S03E08 · EP 36
season 3 · 2006-11-16
The Merger
written by ? · directed by Ken Whittingham · 8.43M viewers · image The Office Wiki (CC BY-SA)

Episode DNA

23 scenes · 4 threads
absurd 18%awkward 12%social rule violation 9%rivalry 9%scheme 8%humiliation 6%deadpan 6%tense 5%cheerful 4%avoidance 2%

Story threads over runtime

click a block to open the scene
0:005:0010:0015:0020:00
A · Merger Day Chaos
B · Jim and Pam Reconnect
C · Dwight vs Andy Rivalry
D · Michael's Orientation Fiasco
01

Every scene

23 scenes · our breakdown
1 · Stamford office · cold_openAndy Threatens Jim

Andy Bernard says goodbye to Jim, calling him 'Tuna', and threatens to destroy him if crossed. Jim responds calmly.

00:44–01:36rivalry · threat
2 · Scranton office · act1Jim Tricks Dwight Into Running

Jim challenges Dwight's speed and sends him on laps to beat Toby's time, but Jim holds a digital thermometer, not a stopwatch. Jim admits he's being mean to Dwight on purpose.

01:36–03:38scheme · humiliation
3 · Scranton office · act1Michael Prepares for New Employees

Michael puts nameplates on desks and greets Karen and Andy. Dwight advises Michael to fire Tony Gardner to consolidate power. In an interview, Dwight compares himself to a Japanese soldier choosing a prisoner to execute.

03:38–04:39scheme · obsession
4 ▸ 04:39
4 · Scranton office · act1Pam Returns With Supplies

Pam returns with two paper grocery bags. Michael instructs her to arrange the conference room to impress an older man out of her league. In an interview, Pam expresses excitement about the merger and seeing Jim again.

04:39–05:25
5 ▸ 05:25
5 · Scranton office · act1New Employees Arrive and Get Gifts

Michael greets Hannah, Tony, and Martin, giving each a gift bag with pencils and coupons. Pam introduces herself to Karen. Michael makes awkward comments about Karen's ethnicity.

05:25–07:02social_rule_violation
6 · Parking lot · act1Andy's Parking Lot Interview

In a parking lot interview, Andy says he'll be number two in six weeks using name repetition, personality mirroring, and never breaking a handshake. He echoes Michael's 'Aloha' greeting and calls his gift bag 'nifty gifties'. Michael admits in a talking head that he likes Andy.

07:02–07:43scheme
7 · Scranton office · act1Jim Returns and Dwight Confronts Him

Jim arrives and Pam is smitten. Dwight warns Jim not to mess with him, but Jim stares at Dwight's forehead, freaking him out. Jim discovers Ryan sits at his old desk, forcing him to sit across from Dwight.

07:43–09:06rivalry · humiliation
8 · Scranton office · act1Dwight and Andy Argue Over Hierarchy

Dwight introduces himself as Assistant Regional Manager. Andy says he's Regional Director in Charge of Sales, which outranks a manager on a film set. Dwight claims he knows everything about film, having seen over 240 movies.

09:06–09:20rivalry · misunderstanding
9 ▸ 09:20
9 · Scranton office · act1Jim Greets Toby and Kelly

Jim goes to say hi to Toby, who offers a fist bump, confusing Jim. Kelly hugs Jim and tells him about Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt's babies. When Jim asks what's new with her, she says she just told him.

09:20–11:33social_rule_violation
10 ▸ 11:33
10 · Scranton office · act1Dwight Asks Michael About Hierarchy

Dwight asks Michael whether Assistant Regional Manager or Regional Director in Charge of Sales is higher. Michael says titles are irrelevant and tells them to work it out among themselves.

11:33–11:55rivalry
11 ▸ 11:55
11 · Conference room · act2Michael's Orientation Video 'Lazy Scranton'

Michael leads everyone to the conference room for the merger breakfast. He stops Meredith from drinking champagne and tells Kelly not to eat snacks. Michael plays his video 'Lazy Scranton', featuring him and Dwight rapping. Jim compares it to 'The Scranton Witch Project'. Michael thinks it's an A++.

11:55–14:52social_rule_violation
12 · Scranton office · act2Karen Practices Her Voicemail

Michael listens to Karen's voicemail greeting and says it's unconvincing. He suggests she try it with an Italian accent. Karen does so, and Michael approves.

14:52–15:09social_rule_violation
13 ▸ 15:09
13 · Scranton office · act2Jim and Dwight's Mind Games

Jim asks Dwight if he has anything new to report. Dwight says that's not how it works. In an interview, Jim admits he's trying to get under Dwight's skin because the angrier Dwight gets, the more marginalized he becomes.

15:09–15:48humiliation · scheme
14 ▸ 15:48
14 · Scranton office · act2Andy Charms Angela With Screensaver

Andy shows Angela his new screensaver, which she likes. He compliments her smile, and she thanks him.

15:48–16:03seduction
15 · Break room · act2Jim and Pam Talk in the Break Room

Pam asks Jim why he's not drinking grape soda. Jim says he's evolving. Pam asks if he wants to get coffee after work, but Jim declines, saying he's still settling in. Michael walks in, making things awkward.

16:03–16:52avoidance
16 · Scranton office · act2Distractions From New Coworkers

Ryan and Creed are distracted by Hannah using a breast pump. Creed takes a photo of her breast and displays it. Karen is bothered by Phyllis's perfume. Martin is distracted by Creed's loud phone call. Stanley says in an interview he's sat downwind of Phyllis's perfume for years.

16:52–18:28social_rule_violation · obsession
17 ▸ 18:28
17 · Conference room · act2Michael's Integration Celebration

Michael announces the integration celebration and plays 'What is Love?' but the music fails. He dances awkwardly. Michael then asks the new employees to sit on the conference table to show they are not above them. Karen questions why they aren't equals.

18:28–19:54social_rule_violation
18 · Conference room · act2Tony Quits and Michael Fires Him

Michael asks Tony to join the others on the table. Tony says he can't physically get up. Michael and Dwight try to lift him, but Tony stops them. Tony quits, citing Michael's management style. Michael fires him instead, saying they don't have quitters.

19:54–22:09humiliation · escalation
20 ▸ 25:04
20 · Scranton office · act3Michael Tries to Fix the Merger

Angela complains about the dysfunctional environment. Michael says the merger was supposed to be a loving union but has become like when his mom moved in with Jeff. He decides it's his job to fix it.

25:04–25:08petty_grievance
21 · Parking lot · act3Michael Fakes a Prank to Unite the Office

Michael announces that Vance Refrigeration let the air out of their tires. He tries to rally everyone to steal their refrigerators. Toby points out Michael's car doesn't have a flat tire. Michael shows a hate note he wrote himself. The staff realizes it's a trick but eventually bonds.

25:08–25:54scheme · escalation
22 · Scranton office · act3Jan Makes Jim the New Number Two

Jan calls Michael and asks if he fired Tony when he was quitting. Michael says yes. Jan says they have to pay severance. Jan tells Michael that Jim is his number two, not Dwight. Michael announces Jim as his new number two, without a pay raise. Andy tries to suck up.

25:54–27:12betrayal · scheme
23 · Scranton office · act3Jim Tells Pam He's Seeing Someone

Karen calls Jim and says she needs a drink. Jim hangs up and finds Pam. Pam says things were weird today. Jim tells her he's started seeing someone. Pam says that's cool. They agree they'll always be friends.

27:12–28:30confession · avoidance
24 · Parking lot · tagDwight and Andy Argue in the Parking Lot

Dwight and Andy argue about their cars, with Dwight mocking Andy's Trans Am and Andy mocking Dwight's X-Terra. They exchange insults about funerals and intelligence. Andy claims he got the best of the interchange.

28:30–29:50rivalry · humiliation
03

Same DNA

nearest episodes by gene profile

Episode facts

Wikipedia · Wikidata
Aired
2006-11-16
Overall
#36
Writers
Director
Ken Whittingham
Viewers
8.43M (US)
Pace
135 words/min · 125 questions

Where to watch

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In this episode

AB
Andy Bernard151 episodes · drives 333 scenes
JH
Jim Halpert184 episodes · drives 443 scenes
DS
Dwight Schrute184 episodes · drives 491 scenes
MS
Michael Scott152 episodes · drives 1262 scenes
KF
Karen Filippelli39 episodes · drives 5 scenes
PB
Pam Beesly184 episodes · drives 289 scenes
HS
Hannah Smoterich-BarrUrsula Burton9 episodes · drives 1 scenes
TG
Tony GardnerMike Bruner7 episodes