The Office stands above other workplace comedies in large part because of its hilarious and unique characters. The people who work at Dunder Mifflin provide endlessly quotable lines over the course of the series, but some of them have more meaning than they appear.
Viewers watch characters like Michael Scott and Pam Beesly evolve over the course of the show, but there are certain traits that came to define their characterization. And every so often, there would be a line of dialogue that perfectly sums up what each of the characters is all about.
Updated on August 23, 2022 by Colin McCormick: Years after it ended its run on television, The Office remains so rewatchable thanks to its amazing ensemble of quirky characters. And as popular as Michael and Dwight are, there are so many more players that fill this show and make it better. Given how beloved they all are, fans can look at just one of their quotes and see how it perfectly defines a certain character on The Office.
"Do Not Care."
Stanley Hudson
There are not too many Dunder Mifflin employees that have a lot of ion for their job, but Stanley Hudson is likely the most unenthusiastic of them all. He doesn’t care about the work, the office shenanigans, or his colleagues. In short, he simply does not care.
This very honest ission could really come from Stanley during any one of Michael’s ridiculous meetings. He is too consumed with his crossword puzzles to even deliver a full sentence about his lack of interest.
"Actually…"
Oscar Martinez
Oscar Martinez is a rare member of the office, as he is a genuinely intelligent and competent worker. He is often the most rational person who the others turn to when they need something explained, or he simply points out their errors without being asked.
But while Oscar’s intelligence can be a big help at times, it can also be quite annoying. He often starts a conversation with “Actually…” before offering a condescending explanation of why they are wrong. He is the smartest person in the office, and he likes to remind everyone of that.
"I Can’t Control What I Say To People. I Spend My Whole Day Talking."
Kelly Kapoor
Kelly Kapoor is the customer service representative for the Scranton office, which is ironic, as she doesn’t seem to have much interest in anyone but herself. She acts more like a high school girl than a professional adult, failing to take responsibility for any of her actions.
Her assertion that she cannot control what she says speaks to that immature nature. And her claim that she “talks all day” is also hard to deny as she spends most of her time babbling about pop culture and gossip.
"I'm Such A Perfectionist That I’d Kind Of Rather Not Do It Than Do A Crappy Version."
Ryan Howard
Ryan Howard is introduced as the office’s new temp and gradually becomes one of the sleaziest characters on the show. He has a very fun arc that sees him reinvent himself as some wannabe tech entrepreneur without actually accomplishing anything of note.
Ryan is all talk when it comes to his latest innovations. But he lacks any ambition and is guaranteed to abandon those plans as soon as things get even remotely difficult for him.
"I Guess He's The 'Stupid Guy' In The Office, Huh? Cause Up 'Til Now, We Didn't Have One."
Kevin Malone
All the characters on The Office have done something dumb at one time or another, but they could mostly all rest assured that Kevin would outdo them all. Kevin is a character who is easy to like because he is an overgrown child.
When he sees Dwight make a mistake, he calls him out as the "stupid guy" in the office, not knowing that he easily holds that title. It speaks to his lack of awareness, but also his innocent view of the world that makes him so much fun.
"Jim, Would You Prefer A Nature Metaphor Or A Sexual Metaphor?"
Robert California
When speaking with Jim, Robert California asks if he'd like a nature metaphor or sexual metaphor. Obviously, Jim chooses a nature metaphor and Robert begins with "When two animals are having sex…"
This is the kind of vibe Robert brings to the office as the new boss. He controls the conversation at all times, intimidates people, and makes them feel uncomfortable, but doesn't seem to care. He also has a tendency to bring up sex in just about any situation.
"Why You Always Gotta Be So Mean To Me?"
Toby Flenderson
Toby s the other employees of the office in attending the christening of Jim and Pam's daughter. But he is reluctant to go inside the church because he hasn't spoken to God in a long time. When he finally gets up the courage, he goes into the church, looks up, and whines about being picked on.
While Michael's disdain for him seemed unfair at first, Toby eventually becomes easy to dislike, and his constant mistreatment turns into the show's best running gag. He becomes the punching bag for the whole office and just gets more pathetic as the series goes on. Sometimes The Office fans feel bad for Toby, and other times they love laughing at his misfortune.
"In The Gang World, We Use Something Called Fluffy Fingers."
Darryl Philbin
After getting mocked in the office, Michael asks Darryl for advice assuming he was in a street gang and would know how to get respect. Darryl plays along, suggesting Michael use a gang move called "fluffy fingers" and tickle his adversary.
Darryl likes to pretend he is separate from all the nonsense that goes on in the office, and he minds his own business by staying in the warehouse. But he cannot help but allow his sillier side to shine through at times, especially when he is having fun at Michael's expense.
"And Since You're Always Having Relationship Problems, I Thought You'd Be Able To Give Me Some Advice."
Angela Martin
Angela starts doubting her relationship with Dwight after he kills her cat. She asks Pam for advice, quite rudely pointing out that Pam's relationship problems in the past should make her an expert in this area.
Angela is a very cold person who doesn't like to show anyone kindness if she can help it. But her relationship with Dwight is also very important to her, which is why she is so desperate for assistance. Even so, Angela also can't help but criticize Pam even when asking for guidance.
"Planking Is One Of Those Things Where, Hey, You Either Get It Or You Don't. And I Don't."
Erin Hannon
The entire office becomes obsessed with the latest trend of planking and Erin excitedly s in on the fun. When explaining it, she suggests it is something that only those "in the know" will really understand, then quickly clarifies that she is not one of those people.
This is a perfect example of how Erin is perhaps The Office's sweetest character, although not one of the brightest. Yet even if she does not understand what is happening, nor that she just insulted herself, she will still commit to it with total enthusiasm.
