The Office (UK) "New Girl" (2001)

After the previous brilliant episode regarding another mundane aspect of office life which leads Tim to decide it's time to call it quits, this episode changes the format slightly by showing us our office employees enjoying the night life. We got a glimpse of life outside the office in "The Quiz" but it was still the employees hanging out together at a work function. Here we get to see them interacting in a completely social setting which shows they are just as dysfunctional outside the office as within.

Brent has decided to hire a new secretary because he should not have to do his own filing, even though he is supposed to be looking to downsize the number of employees at his branch. He decides on an attractive woman who he is smitten with right from the start and proves that he pretty awful at flirting as he ends their first meeting with headbutting her and giving her a nasty bruise on her face. It's a good way to start off a new job, with your boss lusting after you and then assaulting you. I'm sure Karen (Nicola Cotter) will enjoy her tenure at Werham Hogg if her first day is any indication.

I think Brent's constant need to win over his employees stems from his own social inadequacies. In the office, the employees have to at least respect his authority, if not necessarily him as a person, but outside the office he is a virtual nobody who can't even pick up a woman in a bar known for loose women. I think this also explains why he's friends with Chris Finch, who despite being an offensive jerk, is able to win over strangers and pick up women due to his outgoing personality. Brent tries to duplicate that ability only to a detrimental effect. This is also why he takes Donna's disobeying his rules so strongly as she should respect his authority as both her guardian and her boss and she pushes some strong buttons during their argument in the bar when she points out he hasn't picked up anyone of his own.

It looks like Gareth is a bit lonely himself as he tries to force Donna to spend time with him for compulsory health and safety training. I'm not sure why just because he found out she slept with someone in the office his interest in her once again perks up. Maybe he figures she's more likely to sleep with him now that she has broken that seal with someone else. As another socially inept person, Gareth can't even command any kind of respect at work, let alone outside the office which probably explains why he latches onto Brent. They all make a nice little train of social awkwardness and even Finch looks incensed when he sees Ricky is dating Donna, who he found very attractive. Gareth says he is wary of loose women because of venereal disease, but I think he's just scared because he has no real experience with women. I'm sure it won't help his self-esteem and confidence that a woman who does come onto him is looking to find someone to bring home with her husband.

It looks like Tim is staying steadfast with his decision to quit Werham Hogg and things are a bit icy between him and Dawn. He reluctantly goes out on the town with his office mates and seems as lonely and out of place as the rest of them. He wants to go back to university and study psychology and make something of his life. Unfortunately he does not seem very enthusiastic about these plans and I think he may be second guessing his decision. It's hard to move from where you feel comfortable. I hate my job as much as Tim does but it's an daunting task to pick up and move everything and start over somewhere else. That's not to say it can't be done but it's definitely tempting to put those plans on hold in order to stay with what's familiar.

Favorite moment: David's argument with Donna has his boasting that he will be taking someone home to spend the night with despite the woman's claims to the contrary. She then inquires if the only reason he's been talking with her is because he wants to shag her. Brent, angered at her refusal, says he wouldn't from the front because her breath smells like onions. Of course she then proceeds to slap him. It was both a comical and sad scene all at the same time. Brent carries on with a straight face and acts if it hasn't fazed him. He's obviously very lonely but is able to hide it well under the guise of not caring.