The Office had multiple iconic and hilarious moments, but unfortunately, some made viewers want to quit the show altogether. The Office cast was what made the show so brilliant, focusing on Regional Manager Michael Scott (Steve Carell), his dedicated second in command Dwight Schrute (Rainn Wilson), and the branch’s various employees, including salesman Jim Halpert (John Krasinski) and receptionist turned office manager Pam Beesley-Halpert (Jenna Fischer). However, not everyone appreciated Michael’s management style, and some employees left Dunder Mifflin in The Office earlier in the show.
The show ended in season 9, and The Office finale’s ending scene beautifully wrapped up the stories of Dunder Mifflin Scranton’s staff. However, several moments before then made audiences give up on The Office. Some of these occasions ranged from being flat-out frustrating to making little or no sense narratively or characterization-wise. While The Office was one of the best sitcoms of all time, it was still a victim of moments that caused viewers to tune the show out.
The Office is available to stream on Netflix and Prime Video.
10.Holly Thinks Kevin Is Stupid In The Office
Season 4, Episodes 18 & 19
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The two-part season 4 finale, “Goodbye Toby,” included the first appearance of Michael’s future wife, Holly Flax (Amy Ryan), as Toby’s (Paul Lieberstein) replacement as he prepared to move to Costa Rica. Holly got on with everyone in the branch, but because of a prank by Dwight, she was led to believe that Kevin (Brian Baumgartner) had a mental disability. Holly spent the entire episode enthusiastically encouraging Kevin for his work. While Holly was respectful, it was unintentionally patronizing to Kevin. Considering the context of her role in HR, it was strange that she didn’t realize that Dwight had lied.
However, the issue with this moment wasn’t Holly but how The Office changed Kevin’s character. As the show progressed, Kevin became less intelligent and was used as a comedic device for being a “stupid” or “buffoon” character. In season 2, Kevin was supposedly a poker expert, but by the end of The Office, he was barely functioning as a person. Dwight embarrassing Holly and the show pushing the narrative of Kevin being disabled was not only wrong and used lazy humor, but it was also overplayed by season 5.
9.Pam Coming Back “The Wrong Way” In The Office
Season 5, Episode 8
Roy’s (David Denman) discouragement of the idea was part of why their relationship fell apart
Despite the long distance, Jim and Pam’s relationship in The Office persevered while she was at art school in New York. However, when Pam was told that she’d failed art school and would have to stay in New York for another three months, Jim was adamant that she completed the experience and come home “the right way.” Pam was devoted to art school, and Roy’s (David Denman) discouragement of the idea was part of why their relationship fell apart.
Art was Pam’s dream, and Jim supported her in this, so when she came back “the wrong way” and decided to drop out of school, it was disappointing for both her and her fiancee. Pam previously stated it was the right time in her life to resume her studies and follow her dream as she wanted to marry and have children in the future, yet she abandoned the opportunity anyway. Even though the distance must have been difficult for her, they were only a few hours apart, and three months would have flown by if she’d pushed through.
8.Idris Elbas’ Charles Miner Ruins A Good Thing
Season 5, Episodes 20 & 21
In The Office season 5, Idris Elba was introduced as Charles Miner, Michael’s new boss. Although there wasn’t anything particularly bad about him at first, he quickly became one of the most frustrating supporting characters the show ever had. Charles was a stickler for the rules and didn’t tolerate Michael or Jim’s nonsense, and while that was the professional thing to do, there was no doubt that he lacked respect for his new colleagues. He also sucked up to David Wallace massively, which made him look a bit of a fool at times.
Even though Charles was trying to learn about his new company, his approach could have been better. Charles undermined Michael at every turn and there was no doubt that Michael was a nuisance, but he’d worked for Dunder Mifflin for decades and ran a successful branch. Charles should have followed the status quo, even for a little while, at least so he could try to understand why Michael was such a solid manager. After Michael quit over his behavior, Charles showed no remorse and treated Dunder Mifflin as just another job, pushing away a man with steadfast dedication to them.
7.Michael Scott Breaks Up With Pam’s Mom
Season 6, Episode 9
This was such a disappointing and heartless moment from Michael,
Throughout the show, Michael repeatedly told his employees that they were a big family. However, he took this idea too far when he started dating Pam’s mom, Helene (Linda Purl), after they met at Jim and Pam’s wedding. Pam honestly struggled with discovering this, which was perfectly understandable, but she eventually grew to accept her mother’s relationship with her boss. Pam getting over her reluctance because she wanted Michael to be happy made him breaking up with Helene on her birthday even more hurtful.
There was nothing wrong with Michael’s reasons for ending things with Helene. He realized they were in different stages of their lives, and he’d always wanted children. They both knew that, realistically, this wouldn’t happen for them. But rather than calmly talking this through with Helene in private, he broke up with her in front of Jim and Pam in the middle of her birthday lunch. This was such a disappointing and heartless moment from Michael, especially as he constantly harped on about being a family, and Pam slapping him at the end of this episode was absolutely warranted.
6.The Office’s Infamous “Scott’s Tots” Episode
Season 6, Episode 12
Michael was often disappointing, but ruining those teenagers’ lives was a new level for him
One of The Office’s most cringe-worthy episodes ever was the season 6 episode “Scott’s Tots.” From start to finish, there were so many issues with this episode. Firstly, “Scotts Tots” expanded on Michael Scott’s back story a little more by introducing the group of high schoolers the manager had once promised to pay college tuition for. Based on the number of kids and the average cost of tuition at that time, Michael would have needed roughly around $1,940,940 to afford it (via IMDB), which was simply absurd.
Michael’s pained face as he watched his “Tots” rap for him was uncomfortable, mainly because their performance was quite cheesy, too. Erin’s (Ellie Kemper) presence, while wholesome, made the situation worse because of her enthusiasm and inability to pick up on Michael’s hints for them to leave. Michael had plenty of schemes and plans in The Office that fell flat, but never before had one failed that also negatively impacted so many people’s lives. Michael was often disappointing, but ruining those teenagers’ lives was a new level for him.
5.Steve Carell Quits As The Office’s Michael Scott
Season 7, Episodes 20, 21, & 22
Steve Carell left in The Office season 7, saying goodbye to Michael Scott after being in the show since its pilot. Behind the scenes, his decision to depart was related to his contract, but it was still a shame to see Carell go. In the show, Michael was moving to Colorado to be closer to his fiance, Holly’s family. However, although Michael’s leaving was disappointing, the way the show executed his exit was the biggest issue. Immediately after getting engaged, Holly disappeared and only had a couple of lines of dialogue via phone call.
A few episodes were then spent setting up Michael’s replacement, Deangelo Vickers (Will Ferrell), only for the new manager to be killed off shortly after. Michael’s last couple of episodes didn’t do the character justice, with the exception of the Dundies musical performance from the staff, which was ruined at the last moment by Deangelo joining in. Even the way Michael had one-on-one goodbyes with most of the staff was wasted and felt forced. It was sad enough Michael exited The Office, but his departure wasn’t to the same standard many expected for such an iconic character.
4.Cathy Trying To Seduce Jim When The Office Visits Florida
Season 8, Episode 16
Jim would never cheat on Pam, but even if he did, it wouldn’t be with someone they worked with
As a selection of the characters traveled to Florida to set up the Sabre retail store, Cathy (Lindsey Broad) set her sights on Jim. Despite the lack of evidence, Cathy believed that Jim and Pam’s relationship was on the rocks and pushed her way into his hotel room, shamelessly trying to seduce him. Her actions were unprofessional, as Pam’s replacement for maternity leave, but also delusional, as Jim didn’t pay her any attention other than as a colleague. Jim would never cheat on Pam, but even if he did, it wouldn’t be with someone they worked with.
While the season 8 storyline with The Office’s Cathy Simms trying to get Jim to cheat on Pam in Florida was wild, it was lucky that The Office decided to cut certain parts of it. In the book Welcome to Dunder Mifflin: The Ultimate Oral History of The Office, John Krasinski spoke about a scene where Jim and Cathy were supposed to kiss, but the actor refused to film it, stating that if The Office “show[ed] Jim cheating, [the audience would] never come back.” Thankfully, Krasinski agreed with many’s opinion that the storyline was forced and made no sense.
3.Andy Sells Dunder Mifflin Back To David Wallace In The Office
Season 8, Episodes 23 & 24
One multi-season arc in The Office saw Dunder Mifflin bought by technology company Sabre, and the employees began selling printers and other computer gadgets. But Sabre didn’t stick around for too long, and in season 8, Andy encouraged former CEO David Wallace (Andy Buckley) to repurchase the paper supplier. Wallace sold a patent for a children’s toy to the US Army for millions, and after some hesitation, he agreed. However, so much time was dedicated to Sabre that the sudden jump back felt like The Office was forcing nostalgia.
David Wallace buying Dunder Mifflin in The Office didn’t contribute anything new to the show. Andy only pushed Wallace so he could get his job as manager back from Nellie (Catherine Tate), and he didn’t think about how it would impact his employees. Even though Sabre liquidized anyway, they likely stayed at Dunder Mifflin because of the employment security it gave them. It was a great way to bring David Wallace back into the show, but it lacked anything narrative-wise.
2.Andy Brings Pete And Erin’s Exes Into The Office
Season 9, Episode 16
An astonishing moment in season 9 was Andy’s (Ed Helms) response to his breakup with Erin. After Andy discovered that Erin was dating Pete (Jake Lacy) immediately after their split, rather than acknowledging that he mistreated her and drove her away, he acted like a child. To make everyone involved uncomfortable, Andy hired Pete’s ex-girlfriend Alice (Collette Wolfe) and also brought back Erin’s ex-boyfriend and old colleague Gabe (Zachary Woods). Erin supported Andy while he abandoned her for three months to sail his boat, and he did nothing but disrespect her upon his return.
Andy bothered to keep in contact with Dunder Mifflin CEO David Wallace frequently, but Erin only heard from her boyfriend a handful of times. Even though it must have been tough for Andy to see Erin move on so quickly, she deserved to and was still respectful of his feelings anyway. But it wasn’t enough for Andy, and he made a big fuss by bringing back people from Erin and Pete’s pasts just to shame them. Andy had plenty of petty moments in The Office, but this was by far his worst.
1.The Office Pairs Up Pam With Brian The Boom Operator
Season 9 Storyline
The hint at a possible affair between Pam and Brian was nonsensical and ridiculous
The storyline between Pam and boom operator Brian (Chris Diamantopoulos) in The Office season 9 felt like a way for the show to throw in some last-minute drama. Even Pam and Jim acknowledged that their lives weren’t as dramatic anymore in the season 9 premiere episode, and this storyline seemed to be a way to replicate the same chaos and tension the pair experienced in earlier seasons. The hint at a possible affair between Pam and Brian was nonsensical and ridiculous.
Even though Jim was traveling because of his new job, there was no way that he wouldn’t have spotted something happening between his wife and another man in The Office. However, one of the other reasons why The Office season 9’s Brian twist failed was because he wasn’t fleshed out enough as a character. While this storyline may have worked in earlier seasons, there was no context to Brian’s character other than his interactions with Pam, and it was frustrating and too difficult to accept anything between them because of this.
