 " The Boat " received mostly positive reviews from television critics . The A.V. Club reviewer Erik Adams called it " another solid late @-@ period episode " , praising Rainn Wilson 's commitment to Dwight throughout the main plotline . He also complimented the Andy @-@ Erin subplot , and considered it superior to the previous episode for featuring more consistency in Andy 's characterization . He also complimented Dan Sterling and John Krasinski 's work on the episode , saying that the script made " good on previous hints that Andy and Erin ’ s story won ’ t end like Jim and Pam ’ s " and that Krasinski 's direction added " just enough energy not to feel overwhelming " . He gave the episode a " B + " . IGN writer Cindy White called the episode a " pleasant surprise " , for its use of the supporting characters and its development of the season 's plotlines . She complimented most of the subplots , and compared Pete and Erin 's romance to Jim and Pam 's from the early seasons of the series . Her only complaint was Andy 's characterization throughout the episode and the ninth season , as a whole , for being " mopey and self @-@ obsessed . " Despite this , she gave the episode an 8 @.@ 0 / 10 , calling it " Great " . WhatCulture ! reviewer Joseph Kratzer gave the episode four stars out of five , praising the episode for making the previously unsuccessful Oscar @-@ Senator storyline and the Andy 's bankrupt family storyline entertaining . He also complimented the fact that Jim and Pam 's bickering from the previous episode was not expanded upon , and praised their prank on Dwight , calling it a " great bit " and " an excellent comedic balance to the more serious story of Andy ’ s inner demons . " 
