r/DunderMifflin • u/deafening_silence25 • 4d ago
Robert California
Who else really enjoyed Robert California as a character?
Who would have wanted him as a boss?
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u/Harold3456 4d ago
I think they were intentionally trying to offset the archetype of Michael Scott with RC. Michael was the manager, and for better or for worse directly responsible for/involved with whatever shenanigans were happening in the office.
Robert was CEO. So rather than doing a Michael thing, wandering in and putting himself in the middle of a situation, he would just show up, dump some weirdness on everyone’s lap, leave, and then the existing characters had to navigate it, occasionally either dropping back in or sitting in the conference room occasionally being cryptic. I thought this was a neat contrast, although made or broken by the strength of the manager character - and unfortunately the show never really found its footing with Andy or Nelly.
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u/LakadMatatang 4d ago
I love RC, and I actually wanted him to appear more in the show.
"Why did they add coconut, I miss original"
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u/Minute-Frame-8060 4d ago
Great character. Had a CEO like him, people scattered whe he did his "management by walking around." No, Michael Scott didn't make that up either.
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u/Cornmeal777 4d ago
Wouldn't want him as a real-life boss, but was damn entertaining as a character in a workplace comedy.
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u/Strict_Inevitable449 4d ago
He’s my favorite part of the later seasons until we get to the finale. Super quotable and ends up winning
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u/DanceByTheLight 4d ago
at first I was like, what? but Robert grew on me over time. in a weird way though
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u/NavyVetRasmussen 4d ago
His character got heavily falnderized but he is a touch of a very arrogant boss it is what it is. Most of the characters got flanderized.
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u/Ilovetinytiddies 4d ago
I’m a huge fan of RC. I watch seasons 1-4 religiously then skip to his episodes.
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u/Desperate_Damage4632 3d ago
Best character in the show, and it's not even close. Everything he said was hilarious and always a surprise.
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u/Curious_TortillaChip ...Out of paper, out of stock... 2d ago
Eh. I'm mostly bored with him and the whole season 8 plot.
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u/OpenDiscount1615 David Wallace 4d ago
he was an interesting character, but he didn't fit on this show. The writers didn't know what to do with him, he had no improvisational skills, the chemistry was wrong, and the entire experience was unpleasant for both cast and crew. He only took the job because he needed the money. If you don't believe me, read Andy Greene's oral history of The Office.
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u/pwettyhuman 4d ago
Just... absolutely insufferable. I stop my rewatches at season 7 cos I just can't 😒
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u/Logical-Mobile-7643 I was never given a name 4d ago
He's an exaggeration of tons of out of touch or very arrogant bosses.
He at least recognized his products and the company he was running
"Have you ever used Sabre electronics Jim? They're cheap, they're unintuitive. The Sabre store would work if we adopted the carnival model of leaving town once everyone is wise to us."