One reason "The Office" worked so well with Michael (Steve Carell) was that Michael was a balanced character. He could be goofy and endearing, but also angry and vengeful. He went from happy and cheerful to darkly depressed. All the sides of Michael were funny in different ways, adding balance and variety.
Andy (Ed Helms), on the other hand, never really had that hateful sarcastic side. Until now. The Scranton branch sent our loveable manager on an "Outward Bound Wilderness Adventure" to build decisiveness and confidence, and he has returned a new man: filled with hatred for Nellie (Catherine Tate) and Toby (Paul Lieberstein)!
Let's let Creed (Creed Bratton) describe the episode for us. From his perspective, it was all about a "circus" in the parking lot of the dog food company, where he believes he works.
"A strong man crushed a turtle"
Kevin (Brian Baumgartner) crushed a poor turtle with his car and attempted to repair it, only to crush it again. He then created a new and improved turtle, but realized it had been dead the whole time! The poor turtle! How disgusting and horrible. This just happens to be exactly what "The Office" needed more of: A complete disregard for political correctness and people's feelings about cute little animals. Kevin even tried to convince himself that he doesn't want to eat Angela's cats.
"A lady tried to give away a baby that looked like a cat"
Pretentious, uptight Angela (Angela Kinsey) tried to find her cat, Comstock, a new home. Her new baby, which is not Dwight's, has allergies. She treated the cat adoption process as a baby adoption, complete with 20-minute interviews.
Oscar (Oscar Nunez) agreed to take the cat-child only after Angela mentioned that it's The senator's (her husband, played by Jack Coleman) favorite cat. Imagine Angela's horror if she ever finds out that poor Comstock will be confused by seeing his old daddy at his new daddy's place as they carry on a torrid affair behind her oblivious back! Angela is a horrible, judgemental person, so it's always entertaining when the writers are deliciously cruel to her, especially when she doesn't realize what's going on.
"There was a Dwight impersonator and a Jim impersonator"
Two new guys were hired, likely to fill the void after Kelly (Mindy Kaling) left for what she believes to be "Miami," but is actually Miami University in Ohio with Ryan (B. J. Novak) after her. The new guys, Pete and Clark (aka "New Jim" played by Jake Lacy and "New Dwight" played by Clark Duke, respectively) are basically younger versions of Jim and Dwight.
The thing that makes these guys so hilarious is that they are subdued and normal. They are not ridiculous enough to generate laughs on their own. Instead, the reactions of their counterparts to their presence are where the laughs come in. The new guys can be their bland selves, while Jim and Dwight attempt feats of bravery and greatness in hopes to outdo the perceived competition with their "rivals."
"I laughed, and I cried"
… but mostly just laughed. This new season looks to be a happy reinvention for the series. Andy's newfound backbone and hatred of Nellie for what she put him through add a level of evil sarcasm that balances the show and finds the darker side of hilarity. Toby just begs to be hated for not allowing Andy to fire Nellie. Toby is much too friendly and pathetic to be admired by Andy. Plus, it's way funnier when poor Toby is hated.
