Although the sitcom moving to NBCUniversal's new platform, but why is it so popular in the first place?
The Office, based upon the UK comedy of the same name, was a solid enough hit when it first aired, although the reception to its first season was lukewarm. After a shakeup, whereby it stopped trying to simply mimic The Big Bang Theory.
That could well help factor into why The Office is so popular on Netflix. There are more people who haven't seen it, therefore an increased number of subscribers will be discovering it on the streaming service. Add in the fact that there are nine seasons, making up a total of 201 episodes, and there's a lot for hungry bingers to get through (something none of Netflix’s own Originals can match). The Office now feels like a pop-culture staple, and if someone hasn't seen it, it's going to seem to them like one they absolutely need to watch. That doesn't fully explain it though, because the show's greatest strength is, really, its rewatchability.
Running from 2005-2013, The Office occupies a unique space in the sitcom sphere. It wasn't just another attempt at creating a Friends-esque hangout, but nor did it fully go down the meta-fused, rapid-fire joke machine route of something like a reunion).
It isn't just its humor or relatability though, but that it is so rewarding to viewers who rewatch the series. There's so much warmth and comedy within The Office - or at least, seasons 2-7 - that it has the comforting familiarity that series like Friends and How I Met Your Mother do too. Viewers can stick it on in the background, roughly being able to follow what's going on while they look at their phones. But if you happen to pay closer attention, then it's also packed with little details that are easy to miss the first time around.
It now has at least two genuine stars among its cast, thanks to the successes of Steve Carell and John Krasinski, which gives subscribers another reason to check in, but it's the ensemble that makes it work. The Jim and Dwight are the kinds of elements fans never tire of.
Here we have a show that is old enough to be revered, but still young enough to feel fresh and relevant. It appeals to viewers who haven't seen it once, and those who have five times over. And that's why The Office is so popular on Netflix. It's hilarious, it's long, and it's satisfying. That's what she said.