Let’s be real for a second. When people talk about The Office, they usually stop after Michael Scott leaves for Colorado. If they do stick around for the final two seasons, they’re mostly complaining about the Andy Bernard character assassination or the weird boom mic guy subplot that literally nobody asked for. But tucked away in the cubicles during the show's ninth season was Pete Miller, the guy everyone—including his own coworkers—just called "Plop."
Pete Miller entered Dunder Mifflin at a weird time. The show was basically trying to find its soul again while preparing to say goodbye. Along with Clark Duke’s character, Jake Lacy’s Pete was brought in as "New Jim." It was a meta-commentary on the show's own longevity. But honestly? Pete was more than just a younger, slightly less mischievous version of Jim Halpert. He was the grounded, normal person that the show desperately needed as every other character spiraled into a cartoonish version of themselves.
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The Burden of Being New Jim
The writers didn't make it easy for Pete Miller. From the jump, Andy Bernard gives him the nickname "Plop" because he reportedly took a long bathroom break. It’s a low-stakes, degrading gag that defines his entire social standing in the office.
While Clark (the "New Dwight") leaned into the corporate ladder-climbing and sleazy side of sales, Pete was just... there. He was the straight man. In the early seasons, Jim was the audience surrogate, the guy who looked at the camera when things got weird. By Season 9, Jim was halfway out the door to Athlead, and Pete Miller took over that "normal guy" mantle.
He didn't have Jim’s smugness. That’s the big difference. Jim could be a bit of a bully to Dwight, but Pete was genuinely kind. He spent his time building a massive tower of business cards just to pass the time. He actually listened to Erin Hannon, which was a bar so low that Andy Bernard couldn't even see it from his boat in the Caribbean.
Why the Erin and Pete Romance Actually Worked
Most fans of The Office are die-hard "Jam" shippers. Jim and Pam are the gold standard. So, when the show tried to replicate that magic with Pete and Erin, a lot of viewers checked out. They saw it as a cheap imitation.
But look at the facts. Andy treated Erin like an afterthought. He left her for three months to go sailing and barely communicated with her. Pete Miller, on the other hand, treated her like a human being. He learned her favorite movies. He memorized lines from Die Hard because he knew it would make her happy.
It wasn't a grand, cinematic romance. It was quiet. It was the kind of relationship that happens in real offices—two people bonding over boring tasks and a shared sense of humor. Pete didn't try to "win" her; he just provided a safe space for her to realize she was in a toxic relationship. That’s a level of maturity we rarely saw in the Scranton branch.
The Die Hard Connection
One of the best Pete Miller moments is the whole Die Hard plotline. Pete knows the entire movie by heart. It’s his "thing." When he recites it to Erin, it’s not to show off. He’s trying to distract her from the fact that her boyfriend is a narcissistic jerk who’s currently MIA.
It’s a small, specific detail that makes him feel like a real person. We all know a guy like Pete. He’s smart, probably a bit overqualified for a customer service job in a dying paper industry, and he’s just trying to enjoy his life. He wasn't looking for drama. He just happened to fall for the receptionist, which, yeah, we’ve seen that movie before, but Lacy played it with such a sincere, "aw shucks" energy that it worked.
The Problem with the Season 9 Fatigue
Pete Miller often gets lost in the shuffle because Season 9 was chaotic. You had the Brian the boom mic operator drama. You had Jim and Pam’s marriage almost falling apart. You had Dwight finally becoming manager.
Because the show was juggling so many legacy storylines, Pete’s development got sidelined. We never really saw his home life. We didn't get to know his family. He was a catalyst for Erin's growth more than he was his own protagonist.
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That’s the tragedy of the late-series additions. If Pete had been introduced in Season 4 or 5, he’d probably be as beloved as Darryl or Andy (the early version). But coming in at the eleventh hour meant he was always going to be "the new guy" in the eyes of the fanbase.
The Pete and Clark Dynamic
The chemistry between Jake Lacy and Clark Duke was surprisingly solid. They represented two different ways of dealing with a dead-end job. Clark was the hustler, willing to do whatever it took to get ahead, even if it meant being a bit of a creep. Pete was the guy who accepted his fate but refused to let it turn him into a cynic.
They were a comedy duo that deserved more screen time. Their "customer service training" scenes and their interactions with the older staff highlighted just how much the world had changed since the pilot aired in 2005. They were the Millennials entering a workspace built by Boomers and Gen X-ers who were all slowly losing their minds.
Pete Miller's Legacy in the Series Finale
By the time the finale rolled around, Pete and Erin were still together. It was a subtle win. The show didn't make a huge deal out of it, which actually felt more realistic. They were just a happy couple attending a wedding.
Pete's presence in the final episodes served as a bridge. He was proof that life at Dunder Mifflin would continue even after the documentary crew packed up their gear. New stories would happen. New pranks would be played. Another generation would eventually sit at those desks and wonder why they were selling paper in a digital world.
Practical Takeaways for Fans Revisiting Season 9
If you’re planning a rewatch and usually skip the last season, I’d suggest giving it another look specifically through the lens of the Pete Miller character. Here’s why:
- Watch the subtle cues: Notice how Pete reacts to the chaos around him. His facial expressions in the background of scenes are often funnier than the main dialogue.
- Appreciate the "Anti-Jim" moments: See how he handles conflict compared to Jim. He’s much more direct and less passive-aggressive.
- The Erin Evolution: Track Erin’s confidence levels from the moment Pete starts working there. He genuinely empowers her, which is a nice change of pace from her previous love interests.
- Focus on the Card Tower: The business card tower subplot is actually a great metaphor for the futility of the corporate world—it’s impressive, fragile, and ultimately pointless, but it’s something to do.
Pete Miller wasn't a spectacular character who redefined comedy. He was never meant to be. He was the "everyman" in a show that had become increasingly extraordinary. He brought a sense of calm and decency to a branch that was frequently lacking both. So, next time you’re scrolling through Peacock and you hit the Season 9 episodes, don't just call him Plop. He earned his place in that office, even if he was the last one to get there.
Moving Forward With The Office
To truly understand Pete’s role, compare his interactions with the "old guard" to how Jim interacted with them in the early years. You’ll find that Pete is often more respectful and less prone to mocking his elders, showing a different kind of "normal" for the 2010s. If you're looking for more behind-the-scenes context, checking out the "Office Ladies" podcast episodes covering the final season provides a lot of insight into how Jake Lacy was cast and what the writers intended for his arc. It helps clear up the misconception that he was just a "spare" Jim. He was a specific choice to ground the show's final act.