The List Review

I was very apprehensive about this season.  Very.  Based on all the speculation before hand.  I'm still a little iffy about the season as a whole but at least this episode gave it promise. 

First of all, this episode kinda felt like was a midseason episode and not the premiere.  Though, I could see this as the second episode to last year's finale.  The weird part is that season seven started with an air of finality to it.  This year felt like every other mid-series beginning.  Makes me wonder about the future of the show. 

Anyway, right off the bat, James Spader.  Groan.  I hope he isn't in it too much.  I find him rather annoying.   I don't like that he's got a preconcieved notion of everyone.  He comes off as a snob and he seems as though he's trying to be intellectual but it comes off as pretentious.  Maybe that's the point?  I don't know, I don't want to see a lot of him. 

So, they made Andy manager.  Really?  I mean...really?  It's interesting though--that one, they've totally, totally made him the new Michael Scott.  And two, he was endearing enough and not *manager* enough to really bother me.  In fact, Spader felt more like the *manager* to me.  Andy was kinda the buffer.  And, there is a vast difference between Michael Scott being the center of the show and Andy still being another character.  Granted, Andy did get a little more screen time, which I did feel bogged it down some, but his sweetness kinda balanced it out.  It'll be interesting.  And as long as they keep away from the Andy/Erin romance, I think it'll be just fine.

I really loved Jim and Pam in this episode.  Jim still seemed like Jim to me and though he didn't have much to do, he was featured often and I'll always take that.  Pam, just, aw, Pam.  I love her so much.  I love pregnant Pam.  I love how emotional she got.  I hope they have some good pregnancy story lines that they didn't give to her in season six.  Also, the tag, beautiful.  A sweet underscored JAM moment, something that was greatly missing in season seven and to an extent season six.  I kinda hope that they can keep that up and that Jenna's absence doesn't mar it too much. 

I didn't miss Michael.  I didn't miss Steve Carell.  I think his leaving did give everyone else a little more spotlight time and I enjoyed that.  The b cast all got some good moments and hopefully the trend will continue.  Oh, and Angela's pregnancy was definitely underscored.  Maybe she's faking.  Ha! I hope.  I'm not sure I'm excited about that one. 

Grade: B.  Solid B.  Not much of an epic premiere and Spader's gonna be a pain but the elements of the show are still there and it can still be funny, sweet, and endearing.