Following in Pam’s footsteps, I’d like to be honest for a second. I haven’t enjoyed this season of THE OFFICE nearly as much as last season. On the whole, I’ve found season three uneven, frustrating (how long are the writers going to stretch out Pam and Jim’s will-they-or-won’t-they?) and thanks to some over-the-top Michael Scott antics (a fake suicide attempt comes to mind) often not that funny.
That said, tonight’s installment of THE OFFICE was quite possibly the best episode of the season. Michael was ‘Michael’ — but not in that cringe-worthy overbearing way. Each member of the office was given their own moment to shine (Creed never ceases to amaze!). And most importantly, Pam finally had something interesting to say, after spending almost an entire season quietly moping behind her desk.
So let’s talk about Pam Beesly shall we. Who knew everybody’s favourite receptionist had it in her. Not only did she successfully manage to walk over a bed of hot coals, she finally revealed to Jim what fans, and most likely the entire office has known all along.
“I really miss you. I shouldn’t have been with Roy… and there were a lot of reasons to call of my wedding, but the truth is… I didn’t really care about any of those reasons until I met you. And now you’re with someone else. And that’s fine… it’s whatever…”
When you really think about it, it’s really quite remarkable what the creative team of THE OFFICE managed to accomplish this season. The writers did what so few sitcoms are successfully able to do — stretch out their central relationship, in this case, ‘the Jim & Pam question’ for almost an entire year.
Yet with the season coming to a close next week, it’s definitely time to start inching towards the resolution fans have been clamoring for all season long and this week’s Pam blowup was the perfect way to get the ball rolling.
I imagine next week, when Karen, Jim and Michael travel to New York to interview for the job at Corporate — Karen will get the job, leaving Jim free to pursue Pam. Of course what’s a season finale of THE OFFICE without a cliffhanger that leaves us talking all summer long? I’m going to go out on a limb and speculate that the cliffhanger won’t have anything to do with Jim and Pam (really, what more can they go through?). Next weeks final moments will revolve around Dunder Mifflin’s other couple — Dwight and Angela. What do you think’s going to happen next week? Post away with your theories. 