Everyone Needs A Little Michael Scott In Them
Yes, that’s what she said.
I’ve lost count of the amount of times I have rewatched The Office. I mean, I even watch season eight every time, which probably speaks volumes about my commitment, my fandom, and, perhaps, my sanity. With each series rewatch, I do gain a different appreciation for the show and its ability to connect so many minor details and of everyday life.
I’ll often ask people, “Do you watch The Office?” It’s as if I think the show is still going on today. I love a good “That’s what she said” moment. Every conversation I have, I can work in an Office reference. While I do watch other shows, I would choose to rewatch The Office every single time over any of those shows.
It has to do with more than the brilliant writing and true to life characters. It’s a connection to the people in our lives, our jobs, and our drama at work. We’ve all experienced our own “Office” moments, whether it’s a ridiculous meeting, an abnormally angry co-worker, a crazy co-worker, or to an over zealous co-worker who constantly has to prove that they are the best. The Office stands the test of time because we live it pretty much every time we go to work.
The first dozen or so rewatches, I watched it through the love story of Jim and Pam. That seemed to be the heartbeat of the show. Through all of the zaniness of Dunder Mifflin, Jim’s pursuit of Pam was the backbone of the early seasons. The Teapot gift, his removal of the card from the teapot, the Karen saga, all the way through “so, it’s a date,” with Pam’s classic reaction that leaves you smiling each time you see it.
While Jim’s pursuit of Pam ends with their Niagara Falls wedding and their story seems to fade a bit to the back, the final season not only tests their relationship, but it culminates with Pam finally having the confidence to leave Scranton with Jim and her kids, realizing she has everything she needs and that she is enough for Jim.
Not enough? You are everything to me.
When Jim hands Pam the card that he pulled from the Teapot in the penultimate episode, Pam realizes that the has, indeed, lived the fairytale out, even if it didn’t feel like it every single moment like when Jim abruptly starts a new business without consulting his wife.
But, I think I was initially wrong about the backbone of the series. Yes, the romance was at the forefront. However, the real story is one that we can relate to even more and perhaps even learn something.
The real backbone of the show is the character arc of Michael Scott. From the season one sexist jerk to the finale appearance with little fanfare, the growth of Michael Scott has been what draws me in with each rewatch. It’s what makes season eight impossible to watch and season nine just enough considering the other characters similarly evolve like Michael did, particularly Dwight and Angela.
The growth of Michael is one that highlights all of the good that was always in him. Even his flaws were well intentioned and led to that growth that allowed him to actually leave Dunder Mifflin without a party. This was coming from the guy who quit Dunder Mifflin because Charles Miner cancelled his 15 year anniversary party. I mean, Michael already bought the figs for it so you could hardly blame him.
While Michael is often portrayed as a self-centered buffoon, we could all stand to be a little more like him. We could all use a little Michael Scott in us.
Michael is the one person in all of the Dunder Mifflin universe to consistently show up and be genuinely happy for the person who is being celebrated. Sure, he makes much of it about himself, but he shows up and makes a big deal. He makes the office come for Kelly’s Diwali celebration. Yes, he proposes to Carol on a whim, but he made people who wouldn’t ordinarily come to a cultural celebration attend and be respectful.
And, sure, Phylis’s wedding was his attempt to be in the wedding party and ultimately led to him being kicked out of the wedding. But, he redeems himself by “finding” Uncle Al and telling Phyliss that he only wanted to make her wedding perfect.
Jim and Pam’s wedding saw the same thing as Michael was the one who orchestrated the Youtube dance down the aisle. He gave everyone at the office a long weekend so that they would attend the wedding in Niagara Falls. Quite frankly, the highlight for everyone at the wedding was the dance down the aisle. That’s all because Michael always wants to make every event special.
Not only does he show up, but he wants everyone to celebrate. He wants to be a part of something special, something bigger than him. Isn’t that why we celebrate events? For most of the series, he takes it too far, but there were moments of selflessness, a gesture only for someone else.
The most completely selfless act was captured in a scene that is one of the best of the series. Pam has an art show and nobody shows up from the office. Well, Oscar shows up and, along with Gil, was nasty about Pam’s work and never bothered to even say hello.
It is Michael who shows up. He makes a big deal about Pam’s work. He buys the painting for the office, which we will see as one of the last images of the series. More importantly, he tells Pam that he’s proud of her. In the moment, those words mean everything to Pam. Michael showed up. He made her accomplishment a big deal.
Couldn’t we all do a little more of that for the people in our lives? Can’t we be excited for them? Can’t we get other people in the room to be excited for them? Can’t we make the everyday event seem bigger?
Michael does that, even for birthdays, making sure that everyone has a party and a proper sing. Of course, he sings the high part of the song because who else would?
Yes, Michael Scott is prone to a pyramid scam or falls victim to the latest fad. But, his trust in people and his loyalty to them is unwavering. He wants to create a work environment where everyone actually wants to be there. He genuinely cares about all of them, which leads to him doing things to hide the realities of downsizing by either throwing a party or playing a murder mystery game. He shows loyalty to Ryan despite never receiving the same type of loyalty back.
Most of all, Michael is just like us; he wants to be loved and accepted.
“Do I need to be liked? Absolutely not. I like to be liked. I enjoy being liked. I have to be liked. But, it’s not like this compulsive need to be liked, like my need to be praised.”
Most of the series is spent watching Michael trying to be on the inside, whether it is an inside joke (I love inside jokes, I hope to be a part of one, one day) or to just simply be included in a happy hour outing. We all have that need to belong; Michael had it for his co-workers who he ultimately regarded as his “very best friends.” That was a shift of him always wanting the office to be a family.
Like us, Michael evolved and it showed in the one area we all have in common, the need to be loved. Michael dated many, often thinking he fell in love instantly like with Carol, Jan, the blood donor woman, and Pam’s mom. He had his toxic relationships with Jan (again and again) and with Donna. He goes through all of that, much like all of us. It took Michael awhile to evolve—it was the herpes episode when he finally realizes exactly what he was looking for and to not settle.
I once said that I was looking for my Pam, but I think what I really meant was that I was looking for my Holly. Michael finally found his real love in Holly. He was ready for it because in each crazy situation he found himself in, for each irrational reaction he had, and for each selfish moment, he grew. He evolved.
That’s sort of the lesson we teach our kids; mistakes don’t define you. It’s how you react from them that does. Michael gets himself to the point where he finds a two-way, genuine relationship. Holly is honest enough to tell him that Threat Level Midnight wasn’t a great movie, but also matches his crazy.
When Michael starts to panic about leaving Scranton for Colorado, all he needs to hear is Holly’s voice. Once he hears it, the nerves go away and he is ready to go, content that Holly is his home. And, the viewer sees him in the airport, happy and excited. He is going to the one person who gets him and accepts him totally.
None of that happens without Michael learning from the bountiful collection of mistakes he makes. He evolves and grows. He doesn’t stay stagnant.
Michael Gary Scott is not a perfect man. He started as a selfish, inappropriate person who alienated pretty much everyone. He did, however, grow and learn to become the best boss Jim ever had. He went from needing to have the spotlight at every party and ruining every party, to leaving without one. Most of all, he was there for the people in his life and always tried to make them feel special.
While generally thought of as the comic relief, Michael Scott’s character development is what makes The Office such a special show. It’s something we can all relate to, even if the path of evolvement is long and hard.
Go ahead…say it.