The compilation of illustrated essays will leave you wanting more when you didn’t even know you wanted any. But, forewarning, reading the introduction may be followed by an audible “whaat?”
Shea Serrano is a best-selling author most notable for his work in pop culture — a given considering his success in the creation of “Conference Room, Five Minutes.”
Not only does the talent of the author prevail in these essays, but the show itself is granted even more honor through it. Clearly, “The Office” has a remarkable depth to explore that goes beyond mere dumb, mindless comedy.
What’s interesting about these essays is that, just like the show, you never really know what you’re getting yourself into. Each section is quite different from the next but no less intriguing than the last — which is definitely something to appreciate in literature. Serrano here is the meeting point where the pop culture and literary worlds collide.
Not to mention the artwork is spectacular and that alone deserves praise. Illustrated by Arturo Torres, the pictures aid in bringing the sitcom stories to life. It’s unbelievable how much detail Serrano can really get out of a single scene, but he analyzes the characters and course of events within the show quite deeply. Based on personal experience, “The Office” is a show that requires fully understanding each character, their personalities and their development to completely understand all of the humor within each episode. “Conference Room, Five Minutes” is no exception to the supply of detail.
After reading the essays, it is undeniable that Serrano is a zealous fan of the show, and when the author’s passion is evident through their writing, it only makes it that much better. Clearly, Serrano has similar humor and sarcasm that is parallel to “The Office,” which would ultimately attract fans of the show to his work. But speaking from the perspective of someone who, don’t get me wrong, definitely enjoys the show but is certainly not a die hard fan and cannot remember every episode down to the clothing of each character, these essays still grabbed my attention.
Without having seen the show, surely you could still follow along as well. The structure of the essays are not only engaging but descriptive enough to enter into the world of “The Office” as a newbie — and if the body of the work isn’t enough, the footnotes provide even further comments. With the teamwork of both Serrano and Torres, “Conference Room, Five Minutes” paints a picture of the referenced scenes equivalent to what actually happens on set, so there’s no need to binge watch clips on Youtube to be able to follow along.
The collection of essays not only dive into some of the famous scenes from the beloved sitcom, but it also takes you on a journey outside of what is provided on the show as well. Serrano’s imagination runs amok — but in the most entertaining way possible. So if you’re looking for what may have happened, Serrano most likely has an answer.
“The Olympiad,” arguably one of the most creative segments of the work, takes multiple concepts from episodes to incorporate into the structure of the essay. But while Serrano’s creativity here is unmatched, he’s also able to acknowledge the genuine geekiness that it all stems from.
“Before we get into this, please know ahead of time: This is, hands down, the most intensely nerdy section of ‘Conference Room, Five Minutes,’ which is remarkable considering that the first essay is something like a 3,000-word scouting report about players in a basketball game played in a warehouse that lasted for less than seven minutes.”
If you have seen the show, you’ll be thoroughly invested, and if you haven’t seen the show, this will make you want to. Besides, these are nontraditional essays, but what about “The Office” is traditional?
The Beat @APU 