I never thought the words, “That’s what she said,” would have the ability to make me cry, but when they were spoken during The Office series finale, I will admit, I bawled.

I also have to admit I stopped watching The Office after Steve Carell left in season seven. The show was never the same. Michael Scott was the heart of The Office. With him gone, I didn’t really feel the need to watch. Jim and Pam I knew would have their happy ever after, Angela would still love cats, and Dwight would still…be Dwight. When the show failed to be nominated for any Emmy awards for season 8, I knew I made the right decision cutting ties.

Once season nine started being billed as the final season, I started paying more attention to what was going on in Scranton. In its final season, The Office started to play as if it had nothing to lose. The documentary crew was revealed, Dwight got what he always wanted, and Jim and Pam, a fictional couple I now realize I was a little too invested in, hit a rough patch that threatened to derail their relationship. I dove right back into the show, watching every episode of the final season, up until the finale where I could not for the life of me stop tearing up every few minutes.

Was it a laugh-filled finale? No. I think the only time I laughed was out of being completely uncomfortable during the scene of Angela’s bachelorette party. But what the finale lacked in laughs, it more than made up for it in heart. From getting to see old friends (#KellyAndRyanForever) and some emotional reveals (Erin being reunited with her parents, the perfectly-cast Ed Begley, Jr. and Joan Cusack, hit me right in the feelings) the finale seemed like a love letter to the fans.

I won’t say this was the best series finale in the history of television. (I would give that award to M*A*S*H any day) What I will say that this was the finale The Office (and its fans) deserved.

3.5/5 Stars