The Office is now set for a reboot 10 years after the release of its final episode, and there are six characters who need to return–and four who should not. The Office is one of the most successful sitcoms ever, running for nine seasons across an eight-year period and garnering a massive cult following. The show is so successful that in 2016, Rolling Stone named it one of the 100 greatest TV shows of all time. The Office received numerous other accolades across its nine-season run, including four Primetime Emmy Awards.
It comes as no surprise then, that The Office is getting its long-awaited reboot with the original showrunner, Greg Daniels, returning to helm the project. Rebooting the serieswill be no easy task, however. There are some harsh realities of rewatching The Officein the modern cultural landscape, and it’s hard to say if the same show would be considered acceptable today. It’s also important to consider how many of the characters had perfect endings that could be ruined by returning for a reboot. With that in mind, there are four characters who should not return for the reboot, but there are also six characters who should.
10 Dwight Schrute (Should Return)
One character who could easily slot back into a reboot of The Office is Dwight Schrute. Although a Dwight-centric reboot was considered during The Office season 9, and it did not work out, that doesn’t mean Dwight couldn’t return as an important character within a larger cast. Dwight’s best quotes are among the best in the show, and it’s difficult to imagine the original series achieving so much without him. He also ended the series as the Dunder Mifflin Scranton manager, leaving his story open for a return. Dwight’s character arc ended neatly, but not in a way that would prevent him from returning for a reboot.
9 Angela Martin/Schrute (Should Return)
If Dwight ends up returning for The Office reboot, Angela should as well. After the two were married in The Office series finale, it would be impossible to bring Dwight back without including her. Angela similarly has a complete arc by the end of the series, but not one that prevents further character growth or excludes her from potential storylines. Angela is one of the most interesting characters in the series because of the growth she experiences across the length of the show. She’s also one of the funniest characters, making her a great candidate for the reboot.
8 Kevin Malone (Should Return)
Kevin Malone is another character who could easily return for the reboot of The Office. Kevin is one of the most lovable, hilarious characters, and after the series finale saw him become the owner of a local bar, the way is open for Kevin’s return. Even if he doesn’t return to Dunder Mifflin, Kevin could be a recurring character in several great ways. The characters could be regulars at his bar, for instance, or he could make occasional trips to the Dunder Mifflin office to visit his old friends. Whatever method works for reintegrating him, Kevin should definitely return.
7 Andy Bernard (Should Return)
Andy Bernard has a somewhat controversial arc over the last couple of seasons of The Office, so even if his ending as a Cornell employee feels perfect, he could easily return and continue his story with Dunder Mifflin. Andy is another character who could feature in a recurring role without actually coming to work at Dunder Mifflin again. Some fans argue that Andy is unlikeable in The Office season 9, so a return in the reboot could serve as a valuable opportunity to repair his relationship with fans. This would also serve as a chance to give Andy a romantic interest that actually works out.
6 Oscar Martinez (Should Return)
Oscar has a fitting conclusion in The Office, but notably, since he is running for a Pennsylvania State Senate seat in The Office series finale, his story keeps him around for a potential return. One creative way to bring him back would be to have Oscar win his seat, then pursue some sort of legislation that will hurt Dunder Mifflin in some way. He could appear as an antagonist in that case, with Dwight begging him to drop his efforts. There are plenty of other ways to reintegrate Oscar as well, so The Office reboot should strongly consider his return.
5 Toby Flenderson (Should Return)
Dwight may think he is rid of Dunder Mifflin’s human resources representative, Toby Flenderson, as Michael often did, but it would be hilarious if Toby returned to haunt their humble office once again. Toby’s arc in The Office series finale saw him move to New York City to become a writer, but he could make his way back to Pennsylvania if his mystery novels were not selling. Toby would be a great addition to the cast of The Office reboot because he could provide some familiarity without overshadowing the new cast members.
4 Michael Scott (Should Not Return)
Michael Scott is the one character from The Office that everyone wants more of, but he still shouldn’t return for the show’s reboot. It would be impossible to build new characters without Michael overshadowing them, and the story would inevitably revolve around him, making the reboot more like an extra season of the show. Michael also had the perfect ending by marrying Holly and moving to Colorado to start a family and bringing him back for the reboot would ruin that. Moreover, Michael’s growth as a character reached its natural, fitting end, and bringing him back could ruin that too.
3 Jim And Pam (Should Not Return)
Like Michael, Jim and Pam had the perfect ending, both in terms of their character growth and their stories. Bringing them back would risk ruining their growth and muddying the waters of their happy ending. It’s hard to imagine them returning to Scranton after moving to Austin for Jim’s job at Athleap. Moreover, Pam is often considered the main character of The Office, so bringing her back would also prevent new characters from taking the helm of the new project. It would be fun for Jim and Pam to make a cameo, but anything more would risk ruining The Office‘s happy ending.
2 Stanley Hudson (Should Not Return)
Stanley Hudson retires in Florida at the end of The Office, so he is another character that wouldn’t make much sense to bring back for the reboot. Stanley is a great character, but all he ever wanted was to work long enough to retire and enjoy his red wine and mystery stories. Bringing Stanley out of retirement and back to Scranton would just be too sad to fit in the show. He is also a fully developed character with little room to grow at this point, so The Office‘s reboot should replace him with a new office crank instead.
1 Creed Bratton (Should Not Return)
Creed Bratton is probably the most mysterious character in The Office, but his story arc saw him be arrested and taken away to jail for various crimes. Creed is a hilarious character, but his story seemingly prevents him from making a return. He could break out of jail somehow, but that would likely end up being a distraction rather than a meaningful storyline. He is also a character that feels played out. Even if he returned and had some funny moments, it feels like the things that made his character funny have been used up at this point.
