As Michael's time at Dunder-Mifflin comes to a close, he begins to panic when the reality of having no job hits him.
Tropes
- Call-Back:
- During his last days at Dunder-Mifflin, Michael drinks scotch with Splenda. In "Cocktails", Michael asked for Splenda to go with a priceless scotch that David Wallace had shared with him.
- Michael tries to call Prince Paper for a prospective job, only to find that they did indeed go out of business thanks to him.
- The office finally got a new copier in after complaining about how broken the old one was in "The Surplus".
- Comically Missing the Point: Michael tells Andy he's starting his own paper company, to which Andy replies "In this climate?"Michael: Yeah, in all climates! It's going to be worldwide.
- Didn't Think This Through: There's an old adage that goes "the best time to find a job is when you already have a job." Michael doesn't even start looking into new jobs until he has four days left of his two week notice, and the one place he could think of, Prince Family Paper, had already gone out of business thanks to him.
- Distinction Without a Difference: When Pam says she doesn't want to be a receptionist, Michael suggests "Executive Assistant", which is essentially the same thing.
- Dumbass Has a Point: Pam goes with Michael because one of his desperate pleas actually hits home. Her current job makes her feel unfulfilled and underutilized.Michael: Come on! Are you doing your best here? Are you being the best that you can be?
- Horrible Judge of Character: Charles shows himself to be this, asking Kevin of all people to fill in as the receptionist and appointing Stanley the new "productivity czar".
- Humiliation Conga: Pam goes through a pretty huge one this episode, being forced to set up a new copy machine all by herself with the rest of the employees hassling her the entire time. This causes her to finally decide she doesn't want to be a receptionist anymore and join Michael at his new company instead.
- Oh, Crap!: Michael finally realizes what not having a job will mean when he converses with one of the applicants for his old job.Michael: Where you from?Isaac: Philly.Michael: Phew! That's a drive.Isaac: Yeah, well, this is one of the few places that's hiring. It's brutal out there.Michael: (smile gradually becomes less genuine)
- Pyrrhic Victory: Pam spends the entire episode determined to properly install the new copier. Finally, she proudly declares that the copier is set up and she knows all the ins and outs... only to realize she doesn't feel any satisfaction from it, and it ultimately makes her realize just how unfulfilling her receptionist job is.
- Screw This, I'm Outta Here: Against her better judgement, Pam walks out and joins Michael.
- Surprisingly Realistic Outcome:
- Michael did not anticipate how slim his chances of getting a new job were, especially at the height of the Great Recession. To that extent, none of the salespeople are willing to join Michael's new company because startups barely last a month with the state of the economy and Michael has absolutely no business plan.
- When Charles finds out that Michael is using Dunder Mifflin resources to start his own competing company, Charles has him walked out on the spot.
- On that note, the security guard's loyalty is based on who is in charge, not who's been there longer.
- Michael's last words to his former employees, which he shouts from outside the building, are not heard by them, though the ones at the window can tell he's trying to say something.
- Wham Episode: After Michael is escorted out, Pam suddenly decides to leave her job as well and follow him, putting an end to the era of "Dunder Mifflin, this is Pam".
