With the new onslaught of fans through streaming, The Office has secured itself as one of the most beloved sitcoms of all time. If one needed proof of its popularity, look at the outcry that arose after it was announced Netflix would lose the streaming rights to the Scranton-based series.
But, even the most popular TV shows aren't perfect. For all the quotes, jokes, and memories fans might have, many parts of The Office haven't aged as well as they could have. While this is the case, is it enough to overwhelm all the positive aspects of the show?
Aged Poorly: Packer's Humor
David Koechner has been a mainstay in American Comedy for years. His role in Anchorman as Champ in Anchorman is arguably his most beloved. But his role as Todd Packer is just as remembered.
Todd has never been the ultimate fan favorite. Every time he pops up he brings the worst out of Michael, which can result in either hilarity or annoyance for most fans. Packer's offensive humor has only aged worse as the years go on.
Timeless: Dwight
The Office produced some of the most iconic sitcom characters of all time. Although it is up for debate, Dwight Schrute is the best among them. Portrayed over the whole of the series by Rainn Wilson, Dwight is the weirdo who pops up in every person's workplace.
He has poor boundaries, says off-color remarks, and have the oddest interest. For all of it though, you can't help but want to watch him more and more. Funnily enough, the more you learn about Dwight, the weirder and more loveable he gets.
Aged Poorly: Losing Steve Carell
Steve Carell was the glue that held the whole show together. At the beginning he was the ultimate foil, playing the worst boss one could imagine having. But as the series went on, the heart of the show belonged to him.
When Steve Carell decided to leave the series, it was at the show's height in popularity. Leaving on top was probably the best decision he ever made as an actor. But, the show still never fully worked afterward. After a few more seasons of attempted reworkings, it eventually had to stop.
Timeless: The Mockumentary Style
If any show defined a comedy genre for a generation, it was The Office. Today we take the mockumentary coemdy series for granted. So many shows have picked the format as the base for their series, blending in the signature jump cuts and interview gags.
But it was The Office that brought it to the mainstream. Not only that, but the documentary aspect paid off by the end. So many mockumentaries never actually address the filming whatsoever.
Aged Poorly: The Benihana Waitresses
Maybe it is to specific of a gripe, but this particular gag just isn't funny anymore. So much of the series concerns itself with using cringe-worthy humor, blurring the lines between offensiveness and humor. Most of the time this pans out, but occasionally it doesn't.
The episode storyline where Michael brings two waitresses from Benihana as his date to the Christmas party is embarrassing in all the wrong ways. The fact that he can't tell either apart says a lot about him as an individual, but it still doesn't give agency back to them.
Timeless: The Way It Captured Cringeworthy Office Life
On the other hand, the show was at its best when it displayed the embarrassing behavior and social snafus of office life. Perhaps the dinner party episode showcases this best. Why on earth anyone would want to go to their awful boss' home to have a dinner party with other awkward coworkers is a mystery.
But, as viewers, it is absolutely hilarious. The taboo actions of Jan, Michael, and Dwight are unreal and turn into the dinner from hell.
Aged Poorly: Most Of Diversity Day
Yeah, this one doesn't sit too well anymore. It might have been funny back in the early 2000s when it was new to have these kinds of conversations at work, but nowadays diversity is kind of a given. Making fun of these initiatives does far more harm than it does good. It's just an episode that feels out of touch for modern audiences. While it offered a fun bit of satire years previously, it just doesn't hold up. The same can be said for episodes such as Gay Witch Hunt or Women's Appreciation.
Timeless: The Improv
If the show can be commended for anything, it is its talented cast. The Office assembled some of the best improvisational comedians to date, especially Steve Carell. So many scenes are unscripted or were the product of improv experimentation.
Looking back on so many of the deleted scenes or outtakes are so fun because of this. There is so much good material that folks still haven't seen. It is a testament to these performers and improvisers that so many of these lines have remained memorable.
Aged Poorly: Its TV Tenure
As mentioned previously, Steve Carell left the show at the opportune time. For many viewers, the show should have ended at the same time. Like what happens with most successful sitcoms, The Office began to overstay its welcome.
There were certainly highlights moving forward, and the finale was one of the best TV endings to date. But, one can't help but feel a sense of staleness overtaking the series near the end.
Timeless: The Heart
Perhaps the biggest reason the show has remained as beloved and relevant as it has is due to the likability of these characters. Early on in the show, the humor was the focus in contrast to the characters.
While it occasionally leaned too far in the opposite direction by the end, it didn't matter. Audiences stuck with the show because we cared about these characters as individuals, couples, friends, and weirdly as coworkers. It captures that rare sense of family that many of us are lucky enough to find at work.