The Office: Why Ed Helms' Andy Was Made So Unlikable In Season 9 (2024)

Andy Bernard became extremely unlikable in The Office season 9, and a few factors explain why The Office ruined Andy. Ed Helms played Andy since the character's introduction in season 3. Originally an employee at Dunder Mifflin's Stamford branch, Andy relocated to Scranton when the two offices merged. Though he tried to make a great first impression on manager Michael Scott (Steve Carrell), Andy turned out to be a terrible salesperson. Still, Helms' character was made manager in the final two seasons. His increased role at the company coincided with Andy's drastically different personality.

When Andy Bernard first joined the Scranton branch in The Office, he was insecure and arrogant. Andy's quirks made him a target of pranks, bringing out his over-the-top anger issues. He eventually took over as manager after Michael left and had a will-they-won't-they relationship with Erin Hannon (Ellie Kemper). However, when Andy returned from a trip to Florida, he learned that Nellie Bertram (Catherine Tate) took over his job, setting off behavioral issues that led to his short-term firing. Andy eventually got his job back, but his attitude remained a serious problem throughout the show's final episodes.

Andy Regained His Worst Qualities In The Office's Final Season

Andy Bernard Reverted Back To His Old Ways

Andy Bernard was never one of Dunder Mifflin's most agreeable employees (for viewers or his co-workers), but his arc in the final seasons of The Office when he became the manager of the Scranton Branch saw him become actively unlikable. Not only was Andy terrible to Nellie and other co-workers, but he was truly awful to Erin in The Office season 9. Erin stood by Andy's side during the difficult situations surrounding his career and family matters, but he never appreciated her.

Interestingly, Andy was sent to Outward Bound for manager training ahead of the final season of The Office. When he returned, he reverted to his old ways, being tone-deaf, co*cky, and self-centered just like he was when he was introduced in season 3. It was almost as if Andy lost all of the positive character development during his trip. While one theory suggested Andy's change of demeanor stemmed from the "alcohorse" incident, the real issues seemed to come from the writing.

This also ties into another common Andy Bernard quetion, which is why did Andy leave The Office. Filming schedules became an issue for Helms, as he continued to get starring movie roles. Due to his rising popularity following The Hangover, Helms split time between The Office and movie projects. That resulted in multiple periods of absence from Andy Bernard throughout The Office.

Rather than write him out of the show, Andy was given off-screen storylines. By popping in and out of the narrative, it was harder for viewers to accept Andy's behavior. His poor treatment of others seemed unwarranted for someone rarely present at the workplace. It's possible the writers didn't know what to do with Helms by the final season, but his unlikable presence tarnished Andy Bernard's legacy.

Andy Didn't Deserve His Bad The Office Ending

The Final Season's Of The Office Didn't Do Andy Bernard Justice

While Andy Bernard was certainly not the most lovable character, he didn't deserve his season 9 arc that culminated with the Andy The Office bad ending. In the penultimate episode of The Office, it's revealed that the documentary has been completed, coupled with exactly what happened in the main cast's futures. While many of the characters got a fitting finale, the one that really stood out was Andy's.

In the end, Andy Bernard made a complete fool of himself by having a mental breakdown during a singing competition show, and his meltdown was turned into an internet meme. While he did get to rejoin his alma mater (Cornell) as a member of the staff, his singing competition fit proves the writers cheapened his character arc with The Office ending.

What's even worse is that during The Office finale table read, it's revealed that Andy had a fiancé, and this happy news was scrapped from the finale. While not a major character in the same sense as Dwight, Jim, and Pam, Andy was given his own complex arc in the show as he dealt with his insecurities and emotional management issues, which were completely undone by his behavior during The Office season 9.

Andy's Ending Highlights The Office's Post-Michael Problem

The Show Wasn't The Same Without Steve Carrell

After Steve Carrell left the show in The Office season 7, the writers were faced with the impossible task of replacing the iconic Dunder Mifflin boss, and the way Andy was treated in the final seasons is a perfect example of The Office's regional manager problem.

All the bosses that followed were viewed as unlikeable or too over the top, whether it was Andy or Will Ferrell's D'angelo Vickers. Even Dwight's personality totally changed as soon as he was hired as regional manager, becoming the most unlikable character in the show. While Dwight got on his coworker's nerves, he was always lovable in the eyes of The Office fans until he became regional manager.

The Office

Comedy

Drama

Sitcom

The Office is the U.S. remake of the British comedy mockumentary series of the same name. The show follows the misadventures of a Dunder Mifflin Paper Company branch in Scranton, Pennsylvania, led by their unconventional and clueless boss, Michael Scott. The series covers nine years of footage as they find themselves recorded through their work days and off times.

Release Date

March 24, 2005

Cast

Mindy Kaling , Jenna Fischer , Kate Flannery , Ed Helms , Craig Robinson , Paul Lieberstein , Ellie Kemper , B.J. Novak , Angela Kinsey , Oscar Nunez , Rainn Wilson , Brian Baumgartner , Phyllis Smith , Leslie David Baker , Creed Bratton , Steve Carell , John Krasinski

Seasons

9

Story By

Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant

Network

NBC

Franchise(s)

The Office

Showrunner

Greg Daniels