The Office has a problem surrounding the bankruptcy plot introduced in last week's excellent episode. It wouldn't serve the show or any sense of realism if that plot blew up or was otherwise resolved in a short period of time. That doesn't make for very good TV, especially comedy. Watching the slow collapse of Dunder-Mifflin necessitates watching the company's board of directors tread water and stall for time. Where are the jokes in that premise? If "Shareholders Meeting" is any indication, the answer is few and far between.

That said, this episode wasn't exactly bad. It had a number of fun moments, but I feel like more opportunities were wasted than taken advantage of. My biggest disappointment for the evening was the non-event of Oscar's botched big moment. He spends most of the episode decrying the irresponsible spending and poor management decisions of the higher-ups at Dunder-Mifflin, but when Michael gives him a chance to shine in front of the board he just clams up and runs away. It's been particularly apparent this season that Oscar is one of the few decent, intelligent people at the company and I've never wanted him to transcend his dead-end accountant's life more than I do now. I really hope to see him have a moment of triumph by season's end. If it's anyone's turn, it's his.

Other than that, the conference mostly consisted of predictable spotlight-hogging on Michael's part. Sure, it was amusing to see him do "the spin" and I liked the frequent reminders that, despite everything, Scranton is still the company's most successful branch. There were no revelatory moments, though.

Back at the Scranton office, Jim comes to realize that nobody respects his new co-managerial authority. Even Pam needs a reminder to stand by her man. I think the comeuppance against Ryan at the end was supposed to feel a little petty and empty. Sure, Jim exercised his first act of authority, but it was directed at an intern who nobody really respects anyway. Sure, Jim was pleased with himself at the end of the day, but there's still not much joy in carving out a measly fiefdom at a dying company.

Best Moment: Half the office rushing downstairs to gawk at the limo. DM Scranton is at its best when it is unapologetically provincial.

Notes: The occasional empty promise by the board of directors to make Dunder-Mifflin carbon neutral was a nice (if possibly unintentional) send-up of NBC's forced "Green Week" shenanigans, tonight's too goofy opening bit included. Also, I hope beyond hope that Creed's love interest, obliquely referred to in the break room, surfaces as a larger story in future episodes.

Episode Rating: 3/5- The episode was light on laughs and didn't take all the best of its opportunities, but The Office is still The Office. A mediocre episode of this show is better than most of what's on TV at any given time. I'll just assume "Shareholders Meeting" was a setup for much more interesting material down the line, at least for now.