Hey everyone! Welcome to my SECOND TO LAST blog post!! Wow, it really feels like this whole process has flown by… I remember us looking into Dwight like it was yesterday. I hope you all are ready for yet another post!
When I first planned this webpage out as a whole, this week was initially planned solely for Robert California; honestly, this was the week I was most excited for. However, as I progressed throughout posts, I realized that there are so many characters who would not be mentioned that deserved to get their shoutout. So, while my man Robert California will be looked at, I’ve decided that this post will be for everyone who didn’t have their own week…I hope this is ok with all of you.
With that said, let’s get to it!
*spoilers may appear from this point on*
We start with Stanley the Manly, Stanley Hudson. Played by Leslie David Baker, Stanley is the only African-American in the office until Darryl gets promoted. Because of this, he is often the butt of many Michael Scott zingers. Stanley loves the simple things in life – crossword puzzles, leaving at 5pm (or earlier), and especially Pretzel Day. He is known for his very dry tone and his uninterested looks at the camera, and this is why his character is so funny. Most of the time, Stanley is quiet and simply completes his crossword puzzles. However, Stanley is known for the occasional outburst, leading to some of the best scenes in the show. Stanley has the perfect blend as a minor character – in some episodes, like the Sabre trip to Florida or when he is caught cheating, he leads the plot; yet, Stanley also holds many one-liners that are equally as important. Stanley’s unique and dry sense of humor add yet another dimension to the show that could not be replicated through any other character. Plus, the office always asks: does Stanley have a mustache?
Phyllis Vance sits across from Stanley, and her character was created and written specifically for the woman who plays her, Phyllis Smith. Michael describes her as the cliché old mom of the office, and for the most part, that is accurate. Phyllis is sweet with a sassy side and cares for mostly everyone – she adores Stanley and hates Angela. Phyllis is always looking for an edge over Angela, which pushes the Party Planning Committee’s plot through the first few seasons, especially when she learns of Dwight and Angela’s affair. Like Stanley, Phyllis is not the highest-selling salesperson in the office. However, she is able to swoon certain customers with her charm and charisma.
Darryl Philbin (Craig Robinson) is the head of the warehouse until his promotion, in which it seems he keeps a similar job, just with an office and nicer work-attire. Darryl is musically talented, very smart and often has great ideas to improve the workplace. He takes his job very seriously when it comes to safety in the warehouse. However, Darryl is one of the laziest in the office; he will begin to make progress up the “corporate ladder,” but then he stops trying and pushing himself. This is especially seen when he applies and interviews for the Manager job after Michael moves to Colorado with Holly. Darryl also likes to thrown in the occasional prank, preying on Andy and especially Michael. Darryl’s most prominent quality though is his heart. He loves his daughter and is always trying to make her life better. Also, he cares about the people he works with and he is very good at giving advice, especially to Andy.
Finally, Robert California. I always find it interesting why people seems to hate his character so much – I enjoy the way James Spader plays him and think the way he interacts with everyone in the office is hilarious. I do recognize, however, that this is largely because James Spader is one of my favorite actors (behind only John Krasinski) and I love his character Raymond Reddington in The Blacklist. Anyway, I do understand that it was always going to be a hard job to follow Michael.
Robert brings a new side of humor that the show hadn’t seen prior. Robert says the most bizarre phrases that often involve deep, intriguing ideas…or…just sex. Robert is comfortable in any situation and it seems he enjoys making everyone else uncomfortable. He is also extremely persuasive and seems to always get what he wants; from getting Jo to give him her job, to getting David Wallace to fund his sex trip to Europe upon his departure. It seems Robert knows everything about everything and is intimidating to everyone. However, Robert’s most important quality is that he is able to see things in other characters that may not have always noticed. This is especially important when the show was beginning to wind down and needed a new direction to go to in order to properly finish. For example, he chooses the underdog Andy as his new manager, as well as pushes people like Kevin and Stanley to have major roles in new ideas for the company. Robert is able to largely carry the plot throughout Season 8 when the show needed a direction, but he more importantly brought out the leadership qualities of Jim, Pam, and Dwight, all who are the main “heads” of the final season.
And just like that, we have one post left! I think everyone knows who it will focus on…
I hope you all have a happy and healthy Thanksgiving Break, and I will see you all in two weeks!
P.S., this deleted scene perfectly exemplifies many of the characters we spoke of in this post 🙂
I loved your blog… it serves as an inspiration for interesting content and even a reference for academic works! I’m here with my fries that I got from Mcdonald’s Menu Pricingand reading your posts!
He who distinguishes the true savor of his food can never be a glutton; he who does not cannot be otherwise.