 The episode received mostly positive reviews from television critics . TV Squad 's Michael Sciannamea gave the episode a largely positive review wrote that Michael is " totally taken with himself " , but still " has shown us his vulnerabilities " . Sciannamea noted that , by showing the audience Michael 's humanity , the writers were making " this sitcom so compelling " . Sciannamea , however , did point out that this is the second week in a row that " Pam is offended by something Jim has said or done " , which in his mind " will get tiresome quickly if it continues " . " Miss Alli " of Television Without Pity graded the episode with a " B + " . Rolling Stone named the scene wherein the employees read Threat Level : Midnight as the tenth funniest in The Office 's first three seasons . 
