Endgame

It's now clear how The Office is going to end.  The show is moving toward the unveiling of the documentary that has been shooting the entire time.  In the latest episode, "Promos," the workers watch internet ads for this upcoming show.  And they don't like what they see. Only now do they realize the filmmakers have caught all sorts of secret and unsavory moments.

As I've noted before, the whole idea that anyone is shooting a documentary is an embarrassing fiction.  Characters leave the office, go to private places, and there are still three or four cameras following them. Is a government funding this project?  Best to just ignore the whole documentary angle, which other shows such as Parks And Recreation and Modern Family have figured out. Instead, The Office has decided to rub our faces in it. I can't help but think this absurd plot turn will only take away from the comedy and the heart that they're hoping to deliver.

Meanwhile, there's also what must be the final episodes of Community unspooling.  This year, without creator Dan Harmon, has been a huge disappointment.  The characters have changed just enough to miss the magic of what they once were.  The latest episode, "Herstory Of Dance," was better than usual, but still fell short.  For example, Britta, in political opposition to the Sadie Hawkins dance, offers her own Sophie B. Hawkins dance (in the same auditorium).  She meant to say Susan B. Anthony but got it wrong, and won't back down.

In the past, Britta has been politically correct, and made plenty of mistakes, but she wasn't an idiot. And, as far as not backing down, that's more Jeff's character.  I'm not saying the show isn't fun, but it's never masterful, as it often was in the past.