Last week I mentioned that I was less-than-impressed with this season of The Office. I caught up on the last couple episodes this week. The entire time I was thinking about why I feel the disappointment that I do. I still really enjoy the series, and it continues to be better than a lot of other stuff on tv. When I watch it I still laugh. There is just something different about it. I have great memories of the second and third seasons. Those seasons were able to capture a sort of magic that has been missing since.A television series that goes on for several years allows you to spend so much time with the actors in their roles. This is great when you want to create depth and really explore all aspects of the characters. However, there is only so much depth that can be achieved, and then you are tasked with maintaing consistency. The Office did a really good job of creating the characters. Even the secondary characters are fully realized. However, now the secondary characters are only there to deliver their same old quips. They each have their own quirks, and all of their jokes have to play on that. It is still funny, but it is starting to feel stale. I don't know how much longer that formula will continue to work.
