A.A.R.M.
This episode guest stars Nora Kirkpatrick, Aaron Rodgers, Clay Aiken, Mark McGrath, Santigold, Jessica St. Clair, and Rachel Crow.
The series—presented as if it were a real documentary—depicts the everyday lives of office employees in the Scranton, Pennsylvania, branch of the fictional Dunder Mifflin Paper Company.
Finally, all the members of the office gather at Poor Richard's Pub and watch the airing of the official in-series documentary.
The idea to have Jim finally give Pam his card had been considered in the writers' room for some time, but only during "A.A.R.M."
Jim designs several Dwight-oriented challenges as tryouts for the position, and it is inevitably found that Dwight is the most qualified.
Dwight then confers with Jim, asking whether he should propose to Angela or his girlfriend Esther, whom he thinks is the more logical choice.
Darryl Philbin returns to Scranton, after quietly quitting a week ago to work full-time at Athlead, the sports marketing company that Jim founded.
When Darryl runs into Pam Halpert, he tells her about the company's success and how Jim is missing out by staying in Scranton.
However, before he is able to try out, the judges close the auditions, sending home the remaining applicants, who have been standing in line for hours.
Later, he journeys to Poor Richard's Pub, where he meets his former office workers and is the tie-breaking vote to turn the TVs to the official airing of their documentary on PBS's Scranton affiliate station, WVIA-TV, rather than college baseball.
was written by executive producer Brent Forrester, marking his eleventh writing credit for the series, his first since the earlier season episode, "Work Bus".
[5] This episode guest stars Aaron Rodgers, Clay Aiken, Mark McGrath, Santigold, and Jessica St.
Originally, showrunner and series creator Greg Daniels had re-recorded the line in "New Guys", but ended up liking Rogers' voice better.
Originally, the course was supposed to be in the parking lot, but Rogers moved it, feeling that the warehouse was "more organic" and that the heat would have been detrimental to the finished product.
[8] The idea to have Jim finally give Pam his card had been considered in the writers' room for some time, but only during "A.A.R.M."
In addition, Dwight pulling Angela over was filmed in a way that recalled the sixth season episode "The Delivery".
In addition, the obstacle course was not a direct reference to the second season episode "Office Olympics", although Rogers understood that there were similarities.
[10] To win over Kevin, Angela and Oscar pretend that baby Phillip presented him with a used iTunes gift card.
The fictional show is hosted by Mark McGrath, the lead singer from the rock band Sugar Ray.
[6][7] Andy sings both the Cornell University alma mater ("Far Above Cayuga's Waters"), as well as "You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile" from the musical Annie.
"[15] M. Giant of Television Without Pity was pleased with the episode, and awarded it an "A" grade, the first for the series since "Goodbye, Michael" almost two seasons ago.
Online wrote that the episode "was full of emotional moments that seemed like love letters to the fans who have watched the show since the pilot."
Mullins also praised the scenes between Jim and Pam, noting that "we collapsed in tears because the couple we've been rooting for ... can still find ways to make us cry.
Campbell felt that the episode dabbled in fan service, but that it was expected and needed for the show to have a successful ending.
She wrote that "The interplay between Jim, Dwight, and Pam has been the core of the series since Michael Scott's departure, and it was good to see the trio front and center once again as The Office comes to a close."
Furthermore, Cornet was happy with Dwight's proposal and the dance party that signaled Darryl's leaving, calling the latter "a slice of bliss".
He called "the scene in which Pam was watching the docu-created montage just as Jim was giving Dwight love advice" the "most emotionally rewarding moment on The Office since Michael Scott's goodbye.
[15] Campbell referred to it as "a mediocre story that stood in stark contrast to the emotional timbre of the rest of the episode".
