The Office lasted a total of nine seasons and 201 episodes. It began in 2005 with one season featuring six episodes, soon enough, it was on its way to becoming one of the elite sitcoms on television. However, for a lot of fans, the series ended when Michael Scott departed, during season 7. It was an emotional goodbye for everyone involved, including the cast, crew, and Steve Carell himself.

RELATED - How 'The Office' Creators Honored Steve Carell When He Left The Show

The context behind his departure still rubs fans the wrong way. Some believe Steve thought it was time to move on, while others make an argument that NBC totally botched his deal and because of their negligence, he was forced to leave before it was time yet. Some debate that a simple contract renewal could've changed everything. Let's dive into what really happened during Carell's contract negotiations, but first, let's rewind to that final episode in season 7.

Carell's Last Episode Wasn't Easy

Episode 22 of season 7 is called, 'Goodbye, Michael'. For hardcore 'The Office' fans, it wasn't easy to watch. Carell himself called it "emotional torture." In truth, it was harder to shoot than he expected, "It was almost more than I bargained for...I had [goodbye] scenes with everyone in the cast and it was emotional torture... it was like just fraught with emotion and, and joy and sadness and nostalgia," Carell said, reminiscing about his final Season 7 episode. "But it was also really beautiful. I'd like treasure just doing that episode because it did allow me to kind of have finality with everybody."

RELATED - What Steve Carell Had To Say About Michael Scott Leaving The Office

For the others on the show, it was just as difficult. Alongside Mashable, both Kate Flannery and John Krasinski described the episode as very emotional and tough to shoot, "He was the leader for so long and he kept our egos in check. He made sure that the show was the star, even though clearly he was the star. It felt like the end of an era, It felt like, the end of something more than even losing Steve or losing Michael, it felt like the end of our show in a way, or that evolution of our show. It's like when you graduate college, your life isn't over. But that version of your life will never come back."

As hard as the final episode was, the negotiations that took place might be even more upsetting. According to Indie Wire and an interview with a casting director, NBC was "asinine" for their treatment of Carell and his departure from the show.

He Didn't Want To Leave

steve carell the office scene
via YouTube

The hairstylists tend to have the inside scoop. According to Kim Ferry, Carell wasn't ready to leave and in fact, he was expecting a contract negation, one that never came, "He didn’t want to leave the show,” Ferry said. “He had told the network that he was going to sign for another couple of years. … He told his manager and his manager contacted them and said he’s willing to sign another contract. And the deadline came for when [the network was] supposed to give him an offer and it passed and they didn’t make him an offer."

RELATED - The One Thing Steve Carell And Michael Scott Have In Common

Casting director Allison Jones stirred up a lot of controversy, stating that she knew for a fact that Carell wanted to stay. She blamed NBC execs for not understanding the show, apparently, they weren't big fans. This would lead to an abrupt end, "Somebody didn’t pay him enough. It was absolutely asinine. I don’t know what else to say about that. Just asinine. I feel bad because I think a lot of people think he did leave the show on his own merit and it’s absolutely not true. I’m telling you. I was there."

Carell departed from the show and he moved on. During its finale, it took a lot of convincing for Steve to return. On one hand, he might've had a bitter taste in his mouth from the exit, on the other hand, he thought his character got the proper and perfect send-off. Ultimately, Steve didn't want to take away from his other co-stars, "Because I had told Greg, I just don’t think it’s a good idea because I felt like Michael’s story had definitely ended. And I was reticent about coming back because you guys had two more, really valuable seasons and that was everyone else’s ending. Michael had already had his, so I just didn’t want to, but at the same time, I felt like I should out of respect for all of you guys and out of my love for everybody to, you know, to acknowledge the, uh, the ending of this thing."

Things could've turned out very different had Carell been given a serious offer from the start.

NEXT - Before 'The Office' Rainn Wilson Was Living In A Brewery

Sources: Fan Sided, Mashable, Indie Wire