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Why does everyone always go back to The Office? | Opinions | LIVING LIFE FEARLESS

Why does everyone always go back to The Office?

[dropcap size=big]O[/dropcap]h look, here I go again giving my late-ass opinion about a show that’s been off TV for a while! This time around we’re talking The Office, which had its finale less than 5 years ago – so I’m not quite as late to this party as I am with Friends. However, it’s The Office and there’s no such thing as a bad time to start such a miraculous journey. Said commitment was half motivated by FOMO (fear of missing out), half motivated by my boyfriend’s proclivity.

…it’s The Office and there’s no such thing as a bad time to start such a miraculous journey.

The first(ish) season…

Guys, I’m not going to lie. Getting through the first season (and even the first half of the second season) of The Office is a teensy bit like pulling teeth. My S.O. swears it’s because the British humor didn’t translate all too well, and I think that’s a real possibility.

Case in point: anyone remember the American version of The Inbetweeners?

I prefer to try to forget that ever happened. Ew.

After I got over the initial hump of getting into the Office brand of humor however, it was smooth sailing from there on out.

The real stars of the show

Let’s be real, guys. Michael Scott might be the “star” of the show, but Jim and Pam (Jam? Pim? Do they have an official ship name?) are what kept (keep, in my case) everyone coming back for more.

I mean, I may or may not have cried over the fact that Jim and Pam aren’t real/the actors that play them aren’t together in real life. How do you portray love that pure only for it to not be real?!

Sigh.

…Michael Scott might be the “star” of the show, but Jim and Pam…are what kept (keep, in my case) everyone coming back for more.

There are other characters that I feel an emotional affinity for; Dwight due to his pathetic yet endearing loyalty, Toby because he’s treated so crappily by most of the people in the office (especially Michael), but in the grand scheme of things, the only characters that matter to me are Jim and Pam.

My late start in getting to watching The Office means I already know that they end up together, but watching it play out on the small screen is so much more meaningful than what anyone could tell me in their own words.

And worst couple ever goes to:

Jan and Michael. I’m glad I know they don’t end up together because they’re pretty much the worst.

I know that their relationship was intended to provide additional comic relief, but it honestly just makes me sad. Not even fake breasts can make dating Jan worth it…despite what Michael says.

Jim and Pam’s quasi-fairy tale coupling is only made better when put head to head with the hot mess that is Michael and Jan.

I like to think that Jim and Pam are the “anchor” for the show, or rather that their relationship is what drives the plot of the show ahead. And what’s yin without yang? Jim and Pam’s quasi-fairy tale coupling is only made better when put head to head with the hot mess that is Michael and Jan.

Highlights thus far

  • Pam’s arc after she breaks off her engagement to Roy. Pam was more or less a “likable” character in the first few seasons, but it wasn’t until she started to stand up for herself that I was fully on board. Hell yeah, autonomous Pam, you do you!
  • Dwight and Angela’s pathetic yet perfect pairing. She’s engaged to Andy right now and I’m yearning for days of yore. (Andy is definitely NOT a highlight, just so we’re clear.)
  • Prison Mike. Oh, and Michael Klump. Need I say more?
  • Ryan’s fall from grace. Not sure if I hate Andy or Ryan more, but I was a smug motherf***** when Ryan got demoted to secretary.
  • When Pam won a Dundie for having the whitest sneakers and she said “I feel God in this Chili’s tonight”. Pure gold.

Looking ahead…

It’s engineered to be a perfect balance of happy and sad, and that makes it prime viewing no matter your emotional state.

I have a long ways to go, thankfully, but I already know that I’ll be uber sad when I finally get to the end of such a fantastic show (whenever that is). The Office is a perfect dichotomy of humor and poignancy. When it wants to be funny, it does a damn good job. And when it wants to be melancholy or touching, it does a damn good job of that too. Sometimes, we pick what show we want to watch based on how we’re feeling in the moment.

Feeling sad? Watch something funny.

Feeling happy? Go for something more pensive.

The great thing about The Office? It’s engineered to be a perfect balance of happy and sad, and that makes it prime viewing no matter your emotional state. Whether you want to really feel something or totally forget about the current state of your personal life, the office is always there to bring you to that place.

Stay tuned!

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