The Office (UK) "Training" (2001)

This is my favorite episode thus far. Putting all the characters into a conference room together for some mandatory training was a pressure cooker just waiting to go off. Eventually someone did and it was both hilarious and glorifying. Of course Brent decides he needs to prove that he could run the training session himself and feels the need to co-lead the session to the growing annoyance of Rowan (Vincent Franklin). I feel bad for these people who come in to train office employees in procedures because having been in such sessions I can tell you we couldn't care less. I think it's worse when they try to spice it up like a performance because then it comes off that they're trying too hard. Just try to make it not boring. Rowan looked like he was doing okay if not for Brent's incessant meddling and when he does try to involve him in the proceedings he goes off in wild directions outside the bounds of the exercise.

The Rowan/Brent conflict pales in comparison to the Dawn/Lee fight with everyone trying to offer their own advice, comments, etc., none of which succeed in helping Dawn at all. It was nice to see Tim comforting her and doing a nice job until Gareth decided he needed to interject his personal view of the situation. I know in my office I really can't stand when one person inserts themselves into a disagreement two other people are having. If someone asks your opinion, then fine, but please don't try and involve yourself just because you have nothing better to do. Sorry, mini-rant over. I just wish we had a better understanding of why Dawn is with Lee. After the previous episode where she seemed very unsatisfied regarding Lee's plans for their future, the huge argument they have here which has her bursting into tears and considering calling off the engagement, it begs the question of what are they together for. It may just be that we never see the good moments, although we do get a glimpse of their reconciliation, but I always have a problem in these situations where a character is with someone, just so someone else who has feelings for them can't be with them. Just some kind of acknowledgment Lee and Dawn care for one another would be nice.

There were some great bits in this episode mostly related to the training sessions. Peter Purves was in the training video. Most people may know him from Blue Peter, which is mentioned by one of the characters, but I know him as Steven, companion of the First Doctor. That's two episodes in a row with Doctor Who references. Brent taking over the morning session with his guitar playing and songs that he wrote including Tim's informing us that he went home to get it was a great addition to the episode. It was nice to see Brent actually win over his underlings for once as some of them seemed to really like his songs. It's also as likely they were looking for something to distract them from the training but either way he had their favor however briefly. Tim and Gareth being paired for a problem solving exercise was I'm sure Tim's worst nightmare as he would try to work through the problem logically and Gareth would twitter on about the unrealistic problem. Tim's sarcastic answers to his questions only fuels even more griping. And the funniest moment of the episode had to be when Gareth walks back into the room and Brent tells him they are playing the "ultimate fantasy" game. I knew exactly what would happen but Tim's expression and his statement that he surprisingly wanted to hear more from Gareth was utterly hilarious and perfectly suited to the characters.

Favorite moment: Tim's breakdown where he realizes he can't take anymore of his mind-numbing job and he quits on the spot. How I would love to do that and even imagined doing it in a meeting with my department. It's just so liberating I think to finally say "This job sucks and I can't take it anymore" and of course in front of an audience would make it more worthwhile. I liked his snap at Gareth about he's a twat when he corrects his pricing figures. Unlike Jim and Dwight, I think Tim actually hates Gareth and it's just one more reason why he can't take it anymore. Riding high after giving his notice, Tim does the march back in and asks Dawn out figuring she's broken up with Lee for good. It comes crashing down, much like the realization later of quitting his job, when she informs him, in front of everyone, that she's still with Lee. His obvious embarrassment and quick covering end the episode and turns a comical moment into a suddenly serious one. The Office (UK) works on two separate levels: both in the realm of what normal people would love to do in their own offices and the inevitable real-life fall-out that keeps us from doing it in the first place.