The Mind-Blowing Secret Behind Michael's Creepiest Final Line on The Office

Summary

The Office finale was made even more memorable with Steve Carell's unexpected appearance, providing emotional closure for both the devoted fans and the cast. His poignant final line, where he humorously mentioned his "children" getting married to each other, evoked both warm sentiment and a tinge of awkwardness.

Creed Bratton's delivery of Michael's concluding line during the table read brought a eerie twist to the scene, skillfully concealing the surprise of Michael's comeback.

Carell's ultimate lines as Michael Scott, which included his iconic "that's what she said" joke, were impeccably suiting for the character and offered a gratifying conclusion to his narrative in The Office.

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In an effort to keep Steve Carell's appearance in the finale of The Office a secret, another character was given Michael Scott's final line, which added a more eerie tone. After serving as one of the most iconic characters in television, Steve Carell left The Office at the end of season 7, with his character Michael Scott moving to Colorado to be with his fiancée, Holly Flax. While the employees of Dunder Mifflin still considered Michael part of their family, he was only mentioned occasionally after his departure, until he made a surprise cameo in the season 9 finale as an unexpected guest at Angela and Dwight's wedding.

The reasons behind Steve Carell's departure from The Office are somewhat debated, but his return for the finale left a lasting impression. True to Michael's style, his comeback began with the infamous "that's what she said" line and concluded with a well-intentioned but poorly phrased comment about his former colleagues. The last line uttered by Michael in The Office is, "I feel like all my kids grew up, and then they married each other. It's every parent's dream," accompanied by tears in his eyes and a smile on his face. In this scene, he reflects on his happiness for his closest friends, although it can be seen as quite unsettling.

Creed Bratton Read Steve Carrell's Lines Before Filming

During the table read for The Office finale, the Steve Carell line that was already perfect for the character took on a much creepier tone. Only a few select cast and crew members were aware of Carell's surprise cameo, resulting in most of his dialogue being removed from the table read. The entire scene where Jim surprises Dwight with Michael as his best man was omitted, and Creed Bratton stepped in to read Carell's line about his children growing up to marry each other.

Creed, known for being the most outrageous, eccentric, and disturbing character in The Office, due to his unsettling background stories, aloofness, and insinuations of being a potential murderer, did not have a close relationship with any of the other characters. Therefore, when he mentioned considering Pam, Jim, Angela, and Dwight his children, and expressing happiness that they married each other, it lacked the endearing comedic effect that Michael's delivery had. Instead, Creed's rendition was much weirder, as he said it without any sentimentality or ignorance towards the implications of his words.

Why Using Creed Bratton Was The Perfect Way To Hide Michael’s Final Line

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While the line that Steve Carell delivers in the finale of The Office struck a chord with viewers, giving the line to Creed during the table reading was a clever way to conceal the surprise. Despite seeming like an unusual choice, it turned out to be quite effective. Creed had little to no connection with his coworkers and his presence was characterized by eccentric and amusing remarks that often hinted at a dark side. By assigning the line to Creed, it appeared as just another one of his bizarre comments rather than a significant affirmation from their former boss. In doing so, the showrunners managed to keep Michael's return a secret, effortlessly brushing off the statement and leaving the rest of the cast oblivious.

When Michael utters his final line in The Office, it carries a bittersweet sentiment. The line evokes both happiness and sadness, as it reveals Michael's genuine joy for his friends while also highlighting his tendency to speak without much thought. A perfect reflection of his overall character, Michael's awkward and poorly-worded statement at the weddings of Angela and Dwight, as well as Pam and Jim, captures his essence. Carell's portrayal still incorporates a hint of foolishness, but he delivers the line with heartfelt emotion, demonstrating his deep affection for these individuals who mean the world to him and his genuine happiness for their union.

Giving Michael’s line to the character who would be least capable of conveying the sentimentality behind the quote was also the optimal strategy for The Office to conceal Carell’s cameo. Rather than entrusting it to another parental figure like Phyllis, who would also express it sincerely, the melancholic depth of emotion embodied by Michael Scott's final words was reserved exclusively for Steve Carell, thereby preserving the impact of his character. Just as Michael Scott was given the perfect farewell line, Creed Bratton, in The Office's season 9 finale, had a fitting conclusion to his character as he declared Dunder Mifflin his home—having been homeless—before being arrested by the police.

Steve Carell Leaving The Office Wasn't Just Emotional For Fans

Michael's return in The Office finale was a deeply emotional moment for both the cast and the audience. It comes as no surprise, considering how difficult it was for the rest of the cast to see Steve Carell depart in the first place. Numerous members of the cast and crew openly discussed the impact of Carell's departure from the show and how it subsequently affected the series. Oscar Nunez, who portrays Oscar, expressed that it felt as though the show had come to an end when Carell left, stating, "The Office was over: Steve left, and now it's another show." Indeed, many fans share the belief that The Office lost its momentum after Michael's departure.

Understandably, the filming of Carell's final episode was an extremely emotional experience. Many characters were seen shedding tears in the episode itself, especially Jim and Michael during their particularly heartfelt farewell. However, showrunner Greg Daniels indicated that there was an even greater amount of crying happening off-camera, to the extent that it was disrupting the shooting process. "The most challenging aspect was simply telling the actors, 'This is a comedy show, you can't cry in every scene with Steve! Try to tone down your emotions a bit.'" Naturally, considering the significant impact Steve Carell and Michael Scott had on The Office, it is entirely understandable for there to be a sad reaction to his departure, which in turn makes his return in the final episode of The Office all the more special.

Steve Carrell's Final Lines Are Actually Perfect

Even though the cameo appearance of Steve Carell in the final episode of The Office was kept under wraps, it was undoubtedly a risky move to have him appear for such a small role. Fans would have instantly raised their expectations upon seeing him on-screen and hoped for his presence throughout the entire episode. However, the show managed to capitalize on his brief appearance by delivering two perfectly crafted lines in the finale.

If fans were craving one thing from Michael's appearance, it was another one of The Office's iconic "that's what she said" jokes. This running gag had been a staple throughout the series, and it fittingly served as Michael's parting statement, although unheard by the viewers. Naturally, incorporating this line into his grand return was a given and elicited a hearty laugh.

In addition, Michael's final remark about witnessing his "children" getting married beautifully encapsulates his character on The Office. Known for his unwavering affection towards his employees, Michael often prioritized their well-being over the success of the business. Referring to them as his kids is a heartfelt sentiment that truly reflects the essence of his character. However, being Michael Scott, he managed to make the moment awkward with his unintentionally inappropriate choice of words.