There were a plethora of memorable characters in The Office. The show not only did an amazing job when they cast their main characters but also with their side characters. This was what allowed the series to create some of the most intriguing storylines throughout its run.
Yet, the main criticism when it came to their characters was that they sometimes got rid of them too soon. It was disappointing when they did so, as there was still a lot they could have done with them. On the other hand, there were other characters who did not mesh well with the rest of the cast, even if they were portrayed by fantastic actresses or actors. This honestly played a big role in the fact that the final seasons lost a lot of the magic that made this series so splendid.
Left Too Soon: Michael
It was immensely challenging when Michael left the show. He, of course, was the heart of the series, and it was never able to replicate its magic completely after he left. He needed to be there until the end, but it just did not come to fruition.
Michael's portrayer, Steve Carell, wanted to star in movies, so it made sense. However, even with that being the case, the show desperately needed him. Without him, the struggles for the series began.
Wish Were Never There: Deangelo
Deangelo had the potential to be an amazing addition to the cast, but they wrote his character all wrong. His character seemed to lack an actual personality, as it constantly changed between each episode he was in.
The end of his storyline came fast and was entirely unnecessary. There was no real reason to bring Will Ferrell to the series, only to basically kill him off shortly after. It just seemed that Deangelo was on the show as a short-term filler after Michael left for good and to get a boost from Ferrell's star power.
Left Too Soon: Charles
Charles was on the series for a short time, but his character was magnificent. He could have been a fantastic mainstay for the series, as he was the no-nonsense leader that Dunder Mifflin desperately needed.
He could have worked well with Michael, had the two actually paired up as co-managers. Charles also was quite humorous, even if he was a bit more on the serious side most of the time. That would've made him a great consistent foil for Michael and Jim.
Wish Were Never There: Nellie
The prime issue with Nellie's character was that she was rushed to the top of the series, even when nobody even knew she existed. Fans were not allowed to warm up to her, which ultimately hurt her chances of being well-received.
There was just not a lot to like about her personality either, as she was extremely unlikeable and selfish. It did not help that she was immediately disliked, as even when the series tried to make fans feel bad for her, they did not buy into it.
Left Too Soon: Karen
Karen was a character fans were upset with, as she was the person that kept Jim from dating Pam. Yet, she did nothing wrong, as she simply dated somebody who was single beforehand. Thus, Karen received a lot of unwarranted criticism.
Karen was also pretty funny, so she should have stayed. She had the potential to be way more than just Jim's love interest, but sadly, she was never given a chance to shine elsewhere. However, she did quite well in her limited and short-term role.
Wish Were Never There: Cathy
Cathy was such a forgettable character. She was simply there to try to steal Jim from Pam, which of course, did not come to fruition. She was not on the series very long either, as there was no other storyline given to her.
Thus, this made Cathy's time on the show entirely unnecessary, especially since nobody believed Jim would leave Pam for her. She didn't offer much of anything in terms of comedy either.
Left Too Soon: Luke
Luke was Michael's nephew, but he was rarely seen. He was hired by Michael to be an intern, but he purposely caused chaos while working there. It was quite humorous, as Michael let him get away with a lot because he saw potential in him and due to their relationship.
However, Michael did of course lose his patience and spanked him. Luke quit from there and sadly was never seen again. This was disappointing, as he was hysterical and had the potential to be a fun side character.
Wish Were Never There: Robert California
Robert California had some interesting qualities, but overall, he was just not the best fit for the series. He became a massive part of the company immediately after he joined, which definitely forced his screen time to be far more than needed.
He was not the worst of the new characters, but he definitely would have worked better in a different role. It was hard for fans to get attached to him because of how quickly he became a big part of the series.
Left Too Soon: Roy
Roy was a character who was meant to be disliked, as it was what built up to Jim and Pam's relationship. Yet, even with this being the case, he was such an intriguing character in the series. He had a bit of a temper, sure, but he also was funny in his own right.
The series should have given him more of a story after his break-up with Pam. Although he thankfully did have his happy ending, as he moved on and his wedding was shown. However, he once was a big part of the series, so he deserved to stay for longer.
Wish Were Never There: Clark
Clark was introduced to the series in the final season, and well, he was immensely forgettable. He was basically a less interesting version of Dwight, as he tried to climb to the top of the company. Yet, there just wasn't much likable about him.
Clark may be considered one of the prime examples of why this series struggled after Michael. He was another character who seemed to be made as an attempted filler, but it just did not work out. There seemed to be no legitimate reason as to why he was even added.