Review of Charity

The Office: Charity (2002)
Season 2, Episode 5
10/10
Saturday Night Madness...
15 January 2009
Generally, when one thinks of Comic Relief, special charity episodes of Britain's top shows come to mind, often not considered part of the series' official continuity (the Rowam Atkinson-starring Doctor Who spoof from 1999 is one of the best - and funniest - examples). When it came to The Office, the event was seamlessly incorporated into the running plot of the second season, with shockingly amusing and amusingly shocking results.

As the characters explain, they have a Comic Relief day every year, and on that occasion all kinds of games and other fun stuff are organized to raise money. It also gives people the opportunity to indulge some of their sillier (though harmless) fantasies, such as the huge Keith showing up at work dressed as Ali G. The presence of the BBC cameras doesn't really change the situation, save for the fact that Tim, among others, uses his free moments to express his frustrations. Meanwhile, David's fall from "greatness" reaches absurd levels.

Just how absurd it can get is well known to any fan of the show, as this penultimate regular episode features the now infamous "David Brent dance" which, alongside "Freelove Freeway", has become one of Ricky Gervais' most popular skits whenever he appears on talk shows or similar programs. The scene is painful to watch, but at the same time it's also funny, even if in a very wrong way, and it sets the tone perfectly for what will happen in the season finale. Oh, and for once the best line comes from Martin Freeman, referring to the appalling dance: "We don't have to make a donation for that, do we?" How right he is...
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