Is Dwight looking for a way out of The Office?

Make no mistake about my intention in my title: in no way am I suggesting that Rainn Wilson is bailing on the show (unless he is, in which case….) Rather, my question goes to Dwight’s plot on last night’s episode of The Office. Is his story heading in a direction that might lead him out of the Scranton branch? Could it be?

Let’s think about it. Dwight’s never concealed his ambition, very publicly butting heads with Michael numerous times over the years. He even left Dunder Mifflin for a time and went to work at Staples. So it’s certainly possible that he’s feeling antsy now that yet another person has been put on top of the pyramid ahead of him. No surprise there.

But was his interviewing for the printing manager position merely Dwight being Dwight, or are we witnessing the beginning of a plot arc that’s actually heading somewhere this time? Could Dwight be ready, willing, and able (that last one’s questionable) to take a job and/or a promotion that takes him away from Scranton? I think it’s a good question, and is a definite possibility. What do you think?

Meanwhile, his actual experience in Florida was really awkward. Something about the time he spent there … I don’t know; it was very un-Dwight. Index cards for his pitch, and a hesitant, halting presentation? That was totally not the Dwight that we know. He should have eaten Gabe for breakfast (And, by the way, did they really need to make it impossible for us to escape Gabe? It’s funny that no one wants him around, and so he commutes from Pennsylvania to Florida multiple times per week, but did he really need to be there when Dwight was?) Anyway, I’m glad that Robert rejected his application, but I think the door is very wide open for Dwight to grab another opportunity in the future. Or to get fed up and leave.

Back on the home front, Andy’s push to meet his quarterly sales figures dovetailed nicely with Oscar’s trivia night. Not sure why anyone in the office would agree to go all the way to Philadelphia for the tournament, and then turn over all their winnings to their boss, but it was a fun night regardless.

How could Andy be so mean to Kevin so many times in one episode? First of all, if you can count on anyone to make an accounting error it’s Kevin. Granted it likely won’t be the one that you wanted in the beginning, but then wouldn’t it be better for Andy to not be entirely complicit in the fraud?

Then at the bar, why couldn’t Andy just let Kevin stay on the “A” team — which it wasn’t really, except by default — instead of being mean? Andy deserved to be shown up the way he was in the end — better would have been if Kevin refused to hand over the winnings — but Kevin didn’t need to be insulted like that. Not cool, Andy.

And not a good episode. Better luck next time!

Clacked by Aryeh S.
on Jan 13, 2012 @ 16:51 EST5EDT