The genius at the center of the US version of The Office has always been its keen understanding of the way corporate life can alter a person's mindset. Trivial things become matters of extreme importance after so many months or years of drudgery. This week the trivial thing was a volleyball tournament at the annual Dunder-Mifflin picnic. It's pretty telling that, as a viewer, I cared a lot more about the outcome of that tournament than I did about the many real-life dramas going on around it. This is not to say those dramas weren't deeply rewarding on their own.

But before we get to that, how about that cold open? It was not only funny, it also set the tone of the episode by highlighting its central theme. Namely, teamwork. As Jim phrases (and rephrases) it, Michael ate an entire family-sized chicken pot pie for lunch and promptly fell asleep at his desk. Given this golden opportunity, the entire staff at DM Scranton bands together to pull off a ruse that, in hindsight, was probably more clever than it needed to be. They changed every clock Michael would possibly see to read 5:00, including his watch and the clock in his car. When Michael drives away, everyone cheers and congratulates each other. It was a rare moment of office-wide camaraderie.

Still stinging from last year's softball fiasco, the Scranton branch is out for revenge in the company volleyball tournament. Their secret weapon? One Pam Beasley, secret volleyball enthusiast with nearly two decades of experience under her belt. By the end of the episode winning isn't just about a petty victory in a host of small lives, it's about the triumph of the little guy.

See, DM Corporate has revealed itself over the years to be populated almost exclusively by unscrupulous people with souls long ago sold for minor luxuries. Charles Minor is back and he seems to have completely thrown professionalism aside so he can take bitter digs at all the misfits from Scranton. He's not the real snake here, though. As is often the case, David Wallace gets to be the bad guy. In this episode, Corporate looks extra dastardly next to all the excellent examples of teamwork while they dismiss and degrade their own employees.

Because it's a company-wide picnic, Holly makes an appearance. What results are a number of painful, longing (and extremely geeky) exchanges between her and Michael. They even put together a skit chronicling the history of Dunder-Mifflin through the lens of Slumdog Millionaire. In the process of entertaining their audience, Michael and Holly unwittingly inform the Buffalo branch that they are all losing their jobs. It was an excellent payoff for a deeply embarrassing bit that, minus the pathos at the end, wasn't terribly funny.

While Michael chickens out about telling Holly how he feels, the Scranton volleyball team faces a disaster. Their star player twists her ankle and the jerks from Corporate insist that she seeks medical attention just so they can win. Jim spirits Pam away to a nearby hospital while Dwight stalls the match in increasingly funny ways. The episode closes with what is probably the last surprise this show is going to be able to squeeze out of Jim and Pam.

Best Moment: I know PB&J have their detractors, but how can you be negative about the look on Jim's face when he gets the news? I've said it before and I'll say it again, Jim and Pam's life together is inextricably tied to Dunder-Mifflin. So far, every major event in their romance has happened at work or at a company event.

Biggest Laugh: James Urbaniak playing Dwight's best friend, as well as Toby and the other HR guy. I'm a sucker for impressions and I love the idea that there is an entire sub-species of human for every archetype on The Office.

Episode Rating: 4.5/5- The drama was great and there were plenty of laughs, but I wish more members of the cast were given some time to shine. I mean, no Kelly at all? I feel robbed. And, as always, I'm sad to see another season of The Office come to a close. I'll be back next season, horribly distant time that it is.