Steve Carell as Michael Scott on 'The Office.'

It’s been a sad year for fans of The Office. With more drama than lighthearted comedy, this season has undoubtedly been the worst of the series. Even more tragic is the confirmation of Steve Carell’s departure from the show when the upcoming seventh season ends.

Carell told Entertainment Weekly he will be leaving the hit NBC comedy after season 7 at the premiere of his new animated movie Despicable Me this past weekend. “I think it’s a good time to move on,” Carell said. “I just want to spend more time with my family.”

This news is not really surprising. At the end of a BBC Radio interview promoting his new film Date Night with co-star Tina Fey, Carell said he would probably be leaving The Office after the seventh season when his contract ran out. His comment had everyone wondering if it was genuine or just a ploy for salary negotiations. Now, it looks like Carell will be leaving The Office for good.

As regional manager of Dunder Mifflin’s Scranton branch, Carell’s character Michael Scott is the star of The Office. Michael is usually at the center of the show’s trademark awkward, goofball comedy, but he’s also the source of much of The Office’s heart. Although it has a strong supporting cast, The Office has always been all about Michael. Can the show go on without him?

For me, the answer is yes…and no. There’s no doubt that Michael has developed into a dynamic character throughout the six seasons. Michael is proud, goofy, ignorant and vulnerable. He is one of the most memorable TV characters of all time. I would miss his hilarious one-liners and office antics. But through the years (especially this season), we’ve seen a different side of Scott, and it’s not pretty. Scott has been mean, immoral and selfish, like when he threw a tantrum after being denied the role of Santa Claus at the office Christmas party or when he decided to continue his affair with a married woman. Either he’s gotten more annoying and pathetic over the years or we’re finally getting tired of it. The show might be better off without the darkness Michael brings to it.

With this season’s finale, however, there is a glimmer of hope, a possibility Scott may get a second chance with his quirky love interest Holly. It would be a wonderful ending to an ultimately lovable character if he finally got together with Holly, the love of his life. This would not only fill what’s been missing from Michael’s life, but also give a complete and proper send-off to one of TV’s greatest characters.