The Office's Most Heartbreaking Moment Will Leave You Speechless

Summary

The Office's darkest moment is a throwaway joke about the closure of Prince Paper, making the usually likable Michael Scott seem cutthroat and ruthless.

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Questioning the survival of Michael's paper company in light of Prince Paper, a long-standing business, raises the stakes. The episode highlights the evidence of Michael's extreme measures, shedding light on the limits to which the well-meaning manager has been pushed and adding a dark twist to his character.

The Office showcases a good amount of dark humor and poignant moments, with its darkest moment being an unexpected background gag. While the American version of The Office is not as dark as its original UK counterpart, it still manages to deliver emotional punches throughout the series. Episodes like "Business School" in season 3 and "Employee Transfer" in season 5 delve into heavier themes despite the show's comedic workplace setting. These episodes offer a level of poignancy that surpasses many other sitcoms like Parks and Recreation or Brooklyn Nine-Nine, but they do not contain the saddest moment of the show.

While The Office explores moving storylines for most of its characters over its nine seasons, it is a seemingly insignificant background gag that encompasses the bleakest moment of the entire series. To fully grasp the significance of this dark joke, it is important to acknowledge that The Office aired during the economic recession from 2008 to 2010, and the show occasionally touched upon the effects of the downturn. Season 5 of The Office, which aired in 2009, references the poor state of the economy multiple times. In this context, the show's saddest gag portrays the typically likable protagonist as an unexpectedly ruthless villain.

The Office Made A Throwaway Joke About The Prince Paper Company Closing

In episode 21 of The Office season 5, titled "Two Weeks," there is a subtle joke that may be easily missed by viewers. However, this joke carries a poignant reference to a previous episode. In this episode, Michael seeks a new job and makes a phone call, only to discover that Prince Paper is no longer in operation. While the connection may not be immediately apparent, viewers may recall Prince Paper as the small family-run paper company from episode 13 of season 5, titled "Prince Family Paper." In that episode, Michael and Dwight obtained Prince Paper's client list in order to steal their customers.

What adds to the sadness of this situation is the fact that Michael, who is usually portrayed as the show's lovable character, played a role in causing the downfall of the Prince family's business. If viewers catch this reference, the voicemail that Michael receives takes on a somber and heartrending tone rather than just being a casual nod. While it may come as no surprise for Dwight to engage in ruthless behavior for the sake of profits, and even Jim showing signs of amorality at times, Michael is considered the heart of The Office. Therefore, the episode's revelation that even the well-intentioned branch manager has been pushed to such extremes carries a dark undertone.

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The Prince Paper Joke Raised The Stakes For Michael's Paper Company

The failure of a long-established, independent family business paper company in competition with Dunder Mifflin raises doubts about how Michael's small company could have survived without funds or a track record. Despite The Office’s ending implying Michael's happiness, the existence of Michael Scott Paper Company posed a significant obstacle. In this ill-fated venture, Michael attempted to surpass Dunder Mifflin by creating his own paper company. Even though Dunder Mifflin eventually acquired Michael Scott Paper Company, its ultimate failure was a foregone conclusion. This dark joke in The Office highlights the inevitable outcome of its downfall.