The family-like staff featured in The Office is arguably what made the show so adored, but one hidden detail in the series finale proved Gabe was hated by his fellow employees. Based on the original British series by the same name, mockumentary sitcom The Office followed the Scranton-based Dunder Mifflin Paper Company’s employees’ daily work lives. For its nine seasons and 201 episodes, the series utilized a single-camera setup to make its ensemble of eccentric personalities truly appear to be in a workplace documentary.
Though less prominent than The Office’s other characters, Dunder Mifflin’s Gabriel Susan “Gabe” Lewis (Zach Woods) had a featured role in seasons 6-8. After Dunder Mifflin was sold to the printer company Sabre, Gabe, who worked at Sabre’s Florida headquarters, was assigned to overlook the Scranton branch. Often perceived as a stick in the mud, Gabe’s monotonous life seemingly revolved around his job. This was only perpetuated by his erratic boss, Sabre’s CEO Jo Bennett (Kathy Bates). Though his storyline largely involved his relationship with receptionist Erin Hannon (Ellie Kemper), his arc focused on his failed attempts to earn his coworkers’ respect and maintain his authority. Gabe’s stiff character often fell short for viewers, and a hidden detail in the series’ finale proves The Office’s characters themselves canonically hated Gabe; he was the only employee who had worked there for multiple years that wasn’t included in Pam Beesly's (Jenna Fischer) mural.
Why The Office Characters Didn't Like Gabe
The Office depicted hatred towards Gabe in a way reminiscent of Regional Manager Michael Scott’s (Steve Carell) hatred towards Toby Flenderson (Paul Lieberstein), though unlike Toby, Gabe’s behavior warranted the disdain. Gabe’s job often forced him to have a firm hand and lay down the law. His dedication to company policies was poorly received and ignored, negating any level of seniority he held. He also often attempted to abuse his power (or lack thereof), like in the season 6 episode “Secretary’s Day,” when he suspended Pam and Jim Halpert (John Krasinski) with no pay, later realizing he had no authority to do so. To make matters worse, he lacked a sense of humor and reveled in belittling others, despite his desperation to be liked. Gabe also engaged in somewhat sinister passions, including horror movies, of which he owned over 200.
The Office characters also disliked Gabe because of his questionable treatment of Erin. Like their coworkers, he was often demeaning towards Erin and disregarded her feelings, even making her watch horror movies against her will. He was oblivious to her feelings and failed to see how Erin could be unhappy with him. Things only got worse when they broke up, and he began pathetically groveling to win her back. His condescension and possessiveness verged on harassment, which fueled the other characters' already-established repugnance towards him.
What Happened To Gabe After The Office Ended
In the season 8 episode “Fundraiser,” using money earned from the sale of his patent, former CFO David Wallace (Andy Buckley) bought back Dunder Mifflin, forcing Jo to liquidate Sabre. It’s assumed Gabe lost his job after this. His only other appearance was in the season 9 episode “Moving On,” after manager, and Erin’s other ex, Andy Bernard (Ed Helms), brought him back to make Erin uncomfortable after she engaged in another workplace relationship. After this, Gabe “enrolled in a Chinese corporate program which “rents” white people to appear more impressive to clients. His only job there is to be seen and not heard,” (via NBC). Though Gabe was one of Dunder Mifflin’s least popular employees among The Office fans and characters alike, he was a noteworthy – yet ephemeral – addition to the series.