The
Office, Season Two
Our rating: 3 out of 5
Rated: TVPG
reviewed by Shannon H
Working for a big company may seem like a challenge to some people; in
others, its a turn-off. For a select minority, working in corporate
closely relates to running off and joining the circus where there's
never a dull moment. The second season of The Office is just like
that; there's always something new going on each workday at the
fictional paper supply company of Dunder-Mifflin.
Regional director Michael Scott (Steve Carell) leads a group of
corporate underlings selling paper supplies to different companies while
making inappropriate (and sometimes sexist) comments at inappropriate
times. Michael finds the time to really get to know his boss, Jan
Levinson (Melora Hardin), after a meeting at a Chilis restaurant, which
some of his employees interpret as a sexual relationship. Threats of
downsizing pervade the first couple of episodes which result in someone
getting fired on Halloween. Dwight Schrute (Rainn Wilson) is still
annoying and funny as Michaels right hand man. He sparks up an alleged
romance with an accountant, Angela (Angela Kinsey), gives Michael advice
when purchasing his home, and tries to find an alleged drug user after
he spots a half-used marijuana joint in the company parking lot.
In this season, a new character is introduced; Todd Parker (David
Koechner) is Michaels old friend back when they were in sales together.
He is not a frequent character in the second season, however, he would
come in and make crude, sexual comments about the women in the office
and once pulled a very smelly prank on Michael (well, actually on the
carpet in his office). Unlike the first season, the second season is
raunchier. There's more sexual content, though most if it is implied.
Dwight asks Michael repeatedly if he slept with his boss; Jan. Todd
brags that he once slept with every woman in the office he worked in; a
topless blow-up doll is used as a prop during a sexual harassment
seminar. Pam Beesly (Jenna Fischer) never got anything from her fiancée
on Valentines Day but he comes in to her work, explaining that she was
going to get the best sex of her life that night.
During a barbecue at Jim Halpert's (John Krasinski) house, Dwight and
Angela snuggle with each other off-camera (both are clothed). Meredith
(Kate Flannery), who works as a supplier/purchaser, gets drunk at the
Christmas party and exposes her chest to Michael (her bare back is
shown; her alcohol problem is also played for laughs). Later on another
episode titled Booze Cruise, she allegedly fools around with the ships
captain and is shown wearing a life preserver over her bare chest.
Dwight finds out that an accountant, Oscar (Oscar Nunez), is gay and
lives with another man. There are more sexual innuendoes and references
than what is mentioned here. There are assorted cuss words such as a**,
b***h, hell, damn, and uses of the Lords name in vain.
There's no pro-Christian content in the show but there's no
anti-Christian content either. Its hinted that Angela is a born-again
Christian (she states that if she were stranded on a deserted island,
shed bring The Bible, a copy of The Purpose Driven Life, and a
copy of The Da Vinci Code as a firewood substitute). However, she
is rarely picked on because of her faith and no one criticizes her
because of it. People do dislike her because of her cold demeanor and
that she sometimes comes off as rude. Its suggested that Pam and her
boyfriend Roy (David Denman), who works in the warehouse, have sex at
the end of Valentines Day. As Christians, we know that pre-marital sex
is wrong, even in the realm of a marriage engagement. Although Oscar is
gay, there is no pervading gay agenda content (still, homosexuality is
unbiblical, one way or the other). During a Christmas party that
allegedly went wrong, Michael is seen in his office sighing and moping
while saying Happy Birthday, Jesus halfway under his breath. He also
gets the meaning of Christmas wrong; he believes it is about decorations
and presents and goodies, which is false.
It is also known by now (for people who regularly watch the show) that
Michael Scott has a talent for saying inappropriate things at the wrong
time. He has a burning desire to get married and start a family so he
signs up with an online dating service with a rather inappropriate user
name (will not mention here but it is associated with his love of
children). When a portly accountant Kevin (Brian Baumgartner) has a skin
cancer scare, Michael mentions to Pam that she should examine herself
for breast cancer (while they were at his birthday party at a skating
rink). When looking through employee suggestions, Michael finds one that
says that the company should look into helping employees with
depression; he scoffs at it until he finds out that the person who wrote
it committed suicide a year ago. Comments like these might turn off some
Christian viewers, as they are obviously played for laughs.
I loved watching season two; it was funnier than the first season (which
only had six episodes) but was slightly more objectionable. This is
definitely not for kids or preteens. I did find the sexual content
offensive as well as the comment made about the employee who committed
suicide after making a suggestion to help employees with depression,
particularly because my family and I suffer from depression (my
great-grandmother committed suicide because of it). However, I am
looking forward to watching the third season and fourth seasons and I
would recommend it, especially to anyone who works in a cubicle in a
human relations department.
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