The crux of The Office's emotional resonance has always been its ability to humanize its characters. This means something a little different for each one. Entire seasons have been devoted to cracking Dwight's creepy Teutonic shell and revealing Michael's good qualities despite his obvious flaws. I feel like this season has been spreading into more ambitious territory, such as exposing the ignoble elements of Jim's character and deconstructing the layers of awkwardness that keep Andy not-so-secretly miserable. "Koi Pond" was a funny episode to be sure, but it was also a surprising study of a few characters we've mostly taken for granted.

So, long story short, Michael falls into a koi pond on his way into a sales call. But there's so much more to it than that. In fact, this episode has me wondering how much of Michael's extensively humiliating past has some kind of hidden depth. We're so used to watching this character make a fool of himself that we just assume he's a clown. As this episode demonstrates, every pie to face starts with somebody throwing it.

Jim has been attempting to settle into his new position as co-manager of DM Scranton, but his job seems to mostly involve looking like a jackass and getting nothing done. He was certainly more effective as a slacker salesman. So, when the higher-ups decide that Michael should accompany him on a major business deal, he takes it personally. Much of the episode surrounds the rest of the office making fun of Michael for doing something so buffoonish as falling in a giant koi pond (and killing one of the fish in the process), but the big secret is that Jim could have stopped it. This reveal comes on the heels of a lot of business as usual, which makes it so much more disarming. Michael gets over-sensitive to the mockery, he calls a pointless staff meeting to encourage a cutback in office cruelty and it all just blows up in his face. For most episodes, that would be enough. That twist at the end makes the episode not about how hopeless Michael is, but how much of a jerk Jim is capable of being. This is something viewers have been saying for years, but now the show is directly addressing it.

In a rather satisfying B-plot, Pam and Andy are sent on a series of cold calls on account of their abysmal sales record. Together, they tank the opportunity by creeping out their prospective customers with various adverse reactions to the misconception that the two of them are a couple. Again, these are not new jokes. Andy is frequently oblivious to social faux pas and Pam is consistently mediocre at any moment of ambition. The extra layer on top of this one is the roundabout way in which Andy reveals his aspirations for a good and simple life as a loving husband and a father. This puts Pam in the unlikely position of matchmaker to Andy and Erin, who are actually quite smitten with each other. I'm on record as a big fan of Erin and I think the writers have eased her into the show with admirable grace, so I look forward to the impending romance plot. The Office has been in dire need of geek love ever since Holly left.

Best Moment: I'm splitting this one into two. First, the Halloween cold open was, just like last year's, excellent, especially since this has been a particularly Darryl-light season. But I also enjoyed Michael and Jim's moment of camaraderie in the break room at the end.

Biggest Laugh: Meridith's addition to the "No Mock List". I knew it was going to be something sexual, but that didn't take away from the comic genius of the phrase "Sex with a Terrorist".

Episode Rating: 4.5/5- The episode was funny and deceptively low-key. It wasn't spectacular, but there was a lot to love this week.