The Office is one of the most iconic sitcoms in TV history. When it was first released, the workplace sitcom was groundbreaking because it popularized the mockumentary format and addressed some of society's most relevant issues, such as sexism, racism, and homophobia. However, as the show is almost 20 years old, it has aged poorly in some aspects.
By framing these issues as jokes, The Office inadvertently idealizes behaviors that are unacceptable. For example, Jim and Pam's relationship is toxic, and Jan's abusive behavior toward Michael is rarely addressed.
This list discusses sensitive topics, such as assault and abuse
10 Jim's Constant Pranks Veer Towards Bullying
Jim spends a lot of time in The Office pranking Dwight. From putting his stapler in jello to imitating his wardrobe, Jim loves to push Dwight's buttons. Since Dwight is such a difficult character, it's easy for the audience to empathize with Jim whenever he makes one of these practical jokes.
However, as proven when Jim plays a practical joke on Andy, these situations can quickly get out of control. Additionally, it shows that Jim lacks professionalism, even when he thinks Dwight has it coming. While Jim is smart and kind, he can also be extremely childish, which didn't age well.
9 Jim And Pam's Relationship
Jim and Pam were one of sitcom's best couples from the very start of The Office, but their relationship doesn't hold up the longer the series goes on. By season 9, Jim makes Pam cry over Cece’s recital recording failure in one of the most difficult scenes to watch in the show.
Jim develops toxic behaviors, such as becoming increasingly jealous and feeling insecure about Pam's life in New York. He feels proud of Pam rejecting Ryan, he's clearly uncomfortable when she's approached by a waiter, and eventually, he's worried that Pam is going to cheat on him with Brian, the cameraman. The audience can now see that Jim's possessive attitude toward Pam isn't good for a relationship.
8 Meredith Is A Caricature Of An Alcoholic
Throughout The Office, there are several jokes about Meredith's alcohol dependency. Dwight even calls Meredith's son a "latchkey" kid, a pejorative term for neglected children. While it was very common to take these serious issues as jokes in the 2000s, nowadays, people know better than to frame these situations as punchlines. There's no doubt that a lot of jokes in The Office have aged surprisingly well, but Meredith's character is definitely not one of them.
7 Oscar Was A Punchline
The Office was ahead of its time when it comes to LGBTQ+ representation, but it's obvious that the show missed the mark when it's viewed through a modern lens. Oscar isn't an offensive and stereotypical character, like many at this time, but he's still very underdeveloped.
The Office seems to only use Oscar as a sounding board for jokes about homophobia. While it criticizes all kinds of bigotry, the show still didn't try to include more and better LGBTQ+ characters. The audience is now used to way better representation in TV shows.
6 Roy's Violent Outbursts
Throughout The Office, there's no doubt that Roy is controlling, manipulative, and violent. However, his abusive behavior is never truly addressed as such. While it's clear that he's a terrible boyfriend for Pam, the show mostly portrays him as a joke and doesn't warn the audience about his problematic attitude.
In real life, a person like Roy, who often throws tantrums and displays physical and verbal violence, is clearly abusive. A 2023 show with this sort of character would at least include a trigger warning or address their behaviors as abuse.
5 Jan's Abusive Behavior
The abuse Michael endures from Jan shouldn't be treated as a joke. When Michael and Jan date, she manipulates Michael into intimate situations against his will and ignores him when he uses the safe word.
In the last few years, people have raised awareness about male victims in abusive relationships because, up until recently, society rarely discussed male victims of assault. While Michael is advised by the women in The Office to end this relationship, this huge problem is still addressed lightly.
4 Michael's Sexism
The Office usually frames Michael as a joke. He's a privileged man in a position of power, and the show warns the audience about behaving like him. Even so, some of his sexist behaviors and harassment jokes were taken too far.
For example, when Phyllis is flashed by a stranger in the parking lot, Michael makes one of the most disgusting jokes in The Office and moves his hand through his pants to emulate the assault. Fans can't believe The Office made this joke, which can be triggering and upsetting. Additionally, his casual sexism and inappropriate comments about women make the show uncomfortable to watch, even if it's realistic.
3 Jim Wasn't The Good Guy
Jim Halpert is easily one of the most charismatic leads in a sitcom, but he doesn’t necessarily stand the test of time. Jim is a big killjoy who hates parties, socializing, and even Halloween costumes. At times, he's selfish, insensitive, and even rude.
For example, when Jim is left in charge of the office, he decides to turn all the birthdays into just one celebration, which makes everyone feel neglected. He is also deeply insensitive when he goes to Utica with Michael and Dwight to prank Karen after their messy break-up. These situations prove that Jim's only thoughtful when it's convenient for him.
2 Jim, Pam, And Karen's Love Triangle
In the second season of The Office, the show lays the groundwork for Jim and Pam to have a wholesome and sweet relationship. However, after being romantically rejected by Pam, Jim starts dating Karen in the following season, despite still having feelings for Pam.
This situation led to an uncomfortable love triangle that aged very poorly. It was unfair to both Pam and Karen, and it created a barrier in what could have been a great friendship between these two characters. For a show that is constantly talking about feminism, The Office forgot to include valuable female friendships and, instead, perpetuated the toxic trope of female rivalry.
1 The Office Jumped The Shark
By the time The Office released its ninth and last season, the show had already lost some of its most important writers, such as Mindy Kaling and B. J. Novak. On top of that, Steve Carell also left the show, which meant the absence of its most important character, Michael Scott.
While there's a lot of great talent in The Office, Carell's comedy worked as a gravitational center for the series. His performance as Michael is like watching a slow-motion trainwreck: while it may uncomfortable, it's impossible to stop watching. Without his presence, the show stopped making sense. Writers should have canceled The Office when Carell left the series.