For me this was the funniest episode for season 8 so far, in a season that has been quite good considering the departure of Steve Carell. The garden party has plenty of laughs all the way through. Don't miss the scene into the credits. James Spader continues to show that he was an excellent choice to add to the cast. The good aspect is, that he is not over-used, so his screen time is always a highlight. This cast change reminds me of M*A*S*H. When mainstream actors left that series, they didn't attempt to duplicate the characters. They successfully created new characters. In this respect, the Office has reinvented itself a little, and this may add years to its longevity. I can easily see it running to season 11 or 12 now.
Review of Garden Party
