In case you were pondering whether the DMV itself is acutely aware of Colette's exasperating nature, Episode 8 delves into this intricate matter with a delightful twist. Dubbed a quasi-Christmas special, particularly in the context of the last-minute appearance of themed sweaters, "Splash Fountain" features an entire subplot centered around Colette's exasperatingly desperate demeanor, echoing multiple mishaps throughout the season. And, to the amusement of all, it's Barb who delivers these unvarnished truths.
The path this subplot takes is absurdly fitting. An office disagreement arises over how Barb should allocate some spare office funds, with Ceci and basically everyone else in the office yearning for a new coffee machine, while Barb yearns for the sweaters. Believing that Ceci might pressure Barb into getting the coffee machine, Colette decides to befriend Barb and charm her into seeing reason. However, this swiftly devolves into an aggressive parasocial relationship, with Barb keeping Colette up all night with cat memes.
Colette's well-intentioned gesture takes an even more eccentric turn when she finds herself trapped in a self-driving car with Barb on their way to a karaoke night that swiftly transforms into a jolting circuit of the DMV parking lot. When Barb reveals that she has already ordered the sweaters, Colette lets slip that she has been doing all this "for no reason," clearly offending Barb. But in a humorous and surprising turn of events, Barb was only playing along with Colette because she thought she desperately needed a friend. Her various recent workplace embarrassments do not exactly suggest a level-headed individual.
Colette eventually escapes the driverless car, which has drawn a crowd, by screaming out of the window that Barb bought the sweaters, causing a furious Ceci to stand in the vehicle's path. By this point, Barb and Colette have made amends—they agree they are friends, just not ones who text outside of work—but the damage has already been done. The sweaters are here to stay.
Elsewhere in DMV Episode 8, Gregg makes a new friend—the customer service rep he engages with when he tries to order a new chair through employee services. This jealousy-inducing encounter prompts Vic to attempt to bond with Noa over protein powder, kettlebells, and the titular splash fountain, so-called because of its inconsistent water pressure and its tendency to soak anyone who tries to drink from it. As it turns out, Vic and Noa don't have much in common, but it's quite hilarious to watch them discover this in real time.
However, even this revelation holds a surprising, heartwarming twist. Ceci unveils to Vic that the customer service hotline is powered by AI, and Gregg, for some reason, has fallen under its human-like charm. (In case it wasn't already evident, the message from "Splash Fountain" is that every soul in the office is yearning for companionship.) Vic, with a sinister grin, intended to use this newfound knowledge as a weapon against Gregg. But as he witnesses Gregg's genuine gratitude for what he believes to be a newfound friendship, he finds himself unable to go through with it. It emerges that even Vic, in his loneliness or otherwise, possesses a tender heart.
