Jenna Fischer is speaking out in support of the often-overlooked last years of The Office and it could change the way fans see those seasons.
Fischer explained on Dana Carvey and David Spade’s podcast Fly on the Wall that rewatching the original Office series in one go for her podcast with Angela Kinsey made her realize how much the show meant to her.
“I was surprised by how recently people still believe the show goes downhill after Steve left at the end of Season 7,” Fischer said.
After Taking a Second Look, I See It in Another Way
Ever since the series ended in 2013, The Office has become a favorite comfort show for many. Even fans and people involved in the show have wondered if the middle seasons were its best and that things worsened afterward, after Carell left.
Fischer argues that the narrative isn’t viable.
There seemed to be a belief among the cast and people behind the show that Seasons 3 or 4 were the best, according to Dan. Another thing I often hear is that after Steve left the band, we were just going through the motions and our shows wasn’t as exciting.
But now, having taken time and rewatched everything, Fischer feels differently about it.
My favorite episodes were quite a few from Seasons 8 and 9, even though Steve had stopped being part of the show. These outstanding stories were still there.
Trying to find the magic again
For fans who always thought the show couldn’t be the same without Michael Scott, this is a big surprise. But praising the later seasons by Fischer gives us a fresh way to see the show as the work of the talented team behind it.
Fischer still admitted that the program’s early years were very strong.
She said, “I have a lot of favorite episodes during Seasons 4 through 6, with two that I think are especially memorable: Dinner Party and the Michael Scott Paper Company arc.”
She said that time in gaming was both interesting and enjoyable.
Dealing with the Effects of Perception
How did the idea begin that The Office was no longer creative start making the rounds?
Fischer said that a portion of it could have resulted from preference for famous brands rather than their quality.
She remembered that after that season, some of the awards stopped because that’s how everyone involved thought. Maybe we just started letting our minds get to us.
While The Office was nominated for Emmy’s outstanding comedy series in 2006 and several times after that, the show’s audience began to move on, even as it brought in new characters, new management and updated relationships.
In spite of this, Fischer points out that being highly praised doesn’t always capture the whole picture, especially for a show watched by many.
A New Time for The Office
These remarks by Fischer are especially relevant right now for fans of The Office. NBC is working on a fresh version of the comedy, set in the same universe and highlighting a whole new set of characters. The series to come will allow a new group of viewers to experience Dunder Mifflin in a unique way.
It looks like we won’t be seeing Steve Carell back in the TV version of Scranton, Pennsylvania.
Carell explained to The Hollywood Reporter last year that he’d watch the show but not be a guest. My character isn’t needed in a show like that, so it’s just not happening.
Because of the excitement around the reboot, old fans are remembering the show and looking at it from a new angle — and Fischer’s viewing experience just might remind us of the charm and laughter that kept the show going strong for so long.
There’s More to the Show Than Its Label
Fischer does not view The Office as a one-off job she worked on many years ago. It’s a topic she still feels close to, thanks to her podcast and fans who appreciate the series.
Even months after the last episode, her thoughtful look back proves there’s still new material to explore in a series that changed a generation.
“It’s great all throughout,” she said again and fans who watch the later seasons may find that to be true.