The Office (UK) "Judgement" (2001)

The first season finale of The Office (UK) ties up most of the plot lines that have been developed over the course of the season. I'm not sure if the creators knew there would be a second season or not but the series probably could have ended here. There's only one thread that gets no real resolution and is left dangling at the end and unfortunately it's probably the most important one, to the fans anyway. But we'll save that for last as the episode opens much as the premiere did with David showing someone around the office for the first time. Karen apparently had decided to remain at Wernham Hogg despite her disastrous interview. Jennifer Taylor Clark arrives at the office to deliver the news of which branch is being downsized into the other branch. David's discovery that Jennifer is being made partner and he is the next in line for her position leads to him agreeing to the job despite the fact that it means his branch will be downsized. After spending the season trying to assure the people of his office that no one would lose their jobs and resisting every opportunity to save his branch by cutting a few people he is now willing to sacrifice his entire branch for his own career advancement. When Jennifer points out he always had an affection for his employees and it might be hard on him to take the job, Brent quickly pushes the notion aside to state he will take it.

Not one to even try and stay ingratiated with his employees, he alerts them to the changes that will be made and even slips in that he's being promoted. Now that many of them won't be working for him anymore, he doesn't try to make sure they will still like him. In fact he really couldn't care less that so many will be losing their jobs despite his boastful nature throughout the season. He can barely comfort Gareth when he breaks down regarding the fact that not even he is safe from the massive loss of jobs. His personality change is just a stark contrast considering he was trying to get Tim to stay before he received his promotion. His motivation is probably more geared to proving he's a good boss than caring if Tim is still around, but he does show concern that he is leaving. Unfortunately for David it turns out he cannot take the job and tries to win back his employees by saying he turned it down for them. It should make a new interesting dynamic in the office next season now that the staff knows David doesn't truly care about their welfare and should make for some open hostility around the office.

Despite his somewhat ardent claims to the contrary Tim decides to stay at the office after receiving a promotion from David. The parallels between David and Tim in this episode are pretty apparent as Tim also sacrifices something (his dreams) for a promotion within the company that requires some selling out. Even when he is justifying his decision to Dawn, he either intentionally or not mimics phrases and inflections that David would use showing how alike the two characters are. Now Tim's exact motivation for staying is never really disclosed although he is still clearly pining after Dawn as he watches her dance with Lee. Maybe he figures he could still have a shot if he stays or maybe he allowed his fear for going back to school to retreat back to his comfort zone. It's ironic because right before he tells Dawn about his promotion, Dawn is relating in a talking head interview that she is happy she might lose her job as it will motivate her to look for something else. She states that Tim says it's better to be at the bottom of a ladder you want to be on than in the middle of one you hate and Tim has done exactly the opposite by accepting this promotion. Only time will tell if Dawn will take Tim's open job as she seemed to be seriously considering it once Tim told her of the opportunity. We're not certain of the Tim/Dawn future that lies ahead but at least they will continue to work together and that provides a glimmer of hope.

Favorite moment: Gareth's courting strategy of demonstrating on how to hit someone. He makes several aggressive swing gestures at her before knocking her down on the floor. Tim has already told him that she was completely out of his league and he attempts to win her over with this tactic. In the end though it seems to work as Gareth ends up getting the girl and Tim is left the only one not dancing with somebody else. I'm not sure if he's going to continue his lackluster pursuit of Dawn or search for someone else but he seems to silently make some decision as he gazes around the room. Only time will tell what that is.