After finishing the UK’s original The Office, I quickly moved on to the US version. I was interested to see how the humor would differ between the two; I was amazed at how well the script had been adapted yet kept the brilliance that was found in the first series. The US counterpart ran for far longer, stretching its story over 9 seasons. It’s surely no easy task to keep the momentum of such a highly-rated show going over a long period of time, and for some fans, there’s a noticeable downfall from when Michael leaves the show.
Steve Carell’s retirement from The Office was always going to hit hard. Yes, he’d done some outrageously stupid things, and yes, there were moments when I wanted to tell Michael myself that if he just relaxed for a second, everything would be okay. But he was a three-dimensional character, layered with sadness and loneliness, that made us understand why he’s not always socially aware. As big a part of the show as he was, there were a few other reasons that the show dropped off in later seasons.
When Did Steve Carell Leave The Office?
I think it’s safe to say that Steve Carell’s departure from The Office in Season 7 was one of the most emotionally charged sitcom exits of all time. It’s no secret that the cast had a close bond when the cameras weren’t rolling, so not only did we know it was tough for the characters to see their boss leave, but the actors themselves would be saying goodbye to a much-loved cast member. A few reasons for Carell leaving have been floated, but on The Office Ladies podcast, the actor himself said he believed other characters deserved to have a chance to shine, and therefore, it was time for him to step down.
The plot line felt natural and gave Michael a dignified end to his somewhat chaotic story. Getting engaged to Holly meant that he was going to move to Colorado so she could take care of her parents. Michael’s character arc had taken him through the hardships of toxic relationships and the desperation of getting people to like him before finding his home with the woman that we could all see was right for him. Writers got creative with his exit, giving Michael’s colleagues the opportunity to bid him farewell in a fitting manner, including Pam running barefoot through the airport, showing that the love and care he’d been searching for was always right in front of him with his friends at Dunder Mifflin. Unfortunately for a lot of fans, waving Michael off also felt like they were waving goodbye to The Office that they knew and loved.
Seasons 7-9 of The Office Weren’t as Strong as Early Seasons
Although Michael had been given a solid ending, Season 7 had already begun to change, which was a risky move to make with such a loyal fan base who had wholeheartedly enjoyed what had come before. During the earlier seasons, we got to know the core characters in the early stages of their adult lives and how they progressed both personally and professionally. The strength of the series was centered on the hope that Jim and Pam would find a way to each other, the focus on Michael’s pitifully destructive behavior, and watching Dwight revel in the absurdity of Schrute traditions. Each element was part of what kept us hooked from the “Pilot” episode.
For some, Michael leaving was an indication that the golden era of Scranton’s Dunder Mifflin had met its finish line with Season 7.
As would be expected, as those characters got older, their lives altered, and such storylines would eventually draw to a close. For some, Michael leaving was an indication that the golden era of Scranton’s Dunder Mifflin had met its finish line with Season 7, and pushing past for two more seasons was developing something completely different that almost made it feel like a new show. The inclusion of new characters with outlandish personalities who didn’t have the compelling nuances that were found in the original Dunder Mifflin employees sometimes overshadowed the delicate, thought-provoking writing that the show was known for.
Michael Scott’s Exit Isn’t the Only Thing That Went Downhill
Obviously, The Office had to adapt to not having its main character around anymore. The Scranton branch was still up and running, and to keep the illusion of a documentary going, the business had to continue moving forward. However, a combination of new characters and eccentric plot lines seemingly lost the essence of what made The Office a believable mockumentary. And that’s a crucial part of any sitcom in that particular format; we need to trust it. It has to feel authentically as if we are dropping in on the middle of a working day. A few long-running storylines took unexpected turns that didn’t quite match the characteristics of various characters. Jim and Pam were pushed to their limits, and the worry that Jim might have a one-night stand with Cathy or Pam might fall for Brian filtered out the irrefutable affection they felt when they were just meters away from each others’ desk.
And that’s a crucial part of any sitcom in that particular format; we need to trust it.
As the episodes rolled on, it became difficult to get on board with Andy’s weird antics. In some ways, he felt like a replacement to Michael, because they shared an insecurity that encouraged them to act out in the hopes of gaining approval from others, but, of course, there could only be one Michael Scott. In no way do I believe that the last two seasons of The Office were the worst of American television, but they simply weren’t the same. Personally, I enjoyed the subtleties that were threaded through the pre-Season 7 episodes. The set-up of the show meant that every glance or facial expression from a character had meaning, ramping up the unspoken moments of awkwardness, love from afar and quiet emotion. From the later stages of Season 7, the realness of its characters became a little more caricature-like, but that was indeed to some viewers’ tastes. Sure, it was disheartening to see Carell leave, but the reason the last two seasons are a contentious topic for fans is because they weren’t the same as they used to be. Nevertheless, if a rerun of one of those episodes pops up on television, I won’t be changing channels.
