Official Episode Description:

“Moroccan Christmas”
Phyllis’ (Phyllis Smith) Moroccan-themed holiday party goes up in flames when Meredith’s (Kate Flannery) hair catches on fire and Michael (Golden Globe winner Steve Carell) is forced to deal with the accident. Meanwhile, Dwight (Rainn Wilson) corners the market on the hottest toy of the Christmas season.

The last “Office” of 2008 was an interestingly odd mix of subjects for the show. Sure, the staples of awkward humor, office politics, and a few good belly-laughs were all present, but in a very odd mix.

The show takes place entirely at and around the office Christmas party, which has a “Moroccan” theme this year thanks to Phyllis. She pushes Angela all throughout the night, forcing her to do menial tasks in order to keep Phyllis from spilling the beans about her affair with Dwight.

The booze get out early, and Michael is happily feeding them to Meredith until she gets so drunk she catches her hair on fire. Then he decides its time for an intervention.

Meanwhile Dwight is selling Christmas dolls on the black market to “lazy parents”.

Things get out of hand with each story in different ways.

The intervention doesn’t really go well – mainly because no one really cares about Meredith or her drinking problem…except Michael. He’s determined to help her – no matter how much she might resist.

It goes so far that he tricks her into going to a rehab clinic, then physically chases her down and drags her kicking and screaming in the facility, only to discover that he can’t leave her there unless she wants to stay…so he has to driver her home.

Dwight sells dolls to parents throughout the show, and Toby (in an attempt to win points with his daughter) calls up his little girl to see if she wants one – of course she goes nuts, and Toby is convinced he will be a hero. He goes to Dwight…and finds out he’s just sold the last one to Darryl. Toby begs Darryl to let him have the doll, and Darryl agrees to sell it for twice as much as he paid. Toby agrees, sees the doll, then discovers that its a black version of the toy.

Phyllis’ demands of Angela get increasingly mean throughout the episode, and Angela finally calls her bluff in the closing moments of the show. She tells Phyllis that she doesn’t believe she’ll tell because she’ll no longer get to be the head of the party planning committee. Phyllis cowers and walks away – then turns and address the entire office, telling all of them that Angela has been sleeping with Dwight.

Andy, was continently in another room learning to play an instrument, and didn’t hear – but everyone else did, and now they all know the truth…except Andy.

Pam and Jim were almost non-existent in this episode, only getting a few lines in. For the most part the show was good – but the personal boundaries that seem to be continually violated this season are really off putting to me. I don’t dislike the show, but I’m growing more uncomfortable with some of the things they’re doing as characters.

Still – not a bad episode, and it is certainly going to be interesting to see what the new year brings to the fine folks at Dunder Mifflin Scranton.