A large number of college students grew up watching "The Office," a show that premiered in 2005 and in its nine-year run became the essential view of the American office lifestyle. For those who grew up on Michael Scott and the employees of Dunder Mifflin, the actual job market is quickly approaching. Now when looking back on the show, the humor is all a bit more uncomfortable.
Dunder Mifflin
Then: Dunder Mifflin is the ultimate workplace. While a bit unproductive, there is no shortage of entertainment, from Jim’s endless pranks on Dwight, to Creed’s random bumbling. Even as kids, we all wondered how this place stayed in business.
Now: Looking back it’s simply amazing the company even survived the first season. And for that matter, how was the Scranton branch the most productive (it really makes me fear for the other branches)? Beneath those hijinks and laughs there’s a ton of uncertainty in the whole job, whether it’s the impending layoffs or the multiple buyouts and takeovers. Here’s a reminder that maybe the paper business isn’t the steadiest these days.
Michael Scott
Then: As the boss would put it, he is Beyoncé always. This man is the best. He’s probably the main reason why the workplace is unproductive, but his strange style always seems to work. We continue to watch just to see him interact with others (especially Toby).
Now: Oh Toby, you saint. Seriously, Michael Scott is the corporate version of a kid walking around with firecrackers. We begin to wonder if the paperwork he is avoiding is a large stack of sexual conduct complaints. Do these bosses really exist? And if so, how can we avoid them, because nothing could be harder than working under a man like that. That’s what she said.
Dwight
Then: Every office needs the one loose cannon, the guy who will practice his karate on his co-workers or hide a wide variety of weapons in the ceiling. Yet deep down under that, there’s something strangely charming about the man. Dwight is passionate about his job, and while he may not show it, he truly cares for his friends.
Now: To start, we would definitely fear for our lives if our co-worker fired a gun in the office. With all the inherent red flags he displays in the office, it’s sad to think that the man who cares the most about the company never really makes any real progress in his career. Sure, he gets a short-lived promotion, but mostly he remains the assistant (to the) regional manager, a position that ultimately means nothing. For how hard the man works, he has little to show for it, bringing up scary thoughts about the term dead end job.
Jim and Pam
Then: The ultimate love story. These two are not only an adorable couple, they bring the best out of one another. We were so ready for these two to get together and for Roy to leave the picture, that when they married and had kids, the show was full of hope.
Now: If only we could have ended at the wedding. Jim and Pam are signs of hope in the show, for sure, but as the show progressed, the relationship is more uncomfortable than inspiring. They have one another, but individually they both give up their dreams to stay at a job they didn’t want to have for the rest of their lives. Pam, the talented artist, never pursues her dream. And don’t even start with the storyline about Jim’s startup company (watching their relationship troubles was like tearing our own hearts out). Oh, how we wanted the happy ending. What comes after the happy ending though is far less than a fairytale. It's way too real...
Creed
Then: Creed is the best.
Now: Creed is still the best.
