Holly Flax

Hollis Partridge "Holly" Scott (née Flax) is a fictional character from the US television series The Office, played by Amy Ryan. She is an original character, and not based on a character from the British version of the show. Initially, she served as a replacement HR Representative for the Scranton branch of Dunder Mifflin when Toby Flenderson left for Costa Rica, and she quickly developed a friendship with and romantic interest for Steve Carell's character Michael Scott. She and Michael have a shared sense of humor and similar personality traits, though Holly does prove to be more rational than Michael. In the office, she is noticeably more acquiescent to Michael's antics and ideas than was her predecessor, Toby. At the office, Michael proposes to her with the help of their co-workers. After different challenges, she and Michael move to Colorado, marry and start a family together.

Holly Flax
The Office character
First appearance	"Goodbye, Toby"
Last appearance	"Goodbye, Michael" (voice only), "Garage Sale"
Created by	Paul Lieberstein
Portrayed by	Amy Ryan
In-universe information
Gender	Female
Occupation	Former Human Resources Representative, Dunder Mifflin, Scranton Former Human Resources Representative, Dunder Mifflin, Nashua
Spouses	Michael Scott
Children	4 (with Michael Scott)
Home	Des Moines, Iowa / Boulder, Colorado
Nationality	American

Overview

Holly Flax is the human resources representative for the Scranton branch of Dunder Mifflin. She and Michael Scott become good friends in the office, though Michael desires to turn their friendship into a romance, which eventually takes place. Executive producer Greg Daniels has repeatedly stated that the inspiration for Flax's character stems from a shopgirl who served him on a vacation in Newfoundland, Canada, whom he described as "a female Michael Scott."

She is originally from Des Moines, Iowa, and her parents now live in Boulder, Colorado and her father suffers from dementia. In her early life, she held the position of hall monitor in middle school due to her geeky demeanor, and because of this, was a target of harassment by other students. When she was in high school, she was diagnosed with mono.

Character history

Season 4

Holly arrives at Dunder Mifflin to serve as Toby's replacement. Michael initially dislikes her because she is part of Human Resources, but quickly falls in love with her after she makes a joke about Toby's dullness. This feeling is further intensified after Holly has an enthusiastic response to a joke he makes while mimicking Yoda's voice. She is subjected to hazing by Dwight Schrute, who convinces her that Kevin Malone is mentally challenged, a belief she continues to harbor until Season Five when it is embarrassingly pointed out to her that he isn't. When Dwight attempts to put a raccoon in Holly's Toyota Camry Solara convertible, Michael berates Dwight and loudly proclaims that Holly is the "best thing that has happened to this company since World War II." Holly invites Michael to go out for dessert after Toby's going away party, but Michael turns her down to go with Jan Levinson, who is pregnant and had asked Michael to be there as if he were the child's father.[1]

Season 5

Michael had been courting Holly in the first episode of the season, going as far as refraining himself from saying "that's what she said" in front of her, much to Jim's surprise. Holly practices yoga, so Oscar refers Holly to a yoga class with an attractive teacher. Holly agrees to a date with him, much to Michael's dismay. Holly buys tickets for Counting Crows, but the yoga instructor doesn't call her. Michael, who does not pick up on several hints that Holly has given him (about attending the concert with her), purchases the tickets from her and rips them to pieces.[2] She ultimately considers him to be her best friend in the office. It is also revealed that she was picked on as a child just like Michael.[3] Michael and Holly sharply disagree when they discover during an ethics training that Meredith has been trading sex for supplies (and Outback Steakhouse coupons); Michael feels that this is a boost to sales that Corporate would agree with while Holly believes it violates company policy. Though initially pleased when corporate takes his side, Michael is dismayed when Corporate HR berates and humiliates her over the phone, having turned a rote seminar into an investigation. Michael rallies the office to complete the seminar and sign the ethics acknowledgement, which restores good feelings between Holly and Michael.

Michael tells Holly he will treat her poorly in front of Jan during her baby shower because he has a vested interest in Jan's baby, which is not his. Despite being told of this, she is shown to be uncomfortable and sad with Michael's attitude toward her. However, despite witnessing Michael's treatment of Holly throughout the day, Jan notices the two of them have a lot in common after Holly makes jokes in front of her. Jan then orders Michael not to date Holly before driving away. This, in addition to feeling no connection with Jan's baby, prompts Michael to apologetically hug Holly and ask her out on a date, which she accepts, visibly moved.[4]

Holly and Michael date, and on their third date have sex in the office (inadvertently leading to the break-in at the office). She helps Michael organize a fundraiser (offering yoga lessons) and displeases CFO David Wallace, who sees them kissing, thus noticing a relationship.[5] In response, she is transferred back to Nashua. She and Michael plan to continue dating, but realize on the trip that the distance is insurmountable. Thus, they are forced to end their relationship, sharing one last embrace before saying goodbye. Michael tells everyone that they are engaged upon his return, but later admits this is not true.[6] Later, Michael calls David and scolds him for transferring Holly from the Scranton branch.[7]

When Michael comes to Nashua with Pam Beesly to give his lecture and find closure with Holly, she is not there because she is on an HR retreat. It is also revealed that she is dating one of the salesmen there, A.J., which deeply upsets Michael and makes him unable to do his presentation; he ultimately breaks down and asks her boyfriend about Holly in front of everyone before leaving. He goes to her desk and smells her sweater, cutting a sleeve off to take with him. Michael finds a file on her computer titled "Dear Michael" and copies it to his flash drive. He tells Pam about it, and Pam volunteers to read it herself and deletes it afterward, telling Michael it said she still has feelings for him and that it isn't over. It is unclear whether Pam was telling the truth.[8]

Holly and Michael reunite at the Dunder Mifflin company picnic for the first time since she was transferred. She is still seeing A.J., who arrives with her. Holly and A.J. have apparently started living together. David Wallace lets Holly and Michael do a skit about the history of Dunder Mifflin; the two decide to do a skit that spoofs Slumdog Millionaire. The presentation goes horribly and gets worse when they reveal that the Buffalo branch is closing down, much to everyone's surprise. Michael and Holly reminisce about the presentation and talk about one in the future. Holly leaves with A.J., with Michael noting that it wasn't the right time to talk to her and that they will eventually find each other.

Season 6

Holly does not appear in Season 6, but is mentioned many times by Michael, who still has feelings for her. Her return is hinted at in the season finale, "Whistleblower," after Michael takes the fall for Sabre's defective printers. In return for his loyalty, Michael requests that Holly be returned to Scranton. Jo says she will see what she can do.

Season 7

Holly first appears over speakerphone in "Sex Ed", when Michael calls her in fear that he may have contracted herpes and infected Holly with it. The lighthearted conversation turns serious when Holly suggests that Michael over-romanticized their relationship, which she characterizes as "just a fling".

Holly in Season 7

In "Classy Christmas", Holly returns to Scranton to fill in while Toby is away at jury duty. The initial excitement about seeing her old friend again turns to anger when a jealous Michael vandalizes her Woody doll (a gift from her boyfriend AJ). Holly divulges to the women of the office that AJ won't commit, and she's going to give him an ultimatum to propose to her by New Year's. When Pam tells Michael, he is cheered up by the news, as well as Holly lying to AJ about how Woody got damaged.

Holly returns from the holiday break in "Ultimatum" without an engagement ring. Michael is briefly enthusiastic until he learns that Holly gave up on her ultimatum, considering it unreasonable. However, at the end of the episode, Holly tells A.J. that she wants to take a "break" from their relationship. Her and Michael's friendship seems to rebuild itself with "The Seminar".

In "The Search", Holly rejects Michael's advances, saying she doesn't want to be involved with a coworker again. When he goes missing, Holly is able to track Michael's footsteps due to their similar thought patterns. When she finds him on a building rooftop, they admit that they miss each other and share a kiss.

In the episode "PDA", it is revealed that Michael and Holly are officially dating. They make the rest of the office uncomfortable with their excessive public displays of affection, and agree to stop only at the insistence of their coworkers. Later that day, when Michael declares that he loves Holly and she says that she returns his feelings, they must settle for a handshake. In order to avoid the kind of breakup they have previously experienced, they decide to move in together.

As the season progresses, Holly's presence leads Michael to become a more mature adult. In "Threat Level Midnight", Michael screens the film that he had been working on for the past 11 years. Michael is hurt when Holly isn't impressed, but her honesty helps him realize that the film is laughably awful. In "Todd Packer", Todd Packer returns to the sales bullpen. She initially trusts Michael's assessment of Packer, but confronts Michael about his friend after Packer shows his true colors. When Michael tries to smooth things over, Packer speaks disrespectfully about Holly. Michael decides not to disclose that Packer's "promotion" in Florida is a prank by Jim and Dwight, and as Michael and Holly watch him drive away it's obvious that she is helping Michael to grow. A deleted scene from this episode reveals that Holly has a blind friend named Lois, who doesn't get along with Michael.

In "Garage Sale", she realizes her aging parents need assistance and decides to move home to Colorado. She briefly changes her mind when Michael seems reluctant, saying that he is her life now. At the end of the episode, Michael leads her through various spots in the building that are meaningful to them (the stairwell where they first kissed, the water cooler he visited just to watch her work). He finally leads her to the annex which is filled with lighted candles. He begins to propose to her when the sprinkler system goes off. Through her laughter, she accepts his proposal. Afterwards, he announces to the office he's quitting his job to move to Colorado with his fiancée.

Holly does not appear in the subsequent episodes "Training Day" and "Michael's Last Dundies", but did have a voice-only segment (in a telephone conversation) in "Goodbye, Michael", confirming with Michael that she'll pick him up at the airport when his plane lands. In the process, she unintentionally cheers a distraught Michael up when he initially gets cold feet about moving to Colorado. The episode marked Steve Carell's final episode as a series regular.

Season 9

Holly does not appear in any episodes, but Michael makes a surprise appearance at Dwight and Angela's wedding in the series finale. During the wedding reception, Michael shows Pam pictures of Holly and Michael's kids on his cell phone. Pam reveals that Michael and Holly are living very happily together. Michael now has two cell phones to store all the pictures that he takes of their kids, and is very happy to finally have a family cell phone plan. NBC.com later revealed that Michael and Holly had four children together.

References

1. Goodbye, Toby
2. Weight Loss
3. Business Ethics
4. Baby Shower
5. Crime Aid
6. Employee Transfer
7. Business Trip
8. Lecture Circuit: Part 2