Once a year, a pretzel cart comes into the Scranton Business Park and gives away free sweet pretzels. Stanley Hudson (Leslie David Baker) hates every aspect of his desk job at Dunder Mifflin, except for that one extraordinary day: pretzel day. Stanley complains that his bed is too small, his daughter’s school is too expensive, and he doesn’t get paid enough for his job, but this, getting a free sweet pretzel, is one thing that brings him true joy. This is a common pattern — life often feels tedious and repetitive, but there are small things in our lives that cheer us up. NBC’s “The Office” outlines this theme in a way that has never been more relevant. 

The series centers around employees at a mid-level paper company called Dunder Mifflin, most of whom are extremely unenthusiastic. Jim Halpert (John Krasinski) talks about how boring his job as a paper salesman is, while Pam Beesly (Jenna Fischer) aspires to go to art school and reflects that her job as a receptionist is “not many little girls’ dream.” The characters are clearly unsatisfied with the position they are in. The producers use this, along with simple cinematography, bland clothing, and the average American city of Scranton, Pennsylvania, as the setting to send a clear message: this is not a glamorous life.

The show uses this boredom and unexciting setting alongside the optimistic stories and comedic elements to tell viewers that we can always find little bits of joy in life. 

“The Office” has provided one of the most well-known evolving love stories to this generation: Jim and Pam. The two characters begin as friends with unspoken romantic feelings for each other, often interacting through simple games and jokes. As they each gain confidence and affection for the other, this evolves into a loving relationship. Their story is a testament to the slow build-up of a romance in an everyday situation, and how companionship and love can be found everywhere. 

Even with the monotony of working at Dunder Mifflin, the employees find moments of happiness. They create an “Office Olympics” and enjoy themselves by playing games and mimicking the achievements of great athletes — a symbol of how even their smaller scale recreation can be a joyous event. Jim amuses himself by playing friendly pranks on his co-worker Dwight (Rainn Wilson), and Stanley Hudson finds comfort in his daily crossword puzzles. Michael Scott (Steve Carrel) tries to bring a sense of family to the office with activities and fun celebrations. The characters find ways to keep themselves happy, even in the smallest ways, while facing the setbacks of paper supply — a job that entails calling uninterested customers and marketing a rather dull product.

We first see Pam Beesly as somewhat submissive and in an unhappy relationship — symptoms of the internalization of the disrespect she faces at work, usually in the form of demeaning assignments from her boss and harassment from her male co-workers. However, she slowly gains confidence and becomes more assertive throughout the series. Subtle scenes and skillful writing show Pam’s growth and relay the message that progressive change like hers can occur even under unpromising circumstances. 

Characters in the show are able to find happiness in this despite the monotony of things, and uplifting narratives with happy endings can be found documented, moment-by-moment, in the show. The very premise of the series as both a comedy and a mockumentary series also brings entertainment to the otherwise boring setting of an average paper company — another theme of finding silver linings around a dull, gray cloud.

The theme of the show rings especially true under current circumstances. For the past few years, there has not been much opportunity for exciting events, and the global situation can and has led to an overall feeling of hopelessness. The feelings of being “stuck” that the characters in “The Office” experience are comparable to the setbacks of working and learning from home. Many high school students also experience feelings of boredom and unhappiness with the repetitive nature and burdens of school, even when not online. 

Many of us are like Stanley Hudson: a free pretzel will never solve the large issues we face, but it can act as a small comfort among those larger setbacks.

“The Office” left Netflix, many people’spreferred streaming service, on Jan. 1, 2021, and will now only be available through NBC’s paid streaming service Peacock, robbing some viewers of access to the show. Despite this, “The Office” remains a timeless, relatable television series that reminds viewers that there is reason for optimism in the average lives we lead.