Quick Take: The Office, “The Search”
“Her personality is like a three. Her sense of humor is a two. Her ears are like a seven, and a four. Add it all up and what do you get? 16. And he treats her like she's a perfect forty.” - Erin, about Holly
Review: The Office, “The Search”
(S0715) In this week’s episode of The Office, Michael is back in the spotlight and it made me realize how much I am going to miss Steve Carell when he departs from the show. Before going on a sales call, Michael confronts Holly about how long he has to wait before they start dating. She tells him she isn't sure that they will date again and doesn’t know why he thinks it is meant to be. Michael is hurt and leaves with Jim. After they make their sale, Jim goes to a gas station so Michael can go to the bathroom. Jim gets a phone call from his mother-in-law telling him she locked the baby in the car. Jim panics and leaves Michael at the gas station... with Michael’s wallet and phone in his car.
Michael heads inside the gas station to make a call, but can’t remember any of the office numbers (how long has he worked there?). He decides to try to find Dunder Mifflin on his own instead. Back at the office, Jim calls Pam and tells her what is going on. Holly decides to be the one to go and find Michael. Erin wants to go too, just to keep an eye on Holly. It is sweet how much Erin cares about Michael and pretty funny the way she hates Holly. Dwight decides that Space Orphan and Princess Nincompoop will not find Michael on their own so he goes with them as well.
What ensues is a chase around Scranton trying to find the lost Michael. While the three of them search, Holly starts to mimic what Michael had done on his journey. When they had stopped at a store, Holly was filling out a form at a cell phone booth with a fake name so she could get a free stress ball. The sales lady told her she had someone else do that earlier with Dwight and Erin recognizing the fake name as one of Michael’s aliases. Dwight seemed to think that Holly sub-consciously knew where Michael was at. At one point, Dwight even yelled in her face to Michael that they were coming for him, but Holly just though they were coincidences.
When the search turned up empty-handed, Holly went to the roof of a building nearby with Erin following her. At the top, she finds Michael. He explains he was looking for Dunder Mifflin and Holly had the same thought. Michael tells her he missed her and she finally confessed she missed him too. She gives him permission to kiss her, with Erin looking on with a smile. Erin’s silent approval made the moment even better.
The subplot in the office involved Gabe being made fun of by everybody else, but I could have cared less. There really wasn’t a reason for it. This episode was devoted to Michael and Holly and it was such a relief to see her finally realize they are a match! I hope they stay together as it will be cruel of the writers to create such a sentimental episode and then take it all away later.
Video: The Office, “The Search”
Check out the episode in full from Hulu, while available:
I hope Erin and Michael stay together as well Erin! I think it's a fitting end for Michael's arc to finally find a woman he is happy with and who is obviously perfectly suited for him.