(Season 5, Episode 9 – “Frame Toby”)
Why, oh why, does Michael hate Toby so much? It borderlines on the hilariously nonsensical because Toby has never really done anything wrong. Sure, he’s a little mousy and probably not the kind of guy who’d be a blast at happy hour after the work day is done, but he’s not evil. Of course, that’s what makes it hilarious. I think we can attribute some percentage of Michael’s horrid behavior to the emotional fallout from Holly’s transfer.
In fact, Toby’s return was pretty much the only plot of the entire episode. Personally, I’m glad to see him back as Michael actually works pretty well with his own Moby-Dick. It was interesting with this episode, because with Toby’s return Dwight settled back into his role as Michael’s lackey. I know he’s never completely abandoned the role, but he’s not been playing it nearly as much this season. Probably distracted by the relationship between Andy and Angela.
But he was back in wingman form for Michael tonight, convincing him to stage a fake drug bust on Toby. Dwight is at some of his best when he’s like this, going along with something and getting himself all excited and into it for really no reason. He has no animosity toward Toby except that he knows Michael doesn’t like him.
In fact, for this episode, things were almost back to the way they were near the beginning. Except for Dwight using his name for his tip-off phone call, there was no Andy Bernard at all. Pam was back at her desk interacting with Jim, Ryan was treating Kelly like shit and Michael was trying to get Toby fired.
It was interesting that Pam put the sign up about the microwave, and more interesting that they emphasized that only Angela thought the sign sensible. Even Jim was “inching away” from her when talking about it. Has her time in New York changed her? Will it start to impact her relationship with Jim? I keep worrying about that because they seem just too perfectly happy still.
As an example, Jim buying his parents’ house without telling her was the perfect opportunity for her to show some doubt or unhappiness, or even just pick a fight. But it didn’t happen; creepy clown picture or no. I’m not rooting for it to happen, because I still really really like the happy Jim-Pam relationship, but I just wonder how long television writers can keep this going with minimal to no tension. Can they let them be happy?
Clacked by Jason Hughes 
on Nov 21, 2008 @ 19:51 EST5EDT
the best instance of the Michael-Toby dynamic was the “Prison Mike” episode where Toby explained to Mike that Dunder-Mifflin wasn’t like a prison at all. Nice sweet exchange between the two – of course that episode was written by Gervais & Merchant, which would probably why that scene was so deep and rich (that’s what she said).
Jim said that they “weren’t that couple” so I think they’ll be fine. Monica and Chandler got married on Friends and their storylines were funnier. I don’t know why people think a couple ending up together is the death of their chemistry. Married people are hilarious.
There was too Andy Barnard, he was having a big conversation with Jim about how and his missus have no secrets
Why does Michael hate Toby? Because as HR rep Toby is Michael’s foil, the one who always tells him no, that his behaviour is unacceptable in the workplace. He even hated Holly at first for the same reason.
I loved Michael doing the drug deal. It reminded me of Larry David buying weed from Hurley on Curb, only Larry actually got weed and not salad.
Maybe Jim/Pam is some big metajoke where the joke is that we, the viewers, keep expecting turmoil at every turn and because of that the writers will keep giving us perfect opportunities for the breakdown…and then it never comes. They’ll just be fine and get married and everybody will be happy but it’ll be torture getting there because we’ll be looking for the turmoil at every stinking turn.