Nepotism

by Courtney Hilden
Spoiler Alert!: Everything except the B-story line is spoiled in this review.

"Nepotism" the opening episode of The Office's last season with Steve Carrell, was about Michael hiring his nephew from a part of his family he is estranged from (which itself might have been a good story.) Luke, Michael's nephew, was every awful stereotype of "kids these days." He was lazy, he seemed almost gleefully incompetent (in a far more malicious way than his Uncle), and he liked The Boondock Saints. Given the audience make-up of this show, there was something strangely nasty about this character, and it felt like a commentary on those who actually watch The Office.
The opening, featuring (almost) the entire Office trying to make a YouTube video, was entirely too cute. And from there, the episode rolled from one great moment to another. Michael's stupid God and Jesus argument was another classic moment of Michael narcissism and stupidity. Most shows in their seventh season start to slow down, but this was a relatively strong episode, even by Office standards.
There was an unusually high amount of awkward-funniness. The spanking comes to mind. Michael's spanking of Luke was horrifying on some basic level, and then the various characters replicating the moment was awkward, especially Dwight's spanking of poor Andy, who has gotten metaphorically spanked enough on this show.
The episode contained a few surprises. The first was Gabe and Erin now in a romance. Gabe and Erin make a lot of sense, since both of them are so socially awkward and well-meaning. Erin acknowledging that she felt compelled to date him because he is her boss's boss was uncomfortable. It was also sad that the show has not (so far) alluded to what a problem in the workplace this is, especially for women. Part of me hopes Andy handles it as relatively well as he has so far, but part of me would love to see him descend back to that angry place he was when he first joined the show. Andy's anger problem was so tidily solved a few seasons back that it seems appropriate to bring it back, and show how a problem like that never really goes away.
Great lines of the episode:
"It got infected, even though I peed on it." -Michael, explaining an infection, completely unaware that peeing on something is for sting rays.
"Nard Man is my Father." -Andy, explaining why he is suppose to be referred to as "Nard Dog."
"What's up, Venus?" -Luke, to Phyllis.
"My favorite part of an ice cream party is the bagel chips." -Oscar
"He can swim in my pool; he can't come in my house." -Jo, explaining to Michael how she treats her nephew.
"He's totally going to get Pammed!" -Pam on her prank for Dwight.
"Everywhere I look it's Betty White this and Betty White that." -Creed, on Twitter.