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The Office Season 5 Episode 5

Employee Transfer

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8.4

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Episode Summary

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AIRED: 10/30/08

Michael helps Holly move following her transfer to Nashua, NH. Meanwhile, Pam discovers people at corporate are less enthused about Halloween than she, and Dwight agitates Andrew by applying to Cornell.

Fan Episode Reviews (7)

Holly leaves Scranton

8.5

By Lostindharma, Feb 11, 2013

No I did not know that Michael and Holly were dating.

Those were the words that ended the last episode. As a result of what happened, corporate decides to transfer Holly back. This was a decision that I didn't agree with. This was one of the few times I disagreed with David. If Michael can date Jan and other employees date each other as long as they sign some contract. Is it because Holly is in HR? I also understand that the women who played her was set to do only a certain amount of episodes. Michael and Holly decide to try a long distance realtionship. Darryl helps them move. What followed was entertaining and sad. Yes they break up. This was not a surprise giving the distance they lived. The comment that Holly made to the camera before she left about whether who should stay or go might have been a step in what would later happen in this episode. Amy Ryan did an exceptional job in this episode. How the break up was handled was done in such a way that didn't make you too sad. I also think that it didn't completely close the door on Michael and Holly. It was really nice of Darryl to try to cheer Michael up. I don't think there was any trace of sarcasm.

Meanwhile Jim decides to leave the office to see his brothers and Pam to have lunch together. It was nice to see Jim's family. I think the way Jim became who he is, his brothers became a big factor in it. Probably obvious statement but needed to be made. Great choices by the producers to play Jim's brothers. If you look closely they did the same camera thing that Jim sometimes does. The joke they play was cute but not over the line. It's rare you see Jim get flustered but he didn't get too stressed. How the brothers dismiss Pam's original joke was not mean either. Sorry Pam but I think that the brothers idea was better. I also liked that the brothers accepted Pam into the family although by text my have been a little impersonal. But that's just my opinion.

If you are wondering why Jim left with little resistance it's because Dwight decided to get under the skin of Andy by applying to Cornell. I love the ways Dwight tries to get under the skin of Andy. It's kind of like Jim would do. Their interview was probably just as funny as their interview in season 3. I said it before but anytime you put Andy and Dwight it's good for a lot of laughs.

If you have the DVD, the deleted scenes are worth checking out. How Holly says goodbye to the employees was Michael would do if were at another place for a short time. Kevin's goodbye was pretty funny. Also the start of the episode was pretty funny. Creed was probably the best joker but Dwight was the funniest.moreless
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6.5

By Canogaparkcindy, Oct 07, 2010

Although this episode was eventful, I found myself missing the laughs I used to get while watching this show. It's weird to think that the season premiere was a very strong premiere, and now 4 episodes later, we start getting a mediocre start to the season.

Maybe Holly leaving was just what this show needed to get better, who knows? The thing that has annoyed me was that the episodes lately weren't so much focused on The Office, but instead focused on Michael's love life, which isn't entertaining or funny, eventful: yes, funny: nope. The Andy & Dwight scenes were definitely the highlight, Dwight is going back to himself after how out of character he was in the last episode. Dwight actually tried to get Angela and stay in character, which is always good considering we've got right out of anger management, Andy in the plot, which was absolutely hilarious.

The Jim & Pam plot was neither here nor there, I did laugh a bit but it was rather forgettable. Okay episode of The Office, definitely better than the last episode.moreless
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An okay episode.

5.4

By thefanof, Aug 09, 2010

Okay, don't alert the media I'm not saying this was a great episode but it did have its moments. The interview between Andy and Dwight was great, reminiscent of Dwight interviewing Andy about becoming his Assistant to the Regional Manager upon Dwight's promotion, only the roles were reversed this time. The final moment with the pulling of the table was excellent.

And you can't forget Creed's line saying Cornell and was pronounced "colonel". I don't understand why the writers won't give him more lines.

The Pam/Jim stuff was okay here, but Michael/Holly was hard to watch. What has happened with Steve Carell? He was always overrated to me, but he's just insufferable now. Any chance he had of winning an Emmy has long since evaporated.

So, not the worst episode ever. I like that they just had one Halloween scene in the beginning rather than devoting a whole episode to it but there is still plenty of room for improvement.moreless
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If you watched this episode, this would have to be said with unbearable laughter. A typical 'The Office' episode.

8.0

By lexacliche, Nov 01, 2008

It amuses me how close Jim and Pam are. That 'good friends' relationship they have going is very cute and it's nice to see Jim stick up for his woman even to his brothers. That just goes to show how much a perfect match Jim and Pam are. See Jim, you didn't really have anything to worry about by Pam partying with her friends, Roy was just being a jealous ex. So with respect to Dwight and Andy, we all know that the squabble between them was because of Angela, for Dwight anyway. Boy does Angela have a taste in guys, they both have that goofy-immaturity thing in common. It does present nice entertainment for Angela, to watch Dwight and Andy act like well round teenagers, for Dwight it's nothing but his natural behavior.

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My funny scene:

Holly, Michael and Daryll in the moving Van 'Holly just begins to cry out of nowhere'

Michael- "Did Daryll touch you?"

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My favorite plot line(s):

*Jim's brothers criticizing Pam and her art work, their little prank towards brother Jim, which I didn't think would have been funny but would have only ended up insulting Pam, but his brothers came off goofy, definitely not like Jim. I especially loved the part where Jim comes off to be like Pam's hero not afraid to stick up for her. I'm glad they still maintain that friendship throughout the series.

*Holly and Michael crying to the break-up, though Michael is known for his crying (Cocktails, when Jan tries to have her way with Michael at the party). Daryll himself couldn't put up with their outburst as he calls someone to get a taste of the outside world or to hear anyone else but them which I thought was a typical 'the office' scene, but just as captivating. -----------------------------------------------------

It's sad though to see Holly and Michael break-up for Holly was the woman version to Michael and the only person I think could ever put up with Michael. I hope this isn't the end of the two, but of course we could have expected that to happen seeing as the guy from corporate found out about their 'relationship' from last episode (Crime Aid). This was another good episode, then again I've grown to appreciate every episode from the office.

Of course I couldn't forget to mention Kelly and Ryan at the beginning. Is Ryan finally getting used to Kelly, or is he just resentful of the fact that Kelly is no longer paying him the attention he needs. Michael barely pays him any attention, probably too preoccupied with with Holly and Kelly, well is too preoccupied with 'making-out' with Darryl in front of him, anyway Ryan is just out of place in the office and is looking for that connection again. At least Jan would be okay with Michael's break-up with Holly. Even though Holly and Michael didn't take it so good. Let's sing the blues.

________________________

Three of of four stars

________________________moreless
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Holly trasnfers back to Nashua.

9.5

By momentum1, Nov 01, 2008

I was very upset when I found out Holly was transfering, she hasn't been on that long and I really like that character. Other than that though, this episode was very funny. I loved the cold open, and Creed at the Joker, although I would have liked the whole episode to be Halloween. It was funny when Dwight was bothering Andy about Cornell, but it seemed like something that Jim would do to Dwight as a prank. Also I loved when Michael, Holly, and Darell were singing on the car ride up. This was a very funny episode but I am upset about Holly,they should have had an episode before this talking about her transfering because it came way to soon.moreless
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Cast & Crew: STARS

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Steve Carell	Michael Scott
Rainn Wilson	Dwight Schrute
John Krasinski	Jim Halpert
Jenna Fischer	Pam Beesly
B.J. Novak	Ryan Howard
Brian Baumgartner	Kevin Malone

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Cast & Crew: RECURRING AND GUESTS

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Tug Coker	Pete Halpert	Guest Star
Blake Robbins	Tom Halpert	Guest Star
Amy Ryan	Holly Flax	Recurring Role

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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TRIVIA (0)
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QUOTES (7)
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- Michael: In the last ten years I've dated almost four women.
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- Dwight: I'm applying.
  Andy: C'mon, you think you could get in to Cornell?
  Dwight: Well, if someone who barely outsells Phyllis can get in, I should be fine.
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- Ryan: You look amazing.
  Kelly: Inappropriate—thank you. Who are you, Larry King?
  Ryan: Gordon Gekko.
  Kelly: Oh, from the insurance commercials!
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- (Creed enters the office in a Joker costume)
  Oscar: Wow! Awesome.
  Creed: Let's put a smile on that face!
  (Kevin gets up in a similar, but less well-done, costume)
  Kevin: Damn it, Creed! I've been up since four!
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- Dwight: Cornell is an excellent school. Without its agriculture we probably wouldn't have cabbage—at least not modern cabbage.
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- Andy: I called Admissions, and it looks like I will be conducting your University interview.
  Dwight: That's a conflict of interest.
  Andy: Yeah, big one. So, should I not let you in now, or do you wanna do the interview, and then I won't let you in?
  Dwight: Interview.
  Andy: Excellent. When the hour glass strikes three, then in the room whence employees confer.
  Dwight: What?
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- Creed: [Cornell]'s pronounced kernel. It's the highest rank in the military.
  Andy: It's pronounced Cornell. It's the highest rank in the Ivy League.
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NOTES (2)
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- The French episode title is "Mutation difficile", meaning "Difficult Transfer". The Spanish title is "Traslado de empleada", an exact translation.
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- Music: "Life is a Highway" by Tom Cochrane
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ALLUSIONS (3)
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- Playing with the truck's radio prior to leaving for the road trip, Michael claims "those Duke boys are at it again," pretending to be a sheriff after Bo and Luke Duke from The Dukes of Hazzard.
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- At the beginning of the episode, Creed tells Oscar, "Let's put a smile on that face," taken from Christopher Nolan's 2008 film, The Dark Knight, while dressed as the character who said it, The Joker. Dressed the same, Dwight later uses another line from the movie, "Wanna see a magic trick? I'm gonna make a pencil disappear."
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- One of Dwight's three heroes on his Cornell application is Jack Bauer, who's the protagonist on FOX's 24.
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