second and third seasons. His dream is to one day own his own business. Throughout the series, Ryan changes his persona every year beginning with the third season. When offered a job for corporate in the season 3 finale, Ryan relocates to New York City and adopts a nouveau riche persona: becoming extroverted, growing a beard, wearing nice suits, and getting $200 haircuts. But he subsequently ends up partying hard and getting addicted to drugs and alcohol. His downfall culminates in misleading Dunder-Mifflin's shareholders via his website's sales numbers, effectively committing fraud as Oscar Martinez later claims. In season 5, he returns with blonde highlights and a "work hard, play hard" attitude. He works for Michael at the Paper Company and still tries to keep his work ethic and strive to do good. In seasons 6–8, Ryan seems to be devoid of many of his former morals and ambitions. He does not care to work, reads poetry and initiates various creative projects. He switches clothing, from wearing fanciful scarves, fake glasses, suspenders, bow ties, trench coats, etc. and tries to create an "unsolvable attitude". He stays at Dunder Mifflin, but his position is unspecified; Michael mentions that he works there full-time in "WUPHF.com". Many of the staff, most notably Jim and Pam, note Ryan's ineptitude as an employee and that he sponges off his parents by living with them and driving his mom's car. Seasons 1–2 For the first episode and for much of season 1, Ryan's purpose in the show mirrors that of his British equivalent, Ricky Howard. He is the audience surrogate, allowing other characters to introduce themselves to him, and by extension, the viewer. Ryan was hired to replace Tom Peets, an employee who had lost a battle with depression and committed suicide shortly before the start of the series. Tom is first referenced in the season 2 episode "Performance Review", where a note from him in Michael Scott's long-ignored suggestion box requests counseling for his depression. Michael initially assumes the note is a joke, as no-one who currently works at the branch is named Tom, until Phyllis reminds him of the suicide. Over the first two seasons, Ryan's character is a secondary one and he is primarily defined by his dissatisfaction with his job, and his relationships with Michael and Kelly. His dissatisfaction manifests itself in his use of sarcasm and general disinterest towards his co-workers.