February 14th, 2018

Charles Minor

Charles’ Best Moment: Season Five, Episode Twenty-Four: Heavy Competition

When he calls Dwight into a private meeting because he see’s Dwight as a good performer and wants to make sure he’s happy, and gives Dwight more responsibility.

Charles’ Worst Moment: Season Five, Episode Twenty-Five: Broke

When he lets him embarrassment and annoyance with Dwight make him not listen to Dwight or question more that the Michael Scott Paper Company is broke.

Charles’ Best Line: Season Five, Episode Twenty-Eight: Company Picnic

When he says to Jim "Must be nice to get a rest from all your rest”

Charles’ Most Memorable Moment: Season Five, Episode Twenty-One: Two Weeks

“I am aware of the effect I have on women”

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When you can barely see but cannot sleep 

When everyone around you makes you feel insane

They’ll be there, they’ll call your name

All your friends and dreams will guide you home and to who you want to be

Mommas

They are two characters that couldn’t be more different, they are also two characters who couldn’t have more in common: Molly Weasley and Fleur Delacour. 

While Fleur started out (and on some level remained) snobby and shallow, even when knowing her as a Triwizard Champion there were glimpses into someone who was more than that. For starters, she was a Triwizard Champion and showed to be brave, intelligent and talented. She would loudly talk down about Hogwarts’ decoration and education, but I feel there were reasons underneath for that, while she held herself to high regard she also wasn’t arrogant as when she did poorly she didn’t blame others but herself, usually being a harsher critic of herself than anyone else. Long before Bill, she proved to be loyal to those she considered her friends in going what she could to help them and showing distraught when they were killed. A rarity, she was also able to separate competition from competitors, making life-long bonds with Victor Krum and Harry Potter, and probably Cedric had he lived. 

While always the parent to be afraid of, Molly Weasley was generally seen as this strict for fair Mom. She hadn’t had a professional career of her own, focused on having many children, and took pride in the domestic chores that allowed her children and husband to have as easy and comfortable lives as possible. Tere are many things to adore and look up to in regards to Molly Weasley, she was never ashamed of being poor, always tried her best to help her children while not allowing them to be snobs (I’m sure Draco would still be Draco even if they didn’t have a Knut to their name) and of course, was the one who wore the pants in the family and outside and inside the home made sure others knew it was a wizards talent, nature and heart that made them good or bad, not their bloodline. 

During the Second Wizarding War, Molly joined the Order of the Phoenix, but still in a way that stayed true to her nature of being the natural caregiver by taking care of things on the home front (EXTREMELY IMPORTANT BTW--just a different type of person) instead of going out and battling. We all knew she was a badass, and not a woman to mess with but it is how she chose to use that badassery that blasted thru when she obliterated Bellatrix. Here, Ginny, Hermione and Luna, all (female--important) wizards who are noted at the top of their class and have fought in many battles before cannot destroy Bellatrix, but a mom? Momma Molly, easy. This was such an important element of her because for the most part it’s hidden and it is in this case that I connect her so much with Fleur. People have layers, they’re complex, they all react to things and show different aspects of themselves at different times. This is such an important thing to understand when it comes to being a human and connecting with others. 

Toby Flenderson

Toby’s Best Moment: Season Seven, Episode Eleven: Classy Christmas Part 1

When he rubs his neck, indicating to the office that the case he’s on is the Scranton Strangler.

Toby’s Worst Moment: Season Two, Episode Twenty-One: Conflict Resolution

The truth about the “Special Filing Cabinet” in New York. Dwight, and the Dwight v Jim feud may be annoying to deal with, but he wasn’t actually dealing with it and it was terrible as the HR rep and disrespectful to Dwight to not report the issues Dwight was having. Even though it wasn’t legal harassment, Toby still could and should have gotten in trouble for not taking the issue seriously.

Toby’s Best Line: Season Two, Episode Twenty-Two: Casino Night

“Actually I didn’t think it was appropriate to invite children since it’s, uh, you know, there’s gambling and alcohol and it’s in our dangerous warehouse, and, it’s a school night, and you know, hooters is catering, …..is that, is that enough, should I keep going?”

 Toby’s Most Memorable Moment: Season Four, Episode Fourteen: Goodbye Toby

Pam gifts Toby a picture of everyone in the office as his going away gift, but because she took the picture. As we know Toby is interested in Pam and while she agrees to take a picture with him neither of them have a camera so he screams “Does anyone have a camera”…..and then later in the episode gets a camera to get pictures taken with Pam

Curriculum is about preparing minds to think and reason, it's not about parental control and subordination. Banning books is small-minded.

Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore

20Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore

An important and crucial character, Dumbledore was to us as he was to Harry, a role model, with whom we learned more about character, personal growth and the complexities of human nature than we would’ve learned from him about Transfiguration (had we known him as a Professor and not Headmaster).While Dumbledore had his reasons, our journey with him thru the final book held the most important lessons he could have and I feel should have bestowed upon us. While difficult, by being ashamed we lost out on his wisdom on the loss and guilt of his sister and brother, the complexities of choosing the right path as when Voldemort chose the wrong path, and of course his relationship with Gellert Grindewald. Thru Dumbledore, we see and are shown how our idols, and more importantly our parents, are human and as such, perfectly, imperfect

On the other side, we also learn about how one can be powerful, important but also still childlike as we saw with his obsession with sweets and socks (regardless of what he might have really seen in the Mirror of Erised).This is important because as we age we lose some of our sense of wonder, and are told we must always be mature and un-childlike.

Throughout the series Dumbledore also bestowed wisdom with many fabulous quotes; here are some of the ones that have always stuck out with me

"It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live”

“You will find that help will always be given at Hogwarts to those who ask for it”

“Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light”

"It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends"

"We must all face the choice between what is right, and what is easy"

"Do not pity the dead, Harry. Pity the living and above all, those who live without love"

One I believe is a nod from JK about Harry Potter and the world she created for us

"Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?"

Here, Harry Potter is comforted by Dumbledore about his journey during the seventh book, his life so far, his relationships with others, answers to some of his most crucial questions and who he wants to be if he chooses to live.  

So thank you JK Rowling for giving us a man from whom we learned so much, and were able to learn from as we grew up, and grew, with him.

Pam Beesley

Pam's Best Moment: Season Seven, Episode Two: Counseling

When and how she interacts with everyone in the office to get her Office Administrator Job--it's not the most moral but it does show that she would be good and knows the office well.

Michael just signs, because it's Pam, 

She acts out a sex-story to Meredith,

Plays with Angela’s cat,

Discusses decorative changes Darryl was inspired by from tv shows.

Pam's Worst Moment: Season Five, Episode Ten: The Surplus When she throws out the tiramisu Jim brought her because he wouldn't take her side in the chairs v. copier debate.

Pam's Best Line: Season Nine, Episode Sixteen: Moving On When she lives mid-day to interview for a job in Philadelphia and Andy asks her where she's going she just replies:

“Not on a three-month boat trip.”

Pam's Most Memorable Moment: Season Five, Episode Nineteen: Golden Ticket When going through Michael's list of prepared reasons for skirting a phone call (being at the civil rights rally, stopping a fight in the parking lot, an Obama fashion show, having a colonoscopy) and that's she's saving that Michael is “trapped in an oil painting”.

Tonks!

Nymphadora Tonks (can definitely understand why we went with the later name). While Hermione and Luna are polar opposites each taught us how to accept ourselves for who we are, Tonks was just, different. Maybe it was because she was older and more established, maybe it was just because she was the epitome of cool, but she was always, from the moment we knew of her, knew she was cool and who she was. She didn’t care about her flaws because they were just part of who she was and she was awesome and continues to be the only person who wears their flaws with pride and confidence as how they are

While re-reading and knowing about her live and difficulties with Lupin, I get pissed of at him of course, but just want to tell her that I know she’s right and to just told on because it seemed for once she was afraid of not knowing, of not being that confident person and not because she might be wrong or lost or confused but because of living without love. And how horrible a life that would be

“Don’t pity the dead, Harry. Pity the living, and, above all those who live without love”

Oh, and what a true werewolf at HEART

Deangelo

Deangelo’s Best Moment: Season Seven, Episode Twenty-Three: The Inner Circle

When he brings up positive changes as negative changes in his (first) conference room meeting post-Michael:

The he plans to leave the office at 5pm

That the company will send Darryl to business school, full ride

He’s getting Toby a new chair

Ice Cream Thursdays

Deangelo’s Second Worst Moment: Season Seven, Episode Twenty-Two: Goodbye, Michael

When he cuts out two huge corners of the cake, eats one with his hands, and then leans in close to yell “No!” at the cake.

Deangelo’s Best Line: Michael’s Last Dundies

When he see’s Meredith’s place and tells Michael “This reminds me of Katrina”

DeAngelo’s Most Memorable Moment: Season Seven, Episode Twenty-Three: The Inner Circle

His fake juggling routine

Draco Malfoy and Sirius Black

First, I know she has come to the understanding that people are more crushing on Tom Felton than Draco Malfoy, but I cannot understand why JK Rowling is so unnerved by it. Yes, Draco Malfoy is a shitty person, but it’s so typical that it really is quite a gift. Be glad we’re wasting our ‘fall for the bad guy’ on a literary character over an actual guy who smokes cigarettes in 2018.

There are a few core things we could learn about from Draco Malfoy in Harry Potter. Two of the main ones being how people change, and that the world isn’t black and white. But the biggest understanding I think can be gained is comparing his life and struggles with Sirius Black. Whether Sirius was sorted into Gryffindor first and then got a deeper understanding of how his beliefs and morals were different from the majority of his family or if he knew he had these beliefs before starting school, Sirius’ showed us the result fighting for what is right and against your family when your family doesn’t have the same moral standing you do. In comparison to when Percy either let himself be blinded or was just obsessed with power, his family continued to try and connect with him and love him, while Sirius’ family disowned him.

Both Draco and Sirius at points were bullies, but there is a huge difference between being a bully and being evil. When it came down to it, neither was evil, and at times I’m sure both were scared in trying to do what was right under extreme pressure and thru their stories we got to see both sides. While Sirius’ story focused on the results of his fight he was abandoned, depressed and obsessed with fighting against the Voldemort and the beliefs of those who abandoned him. During the struggle we see Draco, who once demanded and forced to do the wrong thing, couldn’t handle it as it wasn’t him. As Dumbledore remarked he cowardly tried to kill Dumbledore and even when push came to shove and his life depended on it, still couldn’t. He was frozen and like Sirius he overtime became depressed and alienated himself from all around him.  It’s tricky, but I don’t know if Draco would ever had been able to choose either side by himself, he seemed unable to go against his family and what was a burden on him to protect them; only ending up morally okay when his mother realized how the battle would end.

Thru their parallel struggles we see what happens when you are able to go against your family and when you cannot. While Draco was able to live a fuller life and Sirius had a truly supportive family in his friends, both suffered and arguments for both can be made for against when we remember these characters were children at the time of this crossroad. It’s hard, it’s heartbreaking, and there are so many people in the world who while they should be themselves and are accepted by others, we need to be reminded that since your family is supposed to love you unconditionally—you can turn yourself into a Horcrux with the pain and fear of what may happen if they don’t and be more open-minded with those struggles.