Murder (The Office)
Encyclopedia
"Murder" is the 10th episode of the sixth season
of the U.S. comedy series The Office and the show's 110th episode overall. It was written by Daniel Chun
and directed by Greg Daniels
. It originally aired on NBC
on November 12, 2009.
In this episode, rumors spread that Dunder Mifflin is in financial trouble, so Michael tries to distract the office by having everyone play a murder mystery game called Belles, Bourbon, and Bullets. Andy uses the game as a way to ask out Erin, but fears he may have asked out Erin's character, instead of Erin herself, and Oscar tries to get updates on the status of Dunder Mifflin.
point to financial troubles for Dunder Mifflin. In an attempt to get the worried staff under control, Michael
(Steve Carell
) and Jim
(John Krasinski
) call the monthly staff meeting to provide what few assurances and optimistic viewpoints they can on the steadily worsening news. In a moment of quick thinking, Michael pulls out a party game, Belles, Bourbon, and Bullets
, and forces the rest of the staff to play along. Jim tries to stop him, saying they cannot afford to play around that day. Michael gets his way, saying Jim owes him 'one' after earlier insisting that Michael abandon his idea to run hamster tubes throughout the office.
The staff slowly warms up to the game, which is a murder mystery. It is set in Savannah, Georgia
, and everyone has to adopt a Southern accent
(with varying degrees of success). Thanks to Pam (Jenna Fischer
), Andy
(Ed Helms
), and Phyllis (Phyllis Smith), the game quickly becomes a hit. Almost everyone present starts to play along, except for Oscar
(Oscar Nunez
) (who tries to get updates on the situation from corporate) and Creed
(Creed Bratton
) (who shows up late to work and flees after being told he is a suspect in a murder). Jim continues to believe the entire exercise is pointless.
Throughout the game, Andy is trying his hardest to make a move on Erin
(Ellie Kemper
), and with the possible impending closure of Dunder Mifflin, decides he needs to make a move now. While 'in character,' he asks Erin out for a weekend date, but becomes unsure if he really asked her out, or if he just simply asked out her murder mystery character, "Naughty Nelly." He is worried that Erin only said yes because Naughty Nelly, a promiscuous, flirtatious, and scandalous woman, "says yes to everyone and might be a murderer."
Just as the game seems to get interesting, Oscar returns and reveals even more bad news from corporate. Accounting has been notified to stop payments to vendors, which is in Oscar's words "unprecedented and should be a cause for concern." This brings the staff out of the game and back to the scary reality of losing their jobs. Michael tries to win them back, but accidentally skips to the game's conclusion, revealing who the murderer was (Phyllis). Although everyone else goes back to work even more stressed out, Michael refuses to give up, and continues playing the game with Dwight
(Rainn Wilson
).
After the game, Andy and Erin meet at the receptionist desk, where Erin asks him about their upcoming date. Andy slips up and indicates that the "date" was just part of the game, although that was not his original intention. In the silence that follows, Erin leaves Andy at reception, in embarrassment. She reveals to the camera crew she thought the date was real, and was excited about the idea.
In a vain attempt to salvage the day, Michael tries to introduce another murder and other twists to the story to pull his staff back into the party. This infuriates Jim to his breaking point, and they hold a private talk in Michael's office. Michael snaps at Jim and points out to Jim "they need this game" or they might cave in under the impending bad news and possible closure of Dunder Mifflin. CFO David Wallace
(Andy Buckley) finally returns the phone calls to Jim, and reveals that while nothing has been officially decided yet, Dunder Mifflin is expected to be insolvent
by year-end. Knowing how damaging this could be to his staff, Jim deliberately hides this news from them and nudges them back into the party. At the end of the day, Jim is "happy that we have two co-managers today," realizing it helps having someone to distract people from pressing issues.
At the end of the episode, Michael, Dwight, Andy, and Pam find themselves in a fake Mexican standoff
lasting until 6:00 at night. Jim pulls Pam out so they can go home, and the others pretend to shoot each other to death.
"Murder" received generally positive reviews. Dan Phillips of IGN
said that the episode was a "major step up" from the "disappointing" last two episodes. Phillips stated that the episode "struck a nice balance between unbound silliness and grounded drama, even if the silliness dominated at times." He gave the episode a 8.8 out of 10 score.
The Office (U.S. TV series) season 6
The American television comedy The Office was renewed by NBC for a sixth season on January 15, 2009. The season premiered on September 17, 2009 and concluded on May 20, 2010. The episodes aired on Thursdays at 9:00 p.m. EDT as part of Comedy Night Done Right...
of the U.S. comedy series The Office and the show's 110th episode overall. It was written by Daniel Chun
Daniel Chun
Daniel Chun is an American comedy writer. He has written for The Office and The Simpsons. He received a Writers Guild Award nomination and an Annie Award for his work on The Simpsons. He is now Head Writer and Co-Executive Producer of The Office...
and directed by Greg Daniels
Greg Daniels
Gregory Martin "Greg" Daniels is an American television comedy writer, producer, and director.-Life and career:...
. It originally aired on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
on November 12, 2009.
In this episode, rumors spread that Dunder Mifflin is in financial trouble, so Michael tries to distract the office by having everyone play a murder mystery game called Belles, Bourbon, and Bullets. Andy uses the game as a way to ask out Erin, but fears he may have asked out Erin's character, instead of Erin herself, and Oscar tries to get updates on the status of Dunder Mifflin.
Synopsis
The day gets off to a rocky start when rumors from The Wall Street JournalThe Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal is an American English-language international daily newspaper. It is published in New York City by Dow Jones & Company, a division of News Corporation, along with the Asian and European editions of the Journal....
point to financial troubles for Dunder Mifflin. In an attempt to get the worried staff under control, Michael
Michael Scott (The Office)
Michael Gary Scott is a fictional character on NBC's The Office, portrayed by Steve Carell, and based on David Brent from the original British version. Michael, the central character of the series, was the manager of the Scranton branch of paper and printer distribution company Dunder Mifflin Inc...
(Steve Carell
Steve Carell
Steven John "Steve" Carell is an American comedian, actor, voice artist, producer, writer, and director. Although Carell is notable for his role on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, he found greater fame in the late 2000s for playing Michael Scott on The Office...
) and Jim
Jim Halpert
James Duncan "Jim" Halpert is a fictional character in the United States version of the television sitcom The Office, played by John Krasinski. The character is based on Tim Canterbury from the original version of The Office...
(John Krasinski
John Krasinski
John Burke Krasinski is an American actor, film director, and writer. He is most widely known for playing Jim Halpert on the NBC sitcom The Office...
) call the monthly staff meeting to provide what few assurances and optimistic viewpoints they can on the steadily worsening news. In a moment of quick thinking, Michael pulls out a party game, Belles, Bourbon, and Bullets
Murder mystery game
Murder mystery games are generally party games wherein one of the partygoers is secretly, and unknowingly, playing a murderer, and the other attendees must determine who among them is the criminal...
, and forces the rest of the staff to play along. Jim tries to stop him, saying they cannot afford to play around that day. Michael gets his way, saying Jim owes him 'one' after earlier insisting that Michael abandon his idea to run hamster tubes throughout the office.
The staff slowly warms up to the game, which is a murder mystery. It is set in Savannah, Georgia
Savannah, Georgia
Savannah is the largest city and the county seat of Chatham County, in the U.S. state of Georgia. Established in 1733, the city of Savannah was the colonial capital of the Province of Georgia and later the first state capital of Georgia. Today Savannah is an industrial center and an important...
, and everyone has to adopt a Southern accent
Southern American English
Southern American English is a group of dialects of the English language spoken throughout the Southern region of the United States, from Southern and Eastern Maryland, West Virginia and Kentucky to the Gulf Coast, and from the Atlantic coast to most of Texas and Oklahoma.The Southern dialects make...
(with varying degrees of success). Thanks to Pam (Jenna Fischer
Jenna Fischer
Regina Marie "Jenna" Fischer is an American actress and director. She is most widely known for her Emmy-nominated portrayal of Pam Halpert on the NBC situation comedy and mockumentary The Office, and has also appeared in several films, including Blades of Glory, Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story,...
), Andy
Andy Bernard
Andrew "Andy" Baines Bernard is a fictional character from the U.S. television series The Office. The character is highly insecure, yet egotistical, constantly mentioning his education at Cornell University...
(Ed Helms
Ed Helms
Edward Paul "Ed" Helms is an American actor and comedian known for his work as a correspondent on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, as Andy Bernard on the US version of the sitcom/mockumentary The Office and for his role as Dr. Stu Price in The Hangover films.- Early life :Helms was born and raised...
), and Phyllis (Phyllis Smith), the game quickly becomes a hit. Almost everyone present starts to play along, except for Oscar
Oscar Martinez
Oscar Jual Paul Martinez is a fictional character from the US television series The Office. He is played by Oscar Nunez.-Overview:Oscar Martinez is an accountant at the paper distributor Dunder Mifflin. He is a first generation Mexican-American. Oscar is also openly homosexual after being...
(Oscar Nunez
Oscar Nunez
Oscar Nunez , sometimes credited as Oscar Núñez, is a Cuban American actor and comedian.He currently appears as Dunder Mifflin's paper supply accountant, Oscar Martinez, on NBC's The Office.-Career:...
) (who tries to get updates on the situation from corporate) and Creed
Creed Bratton (character)
Creed Rowland Bratton a.k.a. "William Charles Schneider" is a fictional character from the U.S. television series The Office. Confusion may arise from the fact that the character is played by and partially based on the musician of the same name, Creed Bratton...
(Creed Bratton
Creed Bratton
Creed Bratton is an American actor and musician, a former member of The Grass Roots...
) (who shows up late to work and flees after being told he is a suspect in a murder). Jim continues to believe the entire exercise is pointless.
Throughout the game, Andy is trying his hardest to make a move on Erin
Erin Hannon
Kelly Erin Hannon is a fictional character from the U.S. television series The Office. She is the office receptionist for the Scranton branch of Dunder Mifflin, a position previously held by Pam Halpert before she left the company. Erin is played by Ellie Kemper...
(Ellie Kemper
Ellie Kemper
Elizabeth Claire "Ellie" Kemper is an American actress, comedian and writer best known for her role as Erin Hannon in NBC's The Office.-Personal life:...
), and with the possible impending closure of Dunder Mifflin, decides he needs to make a move now. While 'in character,' he asks Erin out for a weekend date, but becomes unsure if he really asked her out, or if he just simply asked out her murder mystery character, "Naughty Nelly." He is worried that Erin only said yes because Naughty Nelly, a promiscuous, flirtatious, and scandalous woman, "says yes to everyone and might be a murderer."
Just as the game seems to get interesting, Oscar returns and reveals even more bad news from corporate. Accounting has been notified to stop payments to vendors, which is in Oscar's words "unprecedented and should be a cause for concern." This brings the staff out of the game and back to the scary reality of losing their jobs. Michael tries to win them back, but accidentally skips to the game's conclusion, revealing who the murderer was (Phyllis). Although everyone else goes back to work even more stressed out, Michael refuses to give up, and continues playing the game with Dwight
Dwight Schrute
Dwight Kurt Schrute III is a character on NBC's The Office portrayed by Rainn Wilson. He originally exactly resembled Gareth Keenan from the original UK version of The Office. Dwight is the top salesman and former acting manager for the Dunder Mifflin Paper Company and has won numerous awards for...
(Rainn Wilson
Rainn Wilson
Rainn Dietrich Wilson is an American actor and comedian. He is primarily known for his role as the egomaniacal Dwight Schrute on the American version of the television comedy The Office...
).
After the game, Andy and Erin meet at the receptionist desk, where Erin asks him about their upcoming date. Andy slips up and indicates that the "date" was just part of the game, although that was not his original intention. In the silence that follows, Erin leaves Andy at reception, in embarrassment. She reveals to the camera crew she thought the date was real, and was excited about the idea.
In a vain attempt to salvage the day, Michael tries to introduce another murder and other twists to the story to pull his staff back into the party. This infuriates Jim to his breaking point, and they hold a private talk in Michael's office. Michael snaps at Jim and points out to Jim "they need this game" or they might cave in under the impending bad news and possible closure of Dunder Mifflin. CFO David Wallace
David Wallace (The Office)
David Wallace is a character in the American television show The Office and was the chief financial officer of the fictional Dunder Mifflin Paper Company, before being fired in late 2009 after the company was bought by Sabre. He is portrayed by Andy Buckley.- Character history :David Wallace was...
(Andy Buckley) finally returns the phone calls to Jim, and reveals that while nothing has been officially decided yet, Dunder Mifflin is expected to be insolvent
Insolvency
Insolvency means the inability to pay one's debts as they fall due. Usually used to refer to a business, insolvency refers to the inability of a company to pay off its debts.Business insolvency is defined in two different ways:...
by year-end. Knowing how damaging this could be to his staff, Jim deliberately hides this news from them and nudges them back into the party. At the end of the day, Jim is "happy that we have two co-managers today," realizing it helps having someone to distract people from pressing issues.
At the end of the episode, Michael, Dwight, Andy, and Pam find themselves in a fake Mexican standoff
Mexican standoff
A Mexican standoff is a slang term defined as a stalemate or impasse; a confrontation that neither side can foreseeably win. The term is most often used in lieu of "stalemate" when the confrontational situation is exceptionally dangerous for all parties involved.In popular culture, the Mexican...
lasting until 6:00 at night. Jim pulls Pam out so they can go home, and the others pretend to shoot each other to death.
Reception
This episode was watched by 8 million viewers, with a 4.2 rating and a 10 share in the 18-49 demographic."Murder" received generally positive reviews. Dan Phillips of IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
said that the episode was a "major step up" from the "disappointing" last two episodes. Phillips stated that the episode "struck a nice balance between unbound silliness and grounded drama, even if the silliness dominated at times." He gave the episode a 8.8 out of 10 score.