Best “going over the bosses head” moments onscreen?

Submitted by buffordsclifford t3_z6lzwu in television

Sometimes they can make for boring Deus Ex Machina moments, but every once in a while when they’re justified by the plot, they can be incredibly satisfying.

In the BBC adaptation of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Smiley is mostly a humiliated cuckold fighting against the current of the intelligence establishment, but at the end of the day he has the Prime Minister backing him up, and when he finally constructs his case he unleashes the state authority he has behind him ruthlessly.

My other favorite is in The Wire, although David Simon uses it sparingly, it’s quite entertaining the few times when Mcnulty just complains to the insanely powerful Judge Phelan who strongarms his bosses into supporting the Barksdale case.

What are yours?

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AngrySnwMnky t1_iy3c1nb wrote

My favorite McNulty one is in season 2 when he consults the tide charts to show the dead bodies are in Baltimore jurisdiction thereby pissing off his superiors as it kills their numbers.

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DMPunk t1_iy3h8xx wrote

"The fuck did I do?"

You know damn well what you did, McNulty

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[deleted] t1_iy2c5aa wrote

[deleted]

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pharmorjac t1_iy2gz3m wrote

Dwight tries to get Michael’s job by inviting Jan out for pancakes.

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svel t1_iy2hv21 wrote

also, Daryll goes to “Corporate” (Gabe) with what turns out to be a really good idea after getting shot down by Michael. Michael, as you could expect, explodes at this betrayal.

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OldLadyReacts t1_iy25qc4 wrote

The first episode of The West Wing has an kick ass Deus Ex Machina moment when President Bartlett walks in to the middle of an argument between his staff and some anti-Semitic religious nuts. His very first line in the entire show quoting the first commandment is literally "I am the Lord your God." He's a brilliant debater too so it's immensely satisfying.

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M1ke2345 t1_iy2p538 wrote

I don’t recall them being anti semites, just a Christian right wing group.

Damn you, now I’m going to have to rewatch it, so thanks!

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TheIllusiveGuy t1_iy2z4ju wrote

There was that comment about Toby being from "New York".

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M1ke2345 t1_iy2zp6n wrote

Yes, well remembered.

I think I felt it was more covert anti semitism, rather than out and out blatant.

Still going to watch it again later today. 😉

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Chandrenth t1_iy5jgdm wrote

"She called us New York Jews Josh"

"Yeah, but being from Connecticut I didn't mind so much"

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crazywalls t1_iy3288q wrote

Succession Kendall's moments.

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theyusedthelamppost t1_iy3amp1 wrote

Office Space has moments that fit the spirit of the question while Peter is making a good impression on the Bobs.

-When he's playing Tetris and the boss comes back to ask if he will do any work, but he says "come back later I'm busy"

-When the boss stops to talk in the hallway but Peter just slips right by

I'd suggest watching the movie if you haven't!

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wordfiend1 t1_iy2nfw1 wrote

There's a Columbo episode where the murderer is the Chief of Police and it ends with him being arrested.

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