Give this story a chance. I say that because when I saw the headlines and photos of Jennifer Garner crying because she’d watched the series finale of The Office, I rolled my eyes and jumped right over them. When I found out she’d posted them herself, I rolled my eyes a second time and gave a throaty “ugh!” However, it turns out I was too hasty. I should know by now to at least give Jen a chance. The story, according to Jen, is that she and her kids have been watching one episode a day of The Office during quarantine. Because lockdown has been prolonged over so many months, the Garner household wrapped up the series just recently. Jen, dressed in a Dunder-Mifflin logo tee and with some crazy dedicated Office wall art, fell apart. And for some reason, she recorded herself falling apart. Again, this is all over the series finale of The Office. To shake things up, I will quote her caption first. Jen wrote on Instagram:
My kids and I have spent months piled on the couch working our way through “How to Behave as Grownups” 🙅🏻♀, aka #TheOffice. Apparently we are sensitive people—the finale hit us pretty hard. When I realized I’d accidentally shot my farewell testimonial in slo-mo I realized: your Monday might need this, too. 🙈👵🏼😬♥️♥️♥️
#thankyoucastandcrew
#pleasecomeoverweloveyou
#icantwithfinales
At this point, if you are cynical as I am, you are probably thinking this is kind of mawkish sentimentality that might just push you over the edge. But you have to watch the video she posted, it’s really funny. Apparently the Slo Mo taping was an accident but it allowed Jen to really examine her own reaction, which she acknowledged, in retrospect was a lot. Here’s Jen, watching and laughing at herself but in the middle of it, she starts feeling sorry for the Jen of the video. She even Bless Her Heart-ed herself!
“Oh my goodness. Look who needed a big cry! And maybe a shower would have been helpful?” I love this Jen. I am a big advocate of laughing at one’s self and I fully believe Jen had no idea how big her reaction was until she saw it. I actually agree with her, I think feeling something big right now is necessary and any way to exorcise those pent-up emotions is worth it. I’ve been watching a lot of standup comedy and when I find the right one, I laugh until I cry. I need that release and obviously Jen did too. I’ll bet she slept really well that night. I had to look up her last line, “Bears, Beets, Battlestar Galactica.” It’s a bit from the show and I’d forgotten it. I was bummed because I thought their next watch might be Battlestar Galactica and I thought of Jen doing a reaction video like Tom Hanks and Victor Garber’s Dirty Dozen recap in Sleepless in Seattle.
Like Jen, most series finales make me cry. Even if I haven’t watched the show for some time, I’ll tune into a once-loved show, watch the finale and it will inevitable reduce me to tears. I binged The Office, but not in a good way. After a while, I was just drowning in episodes, trying to finish it off. So when I go to the finale, I was over the series as a whole. I honestly couldn’t remember what happened. It was (spoiler?) Dwight and Angela’s wedding and Steve Carrell (predictably) came back for a big schmaltzy moment. I don’t think I reacted like Jen when I watched it, but I’m glad she got her feels on, she deserves it. And a few of The Office castmates thought so too. Jenna Fischer, Angela Kinsley and Mindy Kaling all commented on Jen’s post, which I’m sure made Jen tear up all over again.
Honestly, this is the kind of content I’m here for right now, people just having a moment. That and this guy, who I want to hire as my life coach.
Photo credit: Instagram
Omg. That cake video is awesome. Thank you!
I love her instagram. She is so funny and self-deprecating. Her pretend cooking shows are cute. Honestly, I’m here for this kind of content now and again. It’s a nice change of pace from the Qanon and MAGA losers .
I binge watched The Office recently-I hadn’t watched the last two seasons.
Gotta admit, I teared up when Michael Scott shows up for Dwight and Angela’s wedding-yes, laugh/cried at “that’s what she said.”
I am in the minority, but I hate the show 🤷♀️. That video was absolutely hilarious and I had the same eye rolling response when I read the headline, I should have known that Hecate wouldn’t lead me astray!
Yesterday, Morning Joe did a mash up of the offices Dwight Shroot and Kimberly Guilfoyles RNC speech that was absolutely hysterical. Waaay worth YouTubing
I like Jen. But whenever we get news on Ben, Jen gets in the news the next day. When Ben was seen with Ana, Jen got papped with her kids next day and then ben got that he was always seen with the girlfriend and not with his kids. So we got ben and kids. And then more jen and kids with masks. And then ben and kids and masks, and then ben and kids and Ana + dogs + fake laugh out loud+etc to infinity. very exhausting. And then ben & ana moving together and today the cry about the office. I think we’re forgetting jen is an actress, i mean who takes selfie videos in slowmo while crying to voiceover afterwards? That is absolutely staged. the office end might be a good reason to cry but she might be crying for others things as well, hidden behind this cover. But i’m all for it. We all need a good cry sometimes and god knows we all need therapy.
^^^^^^
@Bibi…This +1000000, I totally agree!
You’re not the only one. I don’t get The Office either. I tried after Angelina Jolie talked about them binge watching it last week and it’s a big No for me. Sorry!
Jen is cute with her videos.
I was spoiled by watching the British version first, which is drier, bleaker, less broad, and anti-corporate. I randomly came across an episode of this version once and it opened with a bunch of jokes are the expense of an alcoholic character. I know this is one episode of many but eh, left a bad taste in my mouth.
I love the early to middle Office, but did not stick with it until the end. However, I do get the sadness when a tv show ends these days. Watching an entire series is a big commitment. The end of anything good these days is worth a good cry.
I loved The Office, the only episode that made me tear up was when Michael leaves, really. The end was ok, but by the time I watched it I had stopped following the show. It wasn’t that good without Steve Carell.
When I was a kid I used to make fun of my mum whenever a tv show or movie made her cry, so when it happens to me now I laugh at myself. I don’t know if Jennifer’s video was staged, but it was great, people should take themselves less seriously.
Parks and Rec finale gets me everytime. I know the last season was a 3 yr jump ahead (at that time 2017 and very exaggerated tech wise, but still on point with how it’s big brother-ing us). I can’t stand the Johnny Karate last show episode but…my god the last episode of the series makes me bawl like a baby.
That one always makes me cry too. That show as a whole is so sweet and hopeful, and I’ve found it hard to re-watch in recent years.
The last few seasons of the Office weren’t great, but the finale was very well done. Jen’s video is cute and funny. It’s probably something she’s really enjoyed doing with her kids, and coming to the end of it is sad.
Not interested in The Office specifically, but I can relate to feeling really sad after finishing a show. Honestly, there’s always a slight void when you finish a series you you love, no matter how many seasons it was.
You are absolutely right about this video, I read all your other stories before finally thinking ‘might as well’ with this one and it’s really made me smile. I agree, we definitely need more content like this!
So weird when people LOVE a show so much that I just don’t get. The Office and Schitt’s Creek and Kimmy Schmit are 3 shows that even family members have begged me to watch them they say “soooo funny, you must watch it” and I just didn’t find them funny. Humor is very different for us all !!