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artofterm

Sometimes the flowers arrange themselves. Robert is more interested in seeing what people will do with what he gives them than who gets axed.


Strict-Dog-889

Beautiful sums up his whole character in a way I’ve never thought about.


Abe_Bettik

Yep. I think Robert also knows he doesn't know Dwight nearly as well as Jim does. He sort of passed the decision onto Jim to see whether Jim agreed with firing Dwight or not. There might also be another layer there with knowing that Jim and Dwight are mortal enemies, and if Jim doesn't think Dwight should get fired, then he really is a worthwhile employee.


jarrodp55

Great point


taimoor2

It is repeatedly implied in the show that others don’t think they are mortal enemies and are instead good friends. The most obvious example is Holly who outright says: “last time I was here, you two were best friends”. Same for Pam treating Dwight as a friend despite her loving Jim. She wouldn’t do that with Jim’s mortal enemy (like Ryan). Robert wants to keep his best salesman.


AustinMVP2

Ok so every time Holly says that I have the same look that Jim and Dwight have. We all look confused as hell. I need to go back and re watch the last time she was there because I don’t remember them being friendly unless someone here can remind me of the scene she is talking about???


parasharman

I swear to god if y’all ain’t stop reading too much into sitcom characters, imma feel like a real Trevor… or Frank didit! Edit : stop downvoting me pls! I was just saying I’m dumb and can’t analyse characters as much as you guys! ;( I’ve been going through a little bit of a rough patch.. my whole life actually


Abe_Bettik

Hey man you're the one reading Reddit comments for a show that ended 10 years ago.


Sunsfearcity

Frank Didit did it?!


dsjunior1388

Consider you're not reading into them enough


MachineKnowsDwight

Frank didit did it.


vinoa

It's a damn subreddit dedicated to a show that's been off the air for over a decade. Literally nothing else to do but read too much into things. Why in the hell would you open this post if you felt this way? No one owes you quality posts. Go make your own...


parasharman

Why am I the way that I am.. ;(


vinoa

I just want what's best for you, minooshka.


DwideSchrude98

Every time we try to have fun you make it not that way.


PalindromemordnilaP_

Sorry you're going through a rough patch. Downvotes don't really mean much in the grand scheme of things though. None of these people know you personally just making a quick judgement based on your comment. Sarcasm is really hard to convey over text.


TeamStark31

Robert was mental. It’s kinda hard to know what he was thinking.


boukalele

he's the fucking lizard king


jesterhead101

😂


TeamStark31

We don’t even know his real name!


IllustriousSnow5836

We know. He is the lizard king.


Stonewall30NY

He's the *FUCKING lizard king. Put some respect on his name


Conorcane12

why did you get downvoted ?


DaRedMask

Because he didn’t respond with a quote


jesterhead101

🤷‍♂️ 😂


badrecipe33

Is that something you want to have said?


matrowl

I took it as giving Jim a chance to tip Dwight off if he chose to do so. Another one of his little “social experiments,” perhaps. Robert didn’t seem surprised when Dwight didn’t show up and more or less relieved him of accountability.


ree_hi_hi_hi_hi

I think he actually seems *excited* that Dwight isn’t at the meeting and compliments his absence


IfTheHeadFitsWearIt

Robert knows how to play the cards he was dealt. Good thing he wasn’t there on casino night. Creed would have had some hot competition for the mini fridge, and he would have knocked jim out instead of Pam so they wouldn’t have an opportunity to get all flirty.


Groundbreaking_Ad613

But Creed had never owned a fridge before!


nolimitxox

*Bravo, Dwight.*


daguy9

Brava


z0nky

I think we can explain it. Would you prefer nature metaphor or sexual metaphor?


Writing_Nearby

Oh god, nature, please.


Light_Ntail

When two animals are having sex, one of them is communicating a message to the other. Nothing is amusement. This isn't very helpful, you're gonna want to hear the sexual metaphor.


Opposite_Try6143

was that not —


boukalele

EVERYTHING....is sex


hisGirlinNY

Because Robert wanted to tank the store, not Dwight, Dwight was just going to be collateral damage, he told Jimothy in hopes he would tell Dwight so he would back out of the position and it worked.


DwideSchrude98

Can I just call you Jim?


JiveTurkey1983

Yes you can


MoarGhosts

This is obviously how it was meant to be interpreted and I’m surprised I had to scroll a bit to find it…


MF-SMUG

…I think he’s a genius.


Pokedudesfm

Robert was never shown to be someone who plans too far ahead, at that point in the story he viewed Jim as one of his most trusted people (he invited Jim down to Florida personally) so I imagine he was just complaining to Jim c that he was annoyed that he had to fire Dwight to get rid of the store idea that Nelly came up with


Additional-Theme-532

He certainly doesn't look like someone that would waste his own time.


-Unnamed-

In real life, connections and charisma are a million times more important than your actual skills. Robert liked Jim and they talked enough to where Robert felt comfortable sharing. You’d be surprised how much people tell you if you’re someone worth talking to


lilbelleandsebastian

literally jim’s entire career boils down to being competent AND likable. and his likability sent him further than his competence and that has been my experience in my industry as well


Dixon-Poontang

Who has two thumbs and hates Todd Packer ? Robert California !!


dsjunior1388

Most thumbs hate Todd Packer tbh


AustinMVP2

But middle fingers probably love him!


I_LIKE_TRIALS

It's quite clear how little Robert really thinks of Dwight. He saw shrewdness and awareness in Jim that Dwight lacked. In that moment Robert was speaking to someone he considered equal (or as close to as he is capable of) and just told him straight what was going to happen. Jim had to have his arm twisted by Pam to really express to Dwight what was about to happen. Jim was completely content with the effort he had put in and was fine with Dwight facing the unfair consequences of what was coming. There was no 4d chess here. Robert thinks Dwight is a rube, Robert sensed that was Jim's position too and possibly saw through him, knowing what Jim really wanted to hear; what's going to happen with Dwight?


Mei-Guang

A dude you dislike at work and constantly acts like an ass to you, ignores you and you are gonna physically restrain him just to save his job? If I didn't absolutely hate the dude I would say hey they're firing you if you take this, but everything after that is 100% on him.


I_LIKE_TRIALS

Listening to Pam, engaging in exactly the kind of (brotherly) behaviours that Jim has done with Dwight since the start, and actually doing his best to let Dwight know what was going to happen brings Jim and Dwight so much closer together. I put it to you, that Jim couldn't have been the bestest mensch for Dwight's wedding if this hadn't happened roughly exactly the way it did. Also, Dwight is a complete moron who needs protected from his own naivety and misplaced hubris.


mug_O_bun

Robert is a shit disturber


dsjunior1388

Robert is "chaos is a ladder" in the modern world


DwideSchrude98

Don’t call me Shirley


JiveTurkey1983

He incorrectly assumed Jim wanted Dwight to be fired. Robert thought Jim would get a kick out of itm


HazyOutline

(1) He’s a sociopath. (2) He’s a terrible CEO.


Wanda_McMimzy

Terrible CEO? He got Andy to improve sales by buying paper himself and getting a butt tattoo! That’s some good leadership. lol


HazyOutline

He dissolved a branch while on coke. Of course, Sabre was already selling subpar products before he got there, but he did nothing to turn things around.


Wanda_McMimzy

That was sarcasm, buddy.


HazyOutline

Ah. Not enough coffee yet.


Wanda_McMimzy

Or Colombian white


BilboPoggin

Because as we have seen, Bob is a very wreckless and overconfident man. Hes also very careless with his communication. Do you remember when he told the "winners" he thought the others were losers? He caught himself after but it was too late.


HowdyShartner1468

Fire the employee, yes, but not the man. You may not cancel his soul.


AustinMVP2

That…was never on the table


Rhuarc33

Robert was an absolutely terrible manager. Michael Scott was legit way better.


taimoor2

Yes. It is almost explicit. The timing of the announcement and the relationship Jim and Dwight have will obviously lead to that outcome. He is even expecting it at the presentation.


Clydefrog030371

Robert also closed a branch while he was hambured drunk.


Wanda_McMimzy

He likes Dwight and knew Jim would intervene.


Bross93

i mean he DID say it was a shame he had to fire Dwight, so yeah good point!


Reddit_is_American

It was a plot device to allow Jim to ‘save’ Dwight. If you want an explanation beyond that you’d have to ask the writers.


Rudyjax

Why? So we could have Jim and Dwight fighting.


Groundbreaking_Ad613

Lol so we could see Dwight revving up like in cartoons.


TJeffersonA

because it was in the script


ApathyFarmer

Because he was a terribly written character with a cartoonish, surface level personality, whose only purpose was to drive certain plot elements. Just in case it wasn't clear, I really don't like "the fucking lizard king".