Andy Bernard received a mixed reception by viewers of The Office but his noticeable change in behavior could be accredited to one specific event according to this interesting fan theory. The character played by Ed Helms was thought to have changed after ingesting powdered seahorse followed by alcohol, dubbing the blend, "alcohorse." Here's the evidence behind the theory and how it could be debunked.
Helms made his debut as Andy in The Office season 3 after Jim transferred to the Stamford branch. Andy later accompanied Jim to Scranton when the two branches merged. The character was highly insecure with occasional rage issues that were later fixed by counseling. After Robert California replaced Michael Scott and was promoted to the CEO of the paper company, Andy was appointed the regional manager. His career and personal relationships changed greatly in the show's ninth and final season.
The fan theory (via Reddit) suggests that Andy's change of behavior in the later seasons occurred after ingesting "alcohorse" in the season 7 episode "Viewing Party". In the episode, Gabe and Erin hosted a Glee viewing party at Gabe's apartment. Andy was still upset about his breakup with Erin and the fact that she was now dating Gabe. At one point, Andy went into Gabe's bedroom and found a Chinese supplement made from the powdered seahorse. He ingested the seahorse along with a little too much alcohol and became sick. Even though Andy threw up immediately after, the theory suggests Andy suffered from long term effects.
The Office's "Alcohorse" Theory Explained
Powdered seahorse is a real medicinal ingredient commonly used in Chinese medicine practices to treat asthma and sexual dysfunction. Ingesting too much of the supplement could be dangerous and lead to serious health issues. According to the theory, Andy suffered from brain damage after drinking the powdered seahorse mixed with alcohol. It would also explain why Andy reverted back to his old ways of being insecure, brash, and generally unlikeable. In season 9, Andy was consistently rude to Nellie and ruined multiple relationships within the workplace. He was also insensitive when he left Erin behind for months after sailing to the Bahamas on his family's boat before he made the questionable decision to quit his job to pursue an acting career.
There's a bevy of evidence to support the "alcohorse" theory, but it was hinted that Andy's behavior reverted back to his unfavorable qualities after he was sent to Outward Bound manager training before the start of The Office's final season. Just like the theory that radon exposure was poisoning everyone who worked at Dunder Mifflin, there wasn't sufficient evidence to confirm that Andy suffered brain damage. Powdered seahorse is known to cause kidney failure in large doses, but not neurological issues. Mixing it with wine would surely make someone sick but there's no evidence that it would result in long term brain damage.
Andy's change in behavior and odd decision making was a way to write him out of the show for a brief time. The Office season 9 spanned across 2012 and 2013, which was a busy time for the actor outside of the sitcom. The budding movie star at the time voiced a character in The Lorax and also starred in We're the Millers and The Hangover Part III in those years. The "alcohorse" theory is fun to ponder, but it doesn't seem to be a legitimate explanation for Andy's behavior.