3 Episode 14 |
Directed by | Greg Daniels |
Written by | |
Featured music | "Up Where We Belong" by Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes |
Cinematography by | Randall Einhorn |
Editing by | Dean Holland |
Production code | 313[1] |
Original air date | January 18, 2007 |
Running time | 28 minutes |
Guest appearances | |
| |
"The Return" (originally titled "Oscar's Return"[2]) is the fourteenth episode of the third season of the American version of The Office and the show's 42nd overall. In the episode, the office celebrates the return of Oscar Martinez (Oscar Nunez) who had been on vacation since the first episode of the season. Meanwhile, a recently departed Dwight Schrute (Rainn Wilson) finds a job at Staples.
The episode was written by Michael Schur, Lee Eisenberg, and Gene Stupnitsky, and it was directed by series creator Greg Daniels. Actor Oscar Nunez returned to The Office after having left to film the television series Halfway Home. The annoying personality of Ed Helms's character Andy was noted by multiple observers, and even irritated the actor's own mother to such a degree that she could not watch the episode. "The Return" marked Helms' departure from The Office until the season's nineteenth episode "Safety Training".
For its first American broadcast on January 18, 2007 on NBC, "The Return" aired to an estimated 10.15 million viewers according to
Plot
Having quit Dunder Mifflin,
Meanwhile,
When Angela Martin (Angela Kinsey) finally reveals to Michael that she was the cause of Dwight's secret visit to Corporate, Michael realizes his error in forcing Dwight out and goes to Staples to ask him to return to Dunder Mifflin. Angela was worried that Michael would realize the two were involved in a romantic relationship, but Michael believes that Dwight saved Angela out of loyalty to the company. Dwight returns to the office and, much to his delight, thinks Oscar's welcome back party is actually meant for him.
Karen has noticed how much fun Jim and Pam had together during their prank on Andy; she confronts Jim and asks him if he still has feelings for Pam. Jim nods as he quietly says yes and Karen walks out of the room, visibly upset. Meanwhile, corporate sends Andy to anger management where he plans to get out of the 10-week program in five weeks through his usual charms: name repetition and personality imitation.
Production
"The Return" was written by Michael Schur, Lee Eisenberg, and Gene Stupnitsky, while series creator and executive producer Greg Daniels directed and Dean Holland edited.[3] The original title of this episode was "Oscar's Return",[4] a reference to the reappearance of actor Oscar Nunez, who had temporarily left the series after the season premiere. Nunez spent the interim working on the Comedy Central series Halfway Home. It was the last episode Daniels filmed before the Thanksgiving holiday, the start of an eight-week break for the cast and crew.[5][6]
Then-president of NBC Entertainment
"The Return" was later rebroadcast with "Traveling Salesmen" as a combined hour-long episode, on March 15, 2007.[2] NBC added previously unaired and re-edited scenes into the episode, which was perceived by one commentator as a method to "boost the ratings during the content dearth known as repeat week, giving its replays a creative twist".[10] Greg Daniels explained that in addition to the attempt to attract a larger audience, "it's about giving something extra to our wonderful fans…their loyalty must be rewarded somehow, and we don't have the budget for 10 million muffin baskets."[10][11]
Cultural references
Andy tells Michael he is going to "get my
Reception
"The Return" first aired on January 18, 2007 in the United States on NBC. According to
Beginning his review,
Entertainment Weekly contributor Abby West praised Angela Kinsey's performance, noting that she "brought wonderful contradictions to her prickly office priss".[12] West also enjoyed the love triangle for being "so skillfully kept as the subplot it should be. It is as much due to the light touches of the three actors as to the writers... It's refreshing that Jim and Karen have mostly been so mature and honest, but that's a sure sign that the relationship will devolve, because the setup for the success for most long-term TV romances requires miscommunication and no confrontation."[12] In his review of the third season, Travis Fickett of IGN highlighted a scene of the episode; he commented, "Watching Andy slowly meltdown when he can't find his cell phone is one of the better moments of the season."[18]
References
- ^ Wilson, Rainn (December 13, 2012). "Remember all of these? #FinalSeason". Facebook.com. Retrieved December 13, 2012.
- ^ a b "NBC's Hit Comedy 'The Office' Works Overtime with Never-Before-Seen Moments in 'Newpeat' Episodes on March 15 as Well as an 'Office Marathon' on March 29" (Press release). The Futon Critic. March 9, 2007. Retrieved January 26, 2012.
- ^ Universal Studios Home Entertainment. The Office: Season Three Disc 3
- ^ "UPDATED LISTING FOR NBC'S "THE OFFICE" 01/18-07" (Press release). The Futon Critic. January 18, 2007. Retrieved January 26, 2012.
- ^ Flannery, Kate (January 17, 2007). "January 18, 2007: Oscar's Return". TV Guide. Archived from the original on September 13, 2012. Retrieved January 26, 2012.
- ^ Flannery, Kate (January 11, 2007). "January 11, 2007: "Traveling Salesmen"". TV Guide. Archived from the original on May 31, 2009. Retrieved January 26, 2012.
- ^ Adalian, Josef (January 18, 2007). "NBC's Reilly guests on 'The Office'". Variety. Retrieved January 19, 2007.
- ProQuest 411386992. (subscription required)
- The Negotiation". The Office. Season 3. Episode 19. NBC.
- ^ Buddy TV. Retrieved January 25, 2012.
- ^ Welsh, James (March 12, 2007). "NBC plans 'Office' "newpeats"". Digital Spy. Retrieved January 26, 2012.
- ^ a b c West, Abby (January 19, 2007). "Dwight at the End of the Tunnel". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved January 25, 2012.
- ProQuest 422116621. (subscription required)
- ProQuest 433491898. (subscription required)
- ProQuest 269475744. (subscription required)
- Buddy TV. Retrieved January 25, 2012.
- ^ Sciannamea, Michael (January 29, 2007). "The Office: The Return". AOL TV. Retrieved January 25, 2012.
- ^ Fickett, Travis (June 1, 2007). "The Office: Season 3 Review". IGN. Retrieved January 26, 2012.
External links
- "The Return" at NBC.com
- "The Return" at IMDb