Whedon Heads Back To Dunder-Mifflin

Here’s the thing with guest-directors when it comes to TV shows. If the director is any good at their job, you can barely tell the difference between the guest-directed episode and any other episode. Such was the case when Buffy-mastermind, Joss Whedon directed an episode of The Office last season and such will most likely be the case when we see the next episode he’s set to direct for the hilarious mockumentay series.

TV Guide’s Ausiello reported that Whedon is set to direct the 10th episode of the current season of The Office. Whedon says, “It's Episode 10… but since the first four episodes are hour-long, it may actually be Episode 6. On the specifics of the episode, Whedon wouldn’t give many details other than to say, “I don't know how much I'm allowed to say about it, but I can say that… Jim kills Pam, which I thought was weird.” Ausiello’s pretty sure he was joking and I’m inclined to agree.

Whedon directed the “Business School” episode of The Office last season. That was the one where Michael guest-speaks at Ryan’s business school and Dwight captures a bat that found its way into the ceiling of Dunder-Mifflin’s Scranton Branch office. Jim pretended that he was bitten by the bat and was turning into a vampire.

The “Business School” episode was funny but it didn’t really stand out all that much among the other episodes in the third season. Sure, the vampire references could be seen as a nod to Whedon’s two vampire-related series but I’m not sure the episode would’ve been all that different (at least from our point of view) if it were directed by any other talented director. I’m thinking the same will be the case for whatever episode Whedon directs this season. And you know what? I’m fine with that. The fact that the man who gave us seven amazing seasons of Buffy the Vampire Slayer is going to have a hand in another episode of one of the best TV series currently on the air is enough to make my inner-fan-girl squee with delight. Plus, Whedon didn’t deviate from the format of The Office when he guest-directed “Business School,” which to me proves that he “gets” the show and I can definitely appreciate that.