Kevin On The Office Is Retarded
A couple of weeks ago, I wrote an open letter to The Office, explaining that while the show was great and funny, someone, or possibly a group of people, had taken one too many Whoops pills before the casting session, because the character of Kevin is both hammy, unfunny, unrealistic, and annoying. Unlike the rest of the cast and characters, Brian Baumgartner talks in a funny voice, makes intentionally stupid faces, and just generally sucks the enjoyment out of any scene he's in. While all of that is true, and has been true for some time, last night's season finale seemed to want to make my point for me.
When Toby leaves (big mistake, Toby is great), he's replaced by Holly (OMG, it's Beadie!), and at first Michael decides he hates her because she's replacing Toby and he hates Toby, so Dwight decides to haze her on Michael's behalf. This results in the unfortunate storyline of Holly thinking that Kevin is mentally disabled for the entire episode. The problem with this is not just that it's mildly offensive and not particularly funny, but that it also highlights the fact that Kevin's character, as he's been written and portrayed throughout, makes it perfectly possible for this confusion to last FOREVER.
Here are Kevin's scenes from last night:
ENOUGH. End it, The Office. It's bad enough that this was a half-hearted season full of go-nowhere, hard to believe plotlines (Jim suddenly loves his job? Stanley tears down the conceit of the whole show for one episode?) and mounting incredulity towards the structural integrity of an endless documentary that we shouldn't also be subject to this hackneyed nonsense. I will accept unbearable acting, cultural insensitivity, and characters so unfunny you wish them bodily harm from Under One Roof. But I expect more from you, The Office. In the words of an ex-girlfriend: "I wouldn't say I'm angry, I would say disappointed."
Posted by Gabe at 12:11 PM
Tags: Brian Baumgartner | Ed Helms | Greg Daniels | Jenna Fischer | John Krasinski | Michael Scott | Ricky Gervais | Stephen Merchant | Steve Carell | The Office
why do you watch a show you seemingly hate?
Score = 3
Why can't I like the show and still feel that there are horrible flaws with it that I wish they would address?
Score = -2
That's perfectly acceptable. I don't believe that they'll do anything. Most comments I've read are that Kevin crusading for parking spaces and Beadie thinking Kevin is mentally challenged were very funny plotlines, and I agree. Also, a lot of people think that the post-strike episodes are some of the strongest in the show's run.
Also, Jim doesn't really care about his job. Ryan told him to shape up or be fired, and since Jim was planning on proposing to Pam, he didn't feel it was the right time to go about losing his job.
Score = 3
Jim has a revelation in this episode, that his life has become intertwined with the job. I think its really about how he wouldn't be with Pam if it wasn't for the job. And I think when he makes that little speech, he decides he doesn't want to just roll over. Also, Toby is getting a spin-off show, I think. Paul Lieberstein (aka Toby) is one of the shows writers.
Score = 2
Look, at the risk of being "that person," the American version of the Office just sucks. I've watched about a dozen episodes, and even after the nostalgia for Ricky Gervais wore off and I allowed for the possibility that Steve Carrell might be doing something funny, just different, at any rate everyone else on that cast just acts like a quirky person being quirky for the cameras, and not in an "I'm not used to being on tv because I am an office worker" kind of way, but rather in an "I'm a character actor working really hard at being a quirky person who works in an office" kind of way.
Score = -1
Ugh. That person.
Score = 1
that Kevin as a retard misunderstanding is the funniest thing I have seen on the Office this season..........I laughed til it hurt........and then to think he thinks he is going to bang Holly........ingenious !!!!
Score = 4
John Doe has got it right. The Kevin misunderstanding is definitly the funniest thing this season has had to offer.
But i'll agree that they are definitly setting this joke up to last forever, which is going to suck. I will also agree that getting rid of Toby is a big mistake. Although mostly because of Michael's behaviors and actions toward him. Outside of the Michael/Toby dynamic, he really isn't all that amazing.
Score = 2
Best episode of the lot. The show never recovered from the Jim and Pam getting together. That there was sitcom suicide. Loss of that tension opened them up for garbage story lines. Plus Michael has been too big of an asshole.
Score = 0
I love Kevin... he reminds me of my retarded co-worker.
Score = -1
Loved the final episode.
Jim and Pam had to get together or drop the charade already. There comes a point where being cloy actually becomes annoying. The changes with Jim and his attitude towards the job are about reality setting in. Jim is realizing that this is really his life. He isn't above it, no matter how much he thought. Their dropping too many moments in which he gets his ass handed back to him when he is given authority. Michael is Jim, 10 years later.
Score = 0
I'm so going to bang Holly.
... Hilarious!
Score = 2
I think the conceit of the fake documentary is something that either takes a great leap of faith by those who were enamored with the BBC version or isn't so hard to deal with when you hold it as a superior (in a lot of ways) sitcom format.
Arrested Development somehow managed to get three seasons out of it and the Office is going on 5 - the format's worked for a while.
Also, and I've felt this way about shows and bands before - sometimes you've just got to set it free, if it's frustrating to such a point. Doesn't say anything bad about you or the show - just that one's tastes have evolved beyond what the show can provide.
Score = 0
Well of course you find the plot ridiculous, its supposed to be a documentary about a paper company. Thats not plausible. So you're disappointed it went from unrealistic to slightly more unrealistic? Get over it. I do agree with the Kevin comments though, he sucks the life out of most scenes.
Score = 2
tigermachine has it right, losing the jim and pam tension has totally screwed the office. sure, it was great to see jim leave karen and make the move, but there are no other subplots strong enough to fill that void. they tried using jan and michael, but that was absolutely miserable. jan being unstable as a plot was funny when it was overshadowed by more important and funnier plots, but it SUCKS as a main theme.
besides that, i'm a fan of kevin being misunderstood as retarded, but I do agree that he's been less-than-enjoyable this season. but, kevin wasn't always talking in this weird voice and being so obnoxious, in the quality years he was just a typical, lazy, subdued guy who had very funny mannerisms. i don't like the way he's going now though. i think it's fair to say that the office is on its way to totally jumping the shark if it hasn't already.
Score = 0
I've seen all of the BBC and NBC episodes, and don't understand why there is such animosity from fans of the BBC series. The NBC version is not supposed to be a copy, and Ricky Gervais and Stephen Mechant are exec-producers. So, if you're slamming the NBC series, you're also slamming Ricky and Stephen. Ricky Gervais actually said that Steve Carell is funnier; I don't agree, I think both versions are awesome, yet unique.
Score = 1