The US adaption of “The Office” has become an American classic with its incomparable mockumentary genre of comedy and incredible cast able to take on the awkward satire of the script. This series is based on the drab existence of a paper supply company and the accuracy of what happens in the midst of an everyday office. The show’s complexity is led by a group of 15+ characters bouncing lines and witty comments off one another throughout each episode. However, there are known to be a main group of 5-6 characters that lead each episode, while the remaining 12 give context, reality, and dimension to the show. Often, these five main characters are thought of to be the best, in terms of development, versatility, and overall personality; despite the fact, Creed Bratton (Creed Bratton) is the best character of the show, although being solely known as a comedic smaller role. Creed’s character not only provides the show with a different type of comedy than what tends to dominate the series, but also develops a mystery behind a not-so-developed character, unlike the other straightforward, stereotypical cast members.

“The Office” is well-known for its unique style of comedy. While the core characters like Michael Scott (Steve Carell), Jim (John Krasinski), and Pam (Jenna Fischer) rely on similar types of humor that induce the same type of laughter, Creed offers a new kind of comedic edge to the show that is awkward, yet too perfectly timed to not induce a laugh. Creed only makes a couple appearances throughout the entirety of the show, but is mostly known as a background character in their office. Due to this small role, his quick, intermediate joking style of popping in at the most awkward, inexplicable times develops his character as a great source of comedy. In the Halloween episode “ Here Comes Treble,” Creed shows up to the office covered in blood splatters, after which Pete comments that he didn’t know everyone “dressed up every year,” to which Creed replies, “me neither.” In a short clip of a later interview in the episode, he utters the words, “that was really, really good timing,” this implying his bloody outfit was not for the purpose of a Halloween costume. Creed, being an unexplained character, develops resourcefulness and dishonesty as his defining traits, along with his scandalous behavior and complete ignorance about the modern world. He often makes references to his “younger self.” However, these references often include suspicious behavior and odd facts that are questionable for a rationally-based show. During one of his interviews on the mockumentary, he says, “I’ve been involved in a number of cults, both as a leader and a follower. You have more fun as a follower, but make more money as a leader.” Creed not only offers a fresh, new, scandalous type of humor to the show, but is also the perfect contrast to the complexity of the employees at an ordinary paper company.

Characters like Pam Beesly, Jim Halpert, and Michael Scott, although humorously quirky, are straightforward, stereotypical, and predictable. For a show like “The Office” that thrives off of the unexpected excitement a paper company can provide, being too predictable can create some less exciting characters. Creed Bratton’s is one of the most unexplained characters on the show, giving him an open opportunity to develop and providing him with an unlimited range of scenarios his character can pursue. One episode can be focused on Creed’s age difference, viewing him as a wise old man, the next he can be him innocently trying to learn how to cartwheel for the first time, and later becoming a serial killer and declaring bankruptcy. Although the show needs its anchors of sanity, Creed’s mysterious identity gives the show a new and different twist on how a perfectly underdeveloped character can be utilized in so many different ways.

Although “The Office” has a few main characters near and dear to audiences’ hearts, I believe Creed Bratton truly was the best character in the series because of his dry, mysterious, and most importantly, absolutely hilarious lines that left all “The Office” lovers confused, yet satisfied. As said by the character himself, that’s “not bad in the life of a dog food company.”