Michael Scott is many things. Childish, stubborn, moody, flighty, and cringingly embarrassing are just a few of them. However, one thing that that Michael is not is stupid when it comes to business. Fleetingly seen many times before, those moments of clarity have been superseded by an embarrassing moment that made us turn away from the TV. This week, though, we got a taste of how business smart Michael could be.
Actually, we’ve seen this over the last few weeks as Michael’s life has gone ass-over-elbow while he tried to start his own paper company. While viewers have seen flashes of the Michael that we have grown to cringe at, more of the time has been spent growing as an independent business person as well as a human being. It’s been refreshing to see him in this light (which will probably fade as early as next week’s episode) because its displayed what he can do on his own.
“Hold on a frakkin’ minute,” you’re surely yelling to yourself right now. “How can you call him competent when he couldn’t even keep his paper company afloat!?” True, Michael is not the greatest when it comes to money. But, that’s not what I’m talking about here. I’m talking about his savvy when it comes to schmoozing the clients and getting the deals. He has always shown that, awkward or not, he has a rapport with his clients that keeps them his clients for many years.
“Wait another frakkin’ minute,” you’re practically shrieking to the screen while your co-workers stare at you. “The man just went out of business after only four weeks; yet you’re declaring him a success? You’re stoned!” Again, I’m not speaking about Michael’s visions of grandeur here, which can be beyond the wildest realms of grand. Even though his statement about ‘opening up another paper company, and another, and another…’ smelled of craziness he was really laying down the foundation that he would always be a thorn in Dunder-Mifflin’s side and could pick away at its clients until they had very few left in the Scranton area.
Asking for his job back and requesting Pam be moved into sales was not only quite adult of him (especially the Pam part), but it was also the smartest move he could have made. Not only did it put him back in the setting he was most comfortable in, but it also gave him the avenue to kick Charles out of his kingdom. Most importantly, it allowed Michael to gain back the respect he quickly lost when David dropped the Charles bomb on him a few weeks ago. And, that’s all he really wanted when this all started.
Will this new-found competence last? Oh, absolutely not! For Michael Scott to gain some clarity would be the death knell of The Office. I am sure by the time this week’s episode airs Michael will be right back to his old big, embarassing child ways that we have all grown to love.
Clacked by Richard Keller 
on Apr 28, 2009 @ 09:00 EST5EDT
This was a really strong episode, but I am sad that the detour into the Michael Scott Paper Company is over so soon. I think it could have been developed into something really cool; either way, I’m sure however they decide to use it will be good for the show.