How The Office wrapped up its characters' stories after the documentary ended

Bringing The Office to a close with its very own series finale was an unprecedented moment in sitcom history, where viewers were literally tuning into the final chapter of a story they’d felt spiritually connected to over the years. The finale, grandly titled “Finale,” did manage to give the much-needed closure to the docu-soap, which blithely showcased the lives of Dunder Mifflin Scranton’s employees for almost a decade.

However, it certainly didn’t mean their life journeys ended. In fact, the last episode of The Office highlighted strongly how much the documentary shaped their lives as they learned to deal with everyday life challenges, finding resolution, dealing with turmoil, and even blissful acceptance amidst ordinary reality.

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The fame of the documentary changed lives—for better or worse

While some employees returned to their normal routines after The Office docuseries aired, for others, it became a reason to stay in the limelight. Andy Bernard, for instance, became a viral sensation and not for the reasons he could have preferred.

His breakdown during a reality singing competition turned into an internet spectacle for mockery as his autotuned renditions flooded the web, and jokes at his expense became commonplace. But in a twist of fate, he found redemption.

After being invited (as a joke) to give a commencement speech at Cornell, his sincerity turned the crowd on his side, transitioning him into a new role in the admissions office, sometimes proving how failure can result in surprising opportunities.

Erin Hannon went through possibly the most heartbreaking experience. The panel discussion for the documentary features a guessing game where Erin’s previously hidden biological parents step forward, unleashing a very touching moment of a family reunion.

For the first time, viewers learned alongside fans that Erin’s actual birth name is Kelly, and the fact serves to further demonstrate how profoundly the documentary affected not merely its audience but the family dynamics it explored.

From the other perspective, the ever-mysterious Creed Bratton decided to go completely off the map, fake his death, and go into hiding to evade arrest. Even so, he managed to sneak into Dwight and Angela’s wedding disguised as another guest. There, he was escorted away by the police quickly. Classic Creed.

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New beginnings, sweet goodbyes & one last toast for The Office

The finale provided closure to numerous character arcs. Meredith Palmer, who, for so long, was the office wild card, shared that she was earning a PhD in school psychology. Her reasoning was an “explanation” of sorts: “Hey, it was college.” She claimed she was on her “best behavior,” which, while ridiculous, was oddly heartening.

Schooled in bar ownership after the accounting blunders that cost him his job (and included his self-invented “Keleven”), Kevin Malone seemed more suited for his new title. While Dwight struggled with the decision to fire him, both men experienced an emotional reunion at the bar during Dwight’s wedding. Although office life was never suited for Kevin, he finally found something he was good at.

Master procrastinator and crossword wizard Stanley Hudson now resides in Florida—and likely so after the X-rated documentary chronicling his numerous antics, sobbing openly in public. While he stayed quiet for most of the finale, his dry humor and blunt honesty were still alive and well in the form of effective one-liners, even in his old age.

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Some love stories never die—even if they should

Ryan and Kelly’s return was chaotic, messy, and oh-so-true to form. Kelly was in a serious relationship with pediatrician Ravi, but that didn’t stop Ryan from reigniting things with her. In a classless move, Ryan selfishly caused his infant, Drake, to have an allergic reaction just to have Ravi out of the picture.

As expected, Ryan and Kelly bolted together and, in the process, left the baby behind. Luckily for him, Nellie Bertram, who had been desperate for a child for the longest time, volunteered to become Drake’s guardian and poofed to Europe while jokingly commenting that if Ryan wanted his baby back, he could “find her.”

Pam had a much softer ending for herself and Jim compared to Ryan and Kelly. After nine seasons filled with love, endless pranks, and evolving as people, the heart of the show was perfectly summed up by Pam in her own words:

“There’s a lot of beauty in ordinary things. Isn’t that kind of the point?”

With that statement, The Office made sure its audience hadn’t forgotten the fact that life doesn’t necessarily need to be extravagant to be lived. It’s the small, usually uneventful places and situations that turn out to be the most memorable.