In an unbelievably random, odd, and depressing coincidence, this episode came on today as I was trying to find something to fall asleep to. This was the same day I had to leave my grandfather's death bed as he is in the last stages of his life, suffering from malignant melanoma that has metastasized to his brain. I think the show was in very poor taste to not only have Michael mock the survivability of melanoma, but then to compare it to brain cancer is both crass and appalling. I am a huge fan of the office, and have seen every episode multiple times...but seeing this episode the same day I probably saw my grandfather for the last time as he dies from something that the writers felt was OK to mock and have Michael make fun of is just hurtful and something I think they could have handled better. I realize this is a comedy show and that the entire point is that Michael is an idiot and dispassionate and naïve about the things he says, but this episode really hurt. I feel the episode was wrong to use cancer as a means to highlight Michael's selfishness. While the statistics they mention, that melanoma has a 98% survivability rate, may be true...they should still have thought about the 2% that have experienced, or known someone that experienced the opposite situation. Overall one of the worst episodes of The Office.
1 out of 19 found this helpful.
Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink