A few thoughts on Steve Carell's final episode of 'The Office'

For a character that, over seven seasons of The Office, could be bizarre, unrealistic and flat out insane, it was a brave move to have Michael Scott go out on such a quiet note. Steve Carell managed to convey all of the best parts of iconic character in Thursday night's episode. For the last time, we got to see the Michael Scott who is genuinely funny, occasionally crushingly uncertain of himself and who without a doubt, absolutely loves the people he works with.

This was an episode that allowed both Steve Carell and Michael Scott the chance to connect with his Officemates one final time, doing so in ways that exemplified the ways that these characters are still unique people. One of the biggest complaints levied on The Office over the past few years has been that the characters stopped growing and that the show had become focused mainly of Michael, Jim, Pam and Dwight. Hopefully Thursday's episode will remind people what The Office is when it's at the top of its game. Funny moments like Michael trying to inspire Kevin. Smart moments like Michael bursting into laughter after getting Oscar to treat his scarecrow like a valued gift. And touching moments like Michael giving Erin some fatherly guidance.

I'm glad that Jim figured out what Michael's plan was. If anyone was going to figure it out, Jim was the right person. Go back and watch the first season or two of The Office. Jim considered Dunder Mifflin a dead-end job and thought very little of Michael. Their relationship was one that evolved, with Michael taking (often against Jim and Pam's objections) a role in the Halpert family in addition to Jim gaining an understanding of what made Michael tick. Seeing Pam run through airport screening and having a Lost in Translation moment with Michael was a relief too.

In a way, it was a shame that this episode of The Office didn't just end as Pam watched Michael's plane fly away. I know that this isn't a series finale or even a season finale, but the Will Ferrell/angry cake coda upset the mood that the episode had been building. Just as the Dunder Mifflinites would realize that they would never get to actually say good-bye to Michael, the viewer should have had the chance to experience the same kind of emotion. Jumping back into a DeAngelo Vickers-hijacked party went against that experience.

It'll be interesting to see where The Office goes from here. NBC is making a big deal about all the guest stars they're going to have over this season's final few episodes, but I'm pretty sure we won't see Jim Carey, Ray Ramano or any of these other bigger names stepping in fulltime next season. If the post-Carell Office doesn't go well, there's a good chance we'll see Michael Scott back in Scranton for a series finale soon.