Robert California takes over as CEO and Andy is promoted to the new regional manager. The staff finds out that Robert has a page in his notebook separating everyone of them into two lists. The group goes crazy trying to figure out what it means.
Tropes
- All for Nothing: Andy spends the entire day fighting to get the office a half-day off for Columbus Day weekend, only for Stanley to inform him as they're leaving that they already get that every year.
- Hidden Depths: After Robert makes the "Winners"/"Losers" list based on making small talk with each worker, Andy sits him down to tell him things about the "losers" that can't be gathered from first impressions of them. For instance, even though Stanley seems like a lazy grump, he actually has the most consistently high sales numbers in the office (which Robert admits to having been unaware of). Meredith doesn't take "no" for an answer, Pam is an exceptionally kind soul, and Erin has a strong sense of loyalty.
- The Klutz: The final shot of the credits, which is typically the manager pushing a figurine into place on the desk, is now of Andy accidentally pushing his figurine off the edge.
- My Friends... and Zoidberg: When Andy begins telling Robert how everyone on the "losers" side of the list is actually a great person, the only person he doesn't convince Robert to change his opinion on is Gabe,
who pretty much everyone considers a killjoy and has a fierce rivalry with Andy. - Paranoia Fuel: In-Universe. The list makes everybody crazy trying to figure what it means, as some believe Robert is making lists of who he intends to fire.
- Pet the Dog: After Andy decides to finally exert some assertiveness as manager and make a case for everyone Robert put down on the "losers" column, all of the employees show their respect to him by wishing him goodnight as they're leaving.
- Put on a Bus:
- Jo, as of this episode, retires and gives her job to Robert California.
- Averted with Gabe who was supposed to leave for Florida after the previous season finale, but apparently remained in Scranton for an unexplained reason. As the episode Trivia, as well as a
Deleted Scene in this episode, reveal, he now travels between the Scranton branch and the head office in Tallahassee on a daily basis.
- Screw This, I'm Outta Here: Robert took one look at the office and it was enough for him to back up, go to Jo, and somehow convince her to give him her job.
- Time Skip: Quite a few months have gone by since the manager was changed. Robert got Jo's job and Andy got Michael's. Pam is pregnant again and so is Angela.
- The Reveal:
- Robert California was the one chosen by the search committee as the new manager. However, on his first day, he took one look at the office, drove to Tallahassee, and convinced Jo to make him CEO of Sabre. A pan-up to the manager's desk reveals that Andy is the one finally instated as regional manager.
- The meaning of the list: Robert has divided people between "Winners" and "Losers". He however specifies later that he is making that list based on first impressions, and that he wants to see the winners prove him right and the losers prove him wrong.
- There Are Two Kinds of People in the World: Robert essentially divided the group like that, winners and losers.
- Wham Shot: A floating head segment reveals that Pam is pregnant again.
