The Office (UK) "Episode 5" (2002)

Comic Relief Day hits the office during which a turning point occurs in Dawn and Tim's relationship and David's behavior all season finally catches up to him. The second season continues to impress with this penultimate episode where it's heaven for David since comedy for charity permeates throughout the country. In fact everyone gets in on the fun, except for Tim, initially anyway, as he doesn't see the quiet dignity in this type of charity work as opposed to people raising funds for something that has directly affected them. The highlight of the day was clearly Neil and Rachel's disco dancing duet which was a very well rehearsed dance routine which won over the entire office and again spurred David's jealousy over Neil's popularity. It was nice to see a more relaxed atmosphere in the office after so many episodes this season with tension-filled scenes, mostly of David's doing. It's ironic that this was the most integrated he appeared with the staff all season, aside from a few inappropriate comments about testing disableds to make sure they're not swindling money and that very unique dance routine of his own. It all came crashing down on him as the writing on the wall that has been broadcasted all season finally come to pass.

Jennifer returns to the office for a report David was to put together and, of course, he blows off this requirement as he has done continually despite Neil's increasing number of warnings. He is again dressed down by Neil and given a formal reprimand, strike one as it were, while Jennifer silently sits, like the audience, and watches as David gets what has been coming to him all season. He brazenly welcomes all three warnings at once because he believes the staff will mutiny if he's fired. I'm sorry but how can he be so deluded as to think the staff will risk their jobs for his? I know he likes to think of himself as the glue that holds the office together, but talking about his job, the truly serious nature of the circumstances now facing him should break through that thick head of his. Brent has crossed out of the realm of realism as anyone else would start to fear for their job. No person could be so unaware of what's happening and still continue on with this adolescent behavior. You want to feel for him as he is losing his job, the center of his universe, but it's near impossible after how he's acted all season. I'm sorry, Mr. Brent, I realize how desolated you are but it's of your own making and only you could have prevented it.

On a lighter note, Keith, dressed as Ali G no less, reveals to Dawn that Tim used to be interested in her, that is before he found someone better, the lovely, bubbly Rachel. Dawn has to have suspected that possibility prior to her conversation with Keith, but it's not real until you get confirmation from a third party. Armed with that knowledge, she pushes for the kiss when Tim pays a quid for her Comic Relief Day antic and while it was brief, it certainly epitomized the spark that has existed between them since the first episode of the series. Right before they are about to go for a deeper kiss, they both pull away and are clearly embarrassed about the passion just about to surface. It certainly puts Tim on edge as later he is uncomfortable around Rachel and tries to focus on his work. Hopefully this impromptu smooch will be the catalyst that will ignite a new relationship between the two as they both clearly want to be with one another and while they may be happy with their current partners, they belong together and maybe now they will realize it. One more episode left to the season to see if Dawn and Tim finally get together and David can find a way of saving his job.

Favorite moment: Certainly the biggest splash was the Dawn/Tim kiss however the biggest laugh came from that other kiss. Of course, the one I'm talking about was between Tim and . . . Gareth! Crossing a line that the Jim/Dwight relationship in the U.S. version would never dare approach, although he did joke about it once, Tim began to feel up Gareth as foreplay to his kiss for a quid and then left him alone before planting one right on the lips. It certainly lit up Dawn's face, she even had to wipe away a tear (from laughter or jealousy?) and was the comedic highpoint before all the serious story lines began to climax.