If you've never heard of The Office before, it's a 2000s sitcom about a bunch of coworkers that work at Dunder Mifflin Paper Company. Every episode documents an endearing deep dive into the personal and professional lives of the employees.

When I bring up that I like the office, there's always one of two reactions from the person I'm talking to.

Some people say they LOVE the show as well, and they usually say something about Jim and Pam (I guess because romance is why people watch a show called The Office)

But mostly, they say that they couldn't get through the first or second season, that it was way too boring and slow. The characters are boring and it's hard to watch or something of that genre. I absolutely disagree with this. Have you ever been in a massive crowd of people and thought, "Wow, I can't believe all of these people have lives". Or something of the sort? It's the beauty of those seemingly backgroundish, average lives that are emphasized in the show. The muted dreams, the hilarious interactions, and the brain-tingling love stories. All of those are not hidden behind the seemingly boring facade of an office, but rather accentuated.

I think this point is best summarized by Pam in the Finale of the show:

"There's a lot of beauty in ordinary things, isn't that kind of the point?" - Pam Beesly

Most people strive to become extraordinary. They want to stand out above the rest, and in doing so, they forget that beauty lies in normalcy and in the ordinary things that happen every day. I have seen people on a crazy grind recently on LinkedIn and at networking events and whatever else. Interaction has become transactional, awkward, and when someone says "Hi Jason", I'm almost always feeling like they want something from me. It's so comforting to watch a show like The Office and take a step back from those transactional interactions to remember what it was like to really talk to people.

I'm guilty of being enthralled in the love story of Jim and Pam like many others who watch the show. I think they're so cute and endearing and the writers did a great job with them and Roy. But to me, this love story isn't just about silly teenage romance or some other love that any other show could have. It's the most amazing character development tale that could ever happen. Pam starts as a belittled, quiet, engaged but no marriage in sight secretary. Pam blossoms over the duration of their romance into someone confident, outspoken, and dream-chasing. Jim obviously longs for Pam, and that's compelling. He's a cynical and sarcastic character with a good sense of humor, although I can't help but feel that it fades a little as the series progresses, he starts taking his personal development seriously and really becomes an amazing businessperson. In a way, the love story of Jim and Pam is one of ambition, breaking out of your shell, and personal evolution. It's what every shy, ambitious, and most of all NORMAL person dreams of.

Michael Scott and Dwight Schrute are some of the greatest comedic relief characters ever written. I don't think I've cringed and laughed so many times in succession at the same characters. Michael is like a father. An awkward father who can make dimwitted racist or inappropriate comments. Dwight is like the class pet, who always behaves exactly how you expect him to. It's always consistent that Michael really wants his employees to genuinely think of him as a friend, and that is the most heartwarming thing. Even though he does some stupid stuff, he always does it because he wants people to like him. Unbenownst to him, he already brings warmth into everyone's lives, as a truly kind person. Dwight is a funny character who seems shallow in the beginning, but quickly becomes any watcher's favorite. He loves, he hates, and he is always calling for Michael. The often cringy, face palming interactions that they have expose a deeper theme of doing anything for the people that you love. Dwight and Michael are both genuine, and I love that about them. I wish that there were more genuine people and genuine interactions like the ones in the office.

At the end of the day, I don't love The Office because it's the funniest show ever made (even though it is hilarious), and I don't love it just because Jim and Pam are cute either. I love it because it reminds me that being normal is not a failure.

In a world where everyone is trying to optimize every second, chase status, and turn every interaction into leverage, The Office feels like a quiet rebellion. It slows you down and says, "hey, these small moments matter too." Lunch breaks, awkward conversations, dumb jokes, unspoken crushes, growing up a little at a time. That's real life.

So yeah, maybe it's "just" a show about people selling paper. But to me, it's a show about people learning how to be people. And that's exactly why it's my favourite.