The Office (UK) "Episode 4" (2002)

Things continue to progress at Wernham Hogg with Tim and Rachel getting closer, Dawn's agony over their happiness becomes more apparent and David continues his spiral into the lower depths of human behavior. This season certainly has a higher audience interest in the characters except I think a little too much time is being spent on David Brent. There was a greater balance in season one of featuring all the regulars. David may have received a little more attention than the others but now in season two the ensemble element has been diminished and it has become all David Brent all the time. This wouldn't be as bad if the character hadn't become so unsympathetic. He had his moments in the previous season but here he continues to dig himself deeper and deeper into pathetic and desperate behavior. He was inappropriate but still amusing, now he has degenerated into a hostile and bitter individual. The character's not any fun and like the employees of Werham Hogg, the audience rolls their eyes when he comes onto the scene. It is a testament to Ricky Gervais's bold style that he can imbue the character with such detestable qualities with no hint of compassionate worthy behavior. Another actor might want to make the role a little more fun and cheery to be popular with the audience, but Brent could be an actual person and some people are simply deplorable.

Neil drives this behavior as now more than ever he seems to have it out for David. He tolerated him, much like it seemed Jennifer did last season, for the first half of the season, but now Neil becomes aggressive and critical and is quick to call David out on his behavior. Neil is warranted in his critiques but it appears that he is acting this way just to bust his chops. He yells at him in front of everyone and dresses him down publicly which is something he took offense with when David did it in "Episode 2". He does it again with Gareth in the room after he finds out that Brenda (Julie Fernandez) has not received her wages for the month. It's almost as if he couldn't wait to lecture him about something else and he is clearly posturing himself so David knows who is in charge. He can't be totally to blame as David has been asking for it all season and ignores each warning and wastes every new chance he has been given, but Neil as a manager should try to be a little more impartial.

Not everything is gloomy in the office however as Tim and Rachel seem to be getting on very well and are getting pretty intimate right in the bullpen in front of the others. I'm glad Tim is happy but this behavior seems a bit inappropriate for him. He does get defensive when Simon (Matthew Holness) makes a jibe about he has gone off Dawn. He clearly doesn't want Rachel to be aware of his past attraction and I think even he doesn't want to admit it publicly and his immediate change in demeanor is a clear example of that. It is heartbreaking to see Dawn agonize over their relationship. She is taking his involvement a lot harder than he took hers with Lee. She is constantly glancing over at him and is in pain when she sees him with Rachel.

Dawn isn't the only one distressed over this new office romance as Gareth cannot believe that Rachel would choose the Fisher-Price looking Tim over him. He's certainly in denial about the evidence he has already seen that the two of them were getting involved and still holds out hope for getting with Rachel anyway. His reaction to the two of them making out in the office is hilarious and a complete contrast to the uncomfortable outbursts of David. Gareth comes off as silly and grandiose compared to David's cold attitude. He may not find a soul mate with Rachel but he certainly gets along well with Simon who has a similar personality to his own. It's good to see that everyone has someone they can turn to in the office no matter their personality.

That is true for everyone except David Brent who discovers that his employees have been calling him "Bluto" or "Mr. Toad" behind his back. He makes another one of his patented speeches trying to distill he is their friend which only serves, again, to make them like him even less. No wonder he forces the training consultants to go out with him after his disastrous speech because in reality he has no one else. Please David, we beg you, you need to clean up your act. Neil has it out for you and your employees certainly don't have your back.

Favorite moment: Once David finds out his nicknames are mostly derived from his portly frame, he tries to get the office to target someone else. His nomination is Keith who he points out is larger than him plus he wears glasses. Keith, without saying a word, just stands there and chews his gum. It's a hilarious sight and cements Keith as one of those players who should get more screen time and limit the Brent over exposure.