Moving Pictures: I (Finally) Watched The Office

A few years ago, it was absolutely impossible to escape the hype coming from the community (hah) that watched The Office; it was so commonplace to see GIFs from highlights that even without knowing what it was about, I knew some of the characters and their names/tropes. As a teenager and young adult, every time I tried to watch it, I just didn't get the hype: the humour felt out of place, it didn't have a plotline, and it didn't seem like as big of a deal as everyone was making it out to be. I chalked it up to people having a "different sense of humour" and moved on.

As I aged and changed, so did my humour and understanding of the world — I've changed so much that it feels like teenagers and I aren't the same species! Thanks to this, I decided to try out the show one more time before I gave up for good; after all, what better time than when you're heading to your 31st birthday? But before we go on, a quick spoiler warning: if you haven't watched the show, I'll spoil a lot of it.

As I mentioned earlier, I vaguely understood what The Office was all about. From the many, many (many, many) GIFs that I've seen throughout the years, I knew that Jim and Dwight didn't like each other, that they were being filmed a la home movie style, and that Michael was... expressive, to say the least. I also figured those were the three favourite characters (though I didn't expect such a large cast), and I never thought that Dwight was particularly funny: he just seemed like a dick.

As a 30-year-old, I have a much better grasp of the world and the people in it, so adult problems and circumstances are ("crazily" enough) very relatable to me now. The first thing that struck a chord with me was, obviously, Michael Scott. He wasn't what I had expected whatsoever, as despite having an inkling that he was a bit of a jerk at times, I couldn't have pictured just how much he pushed the envelope. Even knowing that the show had aired back in 2005 didn't prepare me for the sort of comments and jokes he would make, as this sort of thing is nowhere to be seen in modern media. It never goes so far that it feels distasteful, especially as the whole shtick is that he's supposed to be a total boomer, but there were some moments that made me want to get swallowed by the earth to avoid the cringe... and I loved it.

The first boss I ever had was similar to Michael; he made the workspace feel like anything but, and he also had a habit of finding his foot in his mouth, much like Steve Carell's fantastically performed character. Sadly, he passed away unexpectedly only a year ago, and as the first loss I've experienced, it's been challenging to know how to manoeuvre around missing someone you love dearly. Seeing Michael in all his boomer glory as he struggles to grasp why things aren't okay to say or do while also being very forward-thinking in the way he treats his position as a boss brought me back a lot of memories. This helped me find the closure I needed while simultaneously making me love the cast that much more.

I also understood why Jim was such a beloved character; John Krasinski is a phenomenal actor (much like Steve Carell, really), as he has a way of delivering subtle facial expressions that bring the character to life. Whether he was doing something mischievous, feeling uncomfortable, or being put on the spot and filled with emotion, it was hard to believe this wasn't a real person and situation I was witnessing. Although his life isn't nearly as "eventful" as some others in the cast, his relationship with Pam was one of the biggest highlights for me, especially because the writers managed to avoid so many cliché moments with them (until the end, of course). It was hard not to get attached to both of them as I watched such a genuine, different, and tangible relationship unravel.

Regardless of Michael and Jim's greatness, the more I watched the show, the more I understood why Dwight seemed to be everyone's highlight. Thisis a very special character who embodies the saying, "You had to be there", because unless you're watching the show, it doesn't matter if you understand the context and the joke; you just won't get it. Dwight is more than an acquired taste — he is, by far, the most unique aspect of The Office. Rainn Wilson's character didn't captivate me because he was so good at selling the performance, like John Krasinski and Angela Kinsey (who played Angela Martin; my God, that woman never breaks character!) but because he seemed to have so much fun with it.This isn't to say he's a bad actor; it's just that the sheer fun and glee he had playing Dwight was evident in the half-smirks and expressions that sometimes seeped through. When this happens, it's hard not to have even more fun with the scenes, as it's a nice fourth wall break that reminds you these are people, and they are also having a great time.

Because I didn't recognise many of the others in the cast, I worried that Michael, Jim, and Dwight would be the only memorable ones, but I was — thankfully — very wrong. Pam is one of the most loveable characters I've had the pleasure of getting to know, and seeing her grow into such a lovely mother, wife, and woman was one of the most satisfying journeys I've experienced as a viewer. Andy, Erin, and Nellie were incredible, too, despite some of them not having nearly as much screen time as the others; heck, I could write a whole article about Andy and his journey (though, I wouldn't count the last seasons; everything went to heck after Steve Carell left). 

I would be lying if I said that everyone brings something to the table and makes the show worth it because I actually think it'd be the opposite: Kelly, Ryan, and Creed feel like they take more than they give. Without them, the show doesn't change: their impact is so minute and their personalities so insufferable that I would've rather have more time with those I cared for. Andy is a great example because he gets a lot more screen time at the end of the show, and it doesn't feel like he's the real him by then. The horrible first impression and anger issues that the writers managed to manoeuvre around came crashing down at the end, making him fall into old habits and become a complete caricature. One of the many things that made him special was the way he overcame all his flaws, and the avoidance of the "relapsing" cliché was fantastic… until it happened. No one words it better than Michael himself, "You sold us all on Andy — a product nobody wanted."

Of course, the show isn't perfect — nothing is. I lost count of how many times I cry-laughed throughout the nine seasons, but there were also many moments where it lost my interest. From painfully awkward situations and extremely annoying characters, The Office had a ton of hiccups along the way that culminated in Michael's sudden departure. I knew it wouldn't be the same, especially as the show had picked up when he became more involved in the backend of things as producer, executive producer, writer, and even director.

I am infinitely grateful that I finally got to enjoy The Office. It's hard to put into words what makes it special because it goes beyond the excellent acting and writing. Usually, it's the actors, script, effects, and story that stick with me after watching something, but this time, what clicked is such a unique charm that you just don't get it until you do, but once it happens, you'll be left using GIFs about it until the end of time.