The Office's Overlooked Plot Twist: The Impact of the Documentary Crew

The Office's Secret Plot Twist That Most Fans Missed Ryan Howard and Kelly Kaport from The Office By  Layne Gibbons Published 26 minutes ago Layne is a longtime contributor for ScreenRant and other Valnet brands. Her main focus is entertainment in pop culture, sitcoms, and reality TV.  Layne always knew she had a passion for writing and has her Bachelor's in Communications, a Minor in Marketing, and a Master's in Administration.  When she isn't writing or editing about the latest in the entertainment industry, she's typically spending time outside with her family. Hiking, walking, or jogging with her kids is where she wants to be. When it comes to shows streaming on Netflix or anything Bravo-related, she's your gal. She loves rewatching reality TV shows like The Real Housewives and Southern Charm, but she adores watching sitcoms like Abbott Elementary, The Big Bang Theory, and Parks and Recreation.  Sign in to your ScreenRant account Summary Generate a summary of this story follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Thread Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap

There are numerous plot twists that come to mind when considering The Office's storylines over the course of its nine seasons. However, the biggest curveball wasn't Ryan Howard (B.J. Novak) becoming Vice President of Northeast Sales or Michael Scott (Steve Carell) quitting Dunder Mifflin in season 7. It was the influence the documentary crew had on the characters' lives.

The influence of The Office's documentary crew is layered. What first started as a documentary crew filming the daily lives of those working in an office turned into a dynamic relationship, breaking the fourth wall. While the camera crew was once a quiet observer, they slowly became a more important part of the plot.

Without The Documentary, Dunder Mifflin Scranton Would Have Been Dissolved Long Ago

The Office cast posing at Christmas in the Dunder Mifflin office

The documentary crew indirectly saved Dunder Mifflin Scranton. Filmed in the early 2000s, the world was slowly migrating from paper to electronics. The workers at Dunder Mifflin were struggling to adapt to a paper-free world and were grasping at straws for how to stay afloat.

Without the documentary crew questioning and enlightening Scranton's workers, they could have been fired far sooner. It was a major plot twist that was understandably missed.

The workers created an emotional tie to the crew after doing countless confessionals and interviews. The confessionals act as mini-therapy sessions, getting an inside look at the inner workings of each employee's mind. As they talked through their problems, many had their "aha!" moments, inspiring change.

Michael Scott's antics were a walking red flag, but the presence of the camera crew may have encouraged Michael to behave better. He felt special, showing off his office and management style, presenting himself as more professional because people were watching him. This is, of course, humorous because his behavior was rarely considered kosher.

Likewise, Jim's (John Krasinski) decision to transfer back to Scranton from Stamford was an emotional one. It wasn't just because of his relationship with Pam Beesly (Jenna Fischer); it was his comfort level with the camera crew.

The presence of the cameras forced other workers to work harder, creating more stability and less turnover. Stable office conditions created higher sales, which, in turn, kept the Scranton branch afloat.

Once the documentary aired, the newfound fame brought national attention to the company, the city, and the employees. Dropping Scranton from Dunder Mifflin's list of branches would have been bad public relations.

The Documentary Changed The Course Of The Office Characters' Lives

Pam sleeping on Jim's shoulder on The Office

The documentary crew became an important part of the Dunder Mifflin Scranton branch’s lives for nine years, witnessing every big, small, and dramatic moment. The connection between the crew and the employees was a twist few saw coming.

Jim and Pam’s relationship grew because of what the cameras caught (first kisses, endearing looks to one another, the start of their relationship…). Dwight and Angela’s intimate moments were caught in the office, including their affair and conversations about bearing children.

A lot of the questions that the camera crew asked the characters during confessionals were based on the leads they were getting during filming. Without around-the-clock filming, it’s unclear how the characters' lives would progress.

The cameras were constant reminders of what they were doing and how they should be acting. At the end of the series, it was revealed that the documentary was a massive success.

Pam was able to focus on her passion for art and painted a mural for the city. Stanley Hudson (Leslie David Baker) retired and moved to Florida. Once the documentary was produced, Erin Hannon (Ellie Kemper) found her birth parents. Andy Bernard (Ed Helms) found the fame he wanted; the list goes on.

While twists and turns were consistent throughout The Office, the biggest plot twist was what the documentary brought to the workers of Dunder Mifflin Scranton. As it turned out, the ordinary lives of those working at Dunder Mifflin were more important than anyone would have realized.

162 8.7/10 8/10

The Office

10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Like Follow Followed TV-14 Comedy Release Date 2005 - 2013-00-00 Network NBC Showrunner Greg Daniels Directors Greg Daniels, Paul Lieberstein, Paul Feig, Randall Einhorn, Ken Kwapis Writers Mindy Kaling, Paul Lieberstein, Michael Schur, Ricky Gervais, Greg Daniels, B.J. Novak

Cast

See All

• Steve Carell Michael Scott
• Rainn Wilson Dwight Schrute

Franchise(s) The Office Main Genre Comedy Seasons 9 Genres Comedy Powered by Expand Collapse

• The Office

Follow Followed Like Share Facebook X WhatsApp Threads Bluesky LinkedIn Reddit Flipboard Copy link Email Close Thread Sign in to your ScreenRant account

We want to hear from you! Share your opinions in the thread below and remember to keep it respectful.

Be the first to post Images Attachment(s) Please respect our community guidelines. No links, inappropriate language, or spam.

Your comment has not been saved

Send confirmation email

This thread is open for discussion.

Be the first to post your thoughts.

• Terms
• Privacy
• Feedback

Recommended 1 day ago

Alex Garland Sets Next A24 Movie With House Of The Dragon Star As Director

22 hours ago

Ted Lasso Season 4 Must Bring Back The Show's Most Wholesome Character (& I Don't Mean Ted)

1 day ago

All Hallmark Christmas Movies Starring When Calls The Heart Actors In 2025

1 day ago

PlayStation Plus Drops 5 Free Games You Can Claim Today

Trending Now Paramount+’s Upcoming Fantasy Could Be Nicolas Cage’s Weirdest Role Of All Time "Catch A Bullet": Jada Pinkett Smith Sued By Will Smith’s Associate Over Alleged Confrontation Wait, Is Loki An Official Avenger In Doomsday?