Secret Santa - The Office Field Guide - S6E13

[@angelspike]

Idk what you're talking about. This episode is pure gold all the way through

[@jacobswiney9977]

This is one of my favorite episodes lol

[@ErinGrey]

Personally, I think this is my favorite holiday episode from the Office. The whole thing with the two Santas and Michael being a Debbie Downer really stuck it to me!

[@Triciachan]

17:05 I think the joke is meant to be that Ryan put as little effort into the gift as he could and saw Toby reading a book called Kite Runner, assumed it was about kites, so figured that Toby liked kites. Toby was just happy to get positive attention.

[@ESJonas]

I notice Mulverine really doesn't like cringe-centered episodes. They are my favorite ones though. This episode is hilarious.

[@Mulverine]

I like good cringe episodes! Scotts Tots = 4/5 Dinner Party = 5/5 Christmas (S2) = 5/5

[@ESJonas]

@@Mulverine That's right. But it's like "on-your-face, during-a-sugar-crush cringe". I feel that slow-paced cringe is not your thing, which is perfectly fine. Different people, different tastes. Like when it comes to The Office UK, many American viewers don't like it. Down here in Brazil people aren't that fond of the style either. Down here most people seem to enjoy caricatures a little more, also fast paced timing. So many episodes which I like a lot receive bad grades and most of them are very cringe focused. But again. Not a bad thing, just different takes. That's why I love your vídeos. I now like many episodes I didn't because of details I hadn't noticed before. Thanks for that. :)

[@0pher545]

Idk man, you did this one dirty. This one a 5/5 for me

[@Mulverine]

Testing something out folks - if you like just one aspect of today's video...give the video a like. I hate asking, but I'm curious what the almighty algorithm will do if this vid gets proportionately more likes than normal. Happy Holidays!

[@brunogaming3531]

It really doesn’t feel as personal you feel fat from the camera. Ps I love your vids but please get a better mic.

[@Onyxiate]

I liked your beard in this video, so I gave the video a like :)

[@Mulverine]

@Bruno Gaming - I personally feel fat any time I'm on camera. It adds lbs!

[@brunogaming3531]

@@Mulverine far****** I’m so sorry😂😂😂

[@emonoglesby]

I had to search to find this tbh.

[@kimsomniac2144]

Toby was reading "the kite runner" at the time. He was just happy Ryan knew something about him, sweet Toby.

[@kstacs9889]

I get we all have opinions and that's great, but this episode is pure gold there's really no denying it

[@russBwright]

So it's okay to have opinions as long as they go along with your theory?

[@rubberlover666]

Ryan gets him a a kite because Toby is reading The Kite Runner (which while ,yes, involves kites...that's not really the point). It demonstrates how little of a crap Ryan gives about anyone but himself.

[@rahulmodi8706]

Also that’s he’s a fake intellectual. Reminds me of Joey giving chandlers gift to Kathy because she likes rabbits

[@maniacmatt7340]

I think the Christmas episodes are pretty well done, if nothing else,I find them cozy holiday time killers.

[@aa11ct9]

This one and season 7 Christmas are my favorite holiday episodes from the Office. They always left me satisfied and smiling.

[@PastorFunK]

2/5?! Come on! This episode is soo funny! But, I like the way you explained your POV!

[@charleenjerezon7550]

I think this was the best Office Christmas episode. 5/5

[@nnaproductions]

7:07 : I love how Ed Helms keeps hiding around the corner during this entire sequence to avoid breaking on camera.

[@mgsfan4348]

2 out of 5?! Sir you are wrong lol

[@michaelbarker6732]

In The Twelve Days of Christmas, every new day also repeats the gifts from every preceding day. I have always thought it was funnier to think of this as being literal, meaning you end up with twelve partridges in twelve pear trees, 22 turtle doves, 30 french hens, and so on.

[@paulg6274]

This is one of the best all time espisodes imo. Carrell talking with the Santa beard on gets me every time

[@janeevans1598]

Okay, so Ryan giving Toby the kite is twofold. 1: Toby was reading the book. So this shows that Ryan notices surface level details only. 2: It further proves that Ryan has no idea what the book even represents. The kite is symbolism for a deeper meaning in the book, but surface level told him that Toby liked kites. So it's a double joke/insult on Ryan and the fact that he's generally a poser that doesn't really have much substance, and Toby being overly thankful is to show how starved his is for attention.

[@kendeng9828]

What a bleak review this was

[@johnparker4484]

I love the quality of this series, editing and analysis wise. I was shocked you don’t have more subscribers.

[@Mattrino101]

this is definitely the best of the christmas episodes in my opinion

[@EmmaSoaft]

“you don’t like the beatles?? eleanor rigby? paperback writer??”

[@Fluffypro]

How does giving someone the 12 days of Christmas work? Did Andy really just expect Erin to keep all those animals? Did she have 8 woman give her 8 gallons of milk? Was one of the nine ladies dancing Elizabeth? Did she just give Erin 9 lap dances because she’s the only stripper in Scranton? Is there some singing telegram company that does stuff like this? How did Andy afford this? He has a rich family, but I don’t see them handing him enough money to do this. What did Erin do with all those animals? I mean she would of at least got 5 golden rings out of it.

[@jackieestes5703]

I’ve wondered about this too. But I’m a big fan of Andy,so I suspended my sense of disbelief and went along for the ride this time. I did really like the 12 drummers drumming scene-pretty cool.

[@mikepastor.k6233]

...also, what's a lord? Those leeeping lords must have been a site for Erin.

[@charliewegner]

i gotta fully disagree with you on this one. i adore this episode so much

[@milesjesu8050]

As someone else already mentioned, I too like all the Christmas episodes, if nothing else for their cozy (though cringy!) holiday feel. I would definitely have given this episode at least a 3. And I think the very cool button at the end with the drummers deserved a mention. The two Santas was great, and it's good to see Michael finally come around and start acting like a grownup after his tantrum. Oh--and it was a major, positive, plot forwarder when they got the news that they wouldn't be shutting down.

[@Aragem]

I think of this episode as the Michael Scott tantrum episode because that’s literally what he does throughout this whole episode over the Santa thing. Just throw a one big tantrum drive the whole.

[@asmrcity3147]

This was a 5/5 for me. I laughed more at this than any other Xmas episode. And I skip hard cringe episodes like Scotts Tots.

[@midnyght_]

Ok so I looked up the office quote, and I got a different one than everyone else lol Season 6, episode 13, minute 16, second 22 “This is the worst” - Michael It was the Secret Santa episode!

[@thebestsporthd3173]

The kite is for the Kite Runner a book toby reads

[@ethancole2104]

I really enjoyed this episode! Great work!

[@ryanhoffmann9341]

Taco Bell breakfast is far and away the best fast food breakfast money can buy.

[@Fluffypro]

Elf Dwight 12:50. On probably late. I haven’t refreshed the comments.

[@mitchbray6637]

Hey, if you don't rate it that high, that's okay. Just because you don't rate it that high doesn't mean that you're not getting it. Art and entertainment are subjective and you are entitled to your own preferences and tastes as we all are. We need to remember that.

[@finngando]

you looked like uncle Ian in the intro 😭😭

[@kyledorian5474]

I’ve always thought that

[@elitheman7745]

A lot of comments are giving good explanations for the Ryan kite gift (that it essentially shows how little care Ryan put into his gift), but I've always seen it as having a much deeper meaning within the thematic context of this episode. I enjoy reading into these things way too much, but if there was ever a place for that it's here. So with that said,,,, The book Toby is reading is The Kite Runner, which heavily features very introspective themes of the lost aspirations of our youth, the passage of time, and the weight of our pasts. In many ways it's a very sad book, and it became especially popular around the time of this episode (2008-2009), with a reputation of being tepid book-club reading surrounded by milquetoast controversy. Now, the extent of this joke as far as the writer's were likely concerned was a pop culture reference about Toby's banality combined with Ryan's overly-literal, seemingly thoughtless gift. But beyond that, it always gave me the impression that Ryan was trying to say something with the kite, either to us the audience, or to Toby. He's almost comparing Toby to the characters in the novel, who insistently play with kites as children to escape the horrors of their lives. Their kites recur throughout the story as tragic symbols of the cost of growing up. Secret Santa is the final episode of all the characters together under Dunder Mifflin, concluding the narrative from Murder and Shareholder Meeting of Dunder Mifflin going under. By the next episode, their property is being assessed for Sabre. That's why I think this episode is so full of parallels to all the previous Christmas episodes. Just like you say in the video; it lets us reflect on how far we've come, if we're where we want to be, and what it's taken to get this far. By including this scene of Toby getting a kite, it's like the writers were purposefully invoking the ideas from the novel. It makes Toby's obliviousness all the sadder; as another commenter said "[he] was just happy to get positive attention." Anyway, this is one of my favorite episodes. Great review 👍 *edit: saw another comment point this out too please consider adding a warning/bleeping it out around 5:23 when Michael calls Phyllis "old tr*nny Claus" since it's considered a pretty serious slur these days and most trans people don't wanna hear it out of the blue 🙏

[@jontoven2467]

I like the banker episode

[@johnparker4484]

2/5 you’re insane!

[@Mulverine]

It’s possible.

[@luukmulder3689]

12:50 Dwight Elf or Dwelf

[@ByeByeAlan]

to think that if Taco Bell was open, this episode would’ve probably gotten a 3/5.

[@Mulverine]

If Taco Bell doesn’t meet my demands, I swear every episode of the Office from here on will be rated a 1/5.

[@corbinowens2437]

Wasn’t cause of the book Toby was reading

[@JessicaPark1]

After so many seasons, it's just frustrating to see Michael once again act petulant for most of the Christmas party over some minor slight to his ego, only to realize the error of his ways after he's already alienated and insulted most of the staff. His dumping on Phyllis is even more mean-spirited than usual, to a point where the heel-face turn at the end feels too little, too late. You could have a conflict that revolves around other characters or something other than "Michael doesn't get his way and throws a tantrum."

[@homertakizakura1988]

right but that is the tragedy of Michael Scott this is why we need him

[@davidmoncholi6746]

That's a really good point

[@benmcdonald5837]

As nothing to do with the video, just wanted to say I got my book you sent. Thank you very much!!!

[@Mulverine]

Right on Ben! Glad to hear it arrived!

[@Fluffypro]

Also what is Michael’s PIN number? He said letters no numbers. I’m guessing it works like a phone. So It’d be 9622.

[@jimboscooter432]

"TrannyClaus" lol

[@dominiccenteno1233]

I don't know man, I think the Christmas episodes are some of the best Office episodes. My favorite episodes of the Office were the ones where Michael is acting like a jerk and you just want to punch his face like The Injury, Secret Santa, Michael's Birthday, Golden Ticket, Phyllis' Wedding, Costume Contest etc. Maybe we just have different tastes but this is not it champ.

[@RoboSteave]

I think your problem is that you're obviously trying to rush Christmas. Christmas decorations already?! You want a take on what the holidays mean as you get older, try Pink Floyd's song "Time" -- "shorter of breath and one day closer to death". There, that should cheer you up.

[@Mulverine]

Listening now

[@Mulverine]

Mood improved! But I am on a 6 hour train ride to Chicago…so jury is out on how long the mood stays.

[@DasZombieProductions]

I'll rematch over the holidays, do you have a Christmas playlist?

[@Ellis_Hugh]

Christmas decorations before Thanksgiving???? Sacrilege!

[@tinypizza23]

12:49

[@montecito5986]

And one comment for youuuu

[@hunketi]

I think I skip most of the Christmas episodes these days.

[@themarygarzashow]

I'm kind of done with all the blasphemy...

[@brer.]

8-

[@transrightsbaybee]

i enjoyed the video, but i would've appreciated a content warning ahead of the transphobic slur. it's kind of jarring to hear that without knowing it's coming, so something like "or is it incredibly offensive for 2009, like when michael says this transphobic slur," before playing the clip. or better yet, just don't include the clips where Michael says slurs. u can just say "there's also this line where Michael uses a transphobic slur in reference to Phyllis's santa costume." and it would communicate the same thing without being uncomfortable for trans people

[@cyanrazorCel]

You are as shitty as Hannah from the office.

[@MATTHEWMYTHHAVEN]

cry

[@paulg6274]

Give me a break. I dont even believe you were offended frankly

[@emonoglesby]

True. Kinda wack episode. Like trying but not landing anything.

[@paulg6274]

It lands everything. Its an all time great episode. Michael talking with the beard and converting to Jesus make me laugh every time.

[@stuppittyhed]

I would delete all christmas episodes from every show if i could.