By Jaime Hoerbelt

In the words of Michael Scott, “This is going to be a very good year, very good.” The new season of “The Office” started off just as funny, innovative and thought provoking as it has been for the past three seasons. The same quirky characters, the strategically placed awkward silences, the looks from Jim that transform viewers into mind readers and Michael’s baffling comments that make one secretly wish for the authority to say them can be found.

This season, actions speak louder than words. With a “Seinfeld”-like theme where nothing happens to further the plot during most of the episodes, the humor and entertainment rests with the dialogue and characters. The majority of shows today use the plot and situations to carry the show. But what drives “The Office” is interaction between characters.

As the show continues into its fourth season, it is apparent that the action will play a bigger role in the development of the show.

So far, Michael has been in two car accidents, one involving co-worker Meredith, the other involving a lake. Dwight killed Angela’s cat causing her to dump him. Pam and Jim are dating (finally) and Kelly tricked Ryan into thinking she’s pregnant with his child.

In earlier seasons this much commotion would have taken six episodes to unfold, not two. Will the season continue in this fast-paced manner or will it return to its Scranton-like charm? Either way, the core is still the characters’ relationships.

The connections the employees of Dunder-Mifflin have with each other are outrageous, dynamic, complex – all of which make them hysterical. Michael and Jan, the most unlikely couple in history, are surprisingly still serious though the role-reversal in their relationship is disappointing. Viewers miss Jan playing the straight man to Michael’s crazy antics. And while fans always knew Jan had a dark side (why else would she be attracted to Michael?), losing her job has made Michael look responsible and stable.

Jim and Pam are officially together, but their dating has been very anticlimactic. The tension that fueled most of the plot of earlier seasons is gone as is the tension viewers all felt while waiting for something to happen between the two co-workers. They are the same people and their friendship is much the same as when it started, but one still feels nervous watching what drama will unfold.

Will “The Office” have the same appeal to the large number of fans who have patiently anticipated the relationship? For now, fans will have to hold their breath a little longer to see what happens between them.

And while Jim and Pam are just beginning, Dwight and Angela are over. The oddball couple have been sickeningly sweet to watch but now that PB&J (Pam Beesly and Jim) are an item, it works for writers to have Angela and Dwight at each other’s throats.

Regardless, longtime fans are still sad for the co-workers who seem to be made for each other. They are both characters who would be hated in reality. But on TV, they are portrayed sympathetically enough that they become lovable. Who knew “The Office” was really a cleverly hidden soap opera?

Corporate is dead wrong if they think nothing gets accomplished in the Scranton branch. Sure, they may not sell much paper, but it is obvious the world of the small screen needs this dysfunctional office to make everyone jealous that work is not this much fun in real life.

The lovable staff of “The Office,” which airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. on NBC, returns for a fourth season of antics and anticipation. (tv.com)