MovieChat Forums > The Office (2005) Discussion > Michael's hate for Toby

Michael's hate for Toby

posted 8 years ago by Happy_Chaos
24 replies | jump to latest

I'm re-watching the series on the Netflix after I stopped somewhere around season 6 I think? Decided to start from the beginning rather than where I left off during it's original run and I love this show and characters and it's still so good a second time around.

Anyway, it kinda bothers me how much Michael openly hates Toby. I mean I know Michael can be such a jerk, and Toby can be somewhat of a doormat but I don't understand why he would hate him so much other than him being perceived as an enemy working in HR. But Toby's been nothing but nice to him and Michael treats him like garbage. I just finished watching the one where he and Dwight try to frame him to get him fired and that was taking things too far for me. But why would Toby even want to come back at all? I wouldn't want to work in a place where my boss bullied me like that, and I wouldn't let them get away with it either. He's in HR, surely Michael's treatment of him is worthy of an investigation that could get Michael fired if Toby wanted to.

That's really the only thing about this show that bothers me, otherwise I like all the characters, warts and all. Sometimes I think I really like Michael, because despite being a jerk he's often a little naïve about it and there's a sincerity to him that makes me sympathize sometimes. And Toby, I think he's a really sweet guy for the most part (his unrequited crush on Pam got a little creepy at times though) but sometimes I just want to reach into my laptop, give him a good shake and yell, "Get a backbone and stand up for yourself!"

"You think you've got problems? I've got a mullet!" Stan Pines "Gravity Falls"

[–] calico_skies 8 years ago

I love the hate...it's one of the funniest parts of the show for me. "If I had a gun with two bullets and I was in a room with Hitler, Bin Laden, and Toby, I would shoot Toby twice."  I mean, I feel bad for Toby, but it's just too funny because Michael tries to be friends with everyone else.

Dexter: I would give everything to feel nothing again.

[–] SaidNDone 8 years ago

one of the best lines on the show

[–] nakman21 8 years ago

Agree, the hateoichael had for Toby was just funny as hell. Toby was always having to step in to ruin Michael's "fun". Toby was just doing his job, but Michael saw himself as the life of the party and a funny guy. So when Toby wanted to go over rules Michael would have a fit ?. But I noticed in a couple of episodes that even Jim was a jerk to him which I again found funny as hell since he seemed to like or at least get along with everyone besides Dwight. Micheal was basically an HR Rep's nightmare smh. But for Michael Toby was his nightmare because he'd have to tell Mike, "you can't do that." And Michael the manchild hated being told what he could or could not do. But yeah, poor Toby???

[–] benman46 8 years ago

It was supposed to bother you, that was the whole point. It is a cringe comedy after all, the Steve/Toby deal just being one element of that. Don't start shouting at the screen, there madness lies.

[–] XOXOgossipgirl11 8 years ago

Toby is in HR, which technically means he works for corporate, so he's really not a part of our family. Also he's divorced, so he's not really a part of his family.

What's to like?!?

[–] theauxphou 8 years ago

Michael tried. He tried to talk to Toby and be his friend.. but that is like trying to be friends with an evil..... snail.

[–] onethreetwo 8 years ago



[–] 8 years ago

[deleted]

[–] onethreetwo 8 years ago

That's the joke. That he hates him totally. That's why it's funny. The moments with Michael and Toby are some of the funniest moments in the entire series.

[–] ChicagoStyleSports 8 years ago

I think Michael's hate for Toby is absolutely hysterical.

It is going to get wet in here tonight. Lace your boots up, kiddies.

[–] Volley2020 8 years ago

See, I was hoping that Toby was indeed the Scranton Strangler... and only revealed in that final episode, that way all of Michael's hate for Toby would have been justified, indirectly, but justified.

Instead, Michael's just an a$$ and Toby, for some reason, doesn't complain to corporate about it.

[–] CarolTheDabbler (575) 3 months ago

Toby, for some reason, doesn't complain to corporate about it.

Maybe he's done that, maybe numerous times, but their response was merely "Deal with it." Which would leave him in the same fix, because who *could* effectively deal with dear oblivious Michael?

[–] liberius 8 years ago

Your reading of Michael's motivations is a little superficial. Michael made the comment that Toby, being the corporate functionary, seemed to be there to spoil every one else's fun. As if he were the adult supervising a group of children.

This has poignancy because Michael left his own childhood, jumped right over adolescence, and ended up a kid in an adult's body. He makes numerous references to this worldview throughout the show.

Sure it's funny but it's also very revealing and I think true for many people.

Note: the final victory was Toby's since in Michael's farewell episode Toby asked him if he'd like to meet his brother, Rory, who lived in Boulder, where Michael was going. We later see Toby skyping with his brother who is his doppelganger in not only looks but personality. As I recall Toby is going to give him Michael's address.

[–] Mordor_Ork 8 years ago

Literally the best moment of season 8 (or was it 9?) was when andy asks toby a favor and he just mumbles in his typical voice something along the lines of " I cant because bla bla bla" and andy just says "Now I know why micheal hated you so much". Damn that got me laughing pretty hard.