Talk:Brian/@comment-71.248.162.59-20181116123421

In-world, it makes sense to have Brian's screentime play out the way it does. Remember that this documentary isn't being produced rapidly, it doesn't hit the air for 9 years, so there's plenty of time to choose which stories they want to feature and how to edit the footage. The crew have obviously been interacting with the office workers the whole time, especially in one-on-ones, but also in other situations. They make a big show of confronting Jim and Pam with the footage of them kissing in Season 4, and earlier in Season 2 helping Pam spy on Dwight and Angela. For the most part, the editors have been able to cut around any dialogue to maintain the illusion of separation, but Brian's actions in Vandalism force their hand. Once they know he has to be on camera, they have to hastily put together an angle for why he would act out of line, and thus is born the sloppy crush plot. It feels tacked on and shitty ''for in-world reasons. ''In fact, it's not unreasonable for Brian to have been coached by the producers prior to the Valentines Day lunch ("make sure you mention her crying," "see if you can use the thing with you and Alyssa to get them talking about their problems," etc.) and almost certain that he was coached before the last conversation with Pam ("we'll have a crew outside, just get her on the porch so we get better footage").

Looking at it from a writing perspective, the viewers needed to get warmed up to the idea that the characters are going to face the documentary actually airing. This starts in the first episode of Season 9, when Pam asks about why they're still filming, and carries through the whole season.