‘The Office’: Mixing it up, Angela-style

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With so much focus on Jim (John Krasinski) and Pam’s (Jenna Fischer) relationship and Michael’s (Steve Carell) antics so far this season, it was nice during last night’s “The Office” to see a few changes in the way the characters typically interact. Of course, there was still some obligatory Michael ridiculousness as he held an obnoxious pizza delivery boy hostage, and some unnecessary Jim and Pam bonding time on the office roof, but otherwise, the new interactions were welcome.

For once, for instance, we got to see Stanley (Leslie David Baker) smiling and having a good time as he danced in his seat to the music on the new Dunder-Mifflin website. He stopped and became dour again as soon as Phyllis (Phyllis Smith) pointed it out to him, but maybe we’ll see a happy Stanley again come pretzel day.

Meanwhile, Phyllis was no longer willing to bow to Angela’s (Angela Kinsey) fascist dictatorship of the party planning committee. It was a great decision on behalf of the writers to have Angela only ratchet up her rudeness in response to Phyllis’ attempt to use tips for working with difficult people — and then totally gratifying to see Phyllis finally use a little physical violence, which Angela obviously sorely needed.

Then came a random new angle in which Michael bullied and insulted Angela all episode, calling her “pipsqueak” and so on, made even better by Angela’s near-zero reaction to it. Michael’s ongoing battles with Toby (Paul Lieberstein) have always been amusing and it’s funny to see his bullying side come out again, seemingly for no reason.

And in another Angela-related development, Andy (Ed Helms) inexplicably set his sights on the frigid blond as a romantic partner. It doesn’t really make any sense, considering Andy’s fratboy-type background and Angela’s uptight personality, but it was nevertheless entertaining to see his method of wooing: ice sculptures and conference-call a cappella singing is certainly a unique way to a woman’s heart.

Dwight (Rainn Wilson) was frustrated with Angela’s continued rebuttal of him (although this relationship -- if it is over -- needs to be put down, like her cat Sprinkles) and in his pursuit to sell more paper than the new website, he snapped at Kelly (Mindy Kaling), who was defended by Derek (Craig Robinson) from the warehouse. Kelly’s old relationship with Ryan (B.J. Novak) is another one that needs to go away already if it’s not going to happen, so the sparks with Derek, who is always hilarious during his brief appearances, were welcome.

Finally, even though this isn’t really a new interaction, it’s one viewers haven’t seen in some time: Michael and Dwight bonding in a reflective moment, not one of hysteria. Michael either mistreats his devoted No. 2 or lets him participate in his hare-brained schemes (like taking back gift baskets to punish former clients). Of course, driving to New York to steal sushi as an act of revenge for not getting invited to the Dunder-Mifflin party was not exactly normal either, but it seemed sort of right to see the two of them in a brief moment of quiet satisfaction as they ate contraband sushi on the hood of Dwight’s car, even if it was in the midst of another ridiculous day at the office.

-- Claire Zulkey