Jim Halpert is the king of the friend zone. When we first met the coworkers of The Office, he was just a guy, who had a crush on a girl, who had a boyfriend. By the end, that had changed a bit.
The mockumentary of ordinary office employees hooked us for two reason: Michael Scott’s (Steve Carell) blundering, and Jim (John Krasinski) and Pam (Jenna Fischer).
Some fans claimed the show jumped the shark when the receptionist and the salesman finally got together, that it robbed the show if its driving conflict.
One thing is for certain: It's time for The Office to end, and we're sad to see it go. Let's reminisce with A Timeline of Jim & Pam's Relationship on The Office.
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Compiled by Nancy Stiles (@nancerdancer)
The Fiance
Charmingly beta male paper salesman Jim Halpert lingers constantly at the desk of Pam Beesly's, office receptionist. He really does know how to make copies, but they're best friends. That is, until her burly fiancé Roy comes in from his job in the warehouse. Jig's up.
Good Day
Rival salesman (and royal pain in the ass) Dwight steals a big commission from Jim, but he still calls it "not a bad day" after Pam falls asleep during a meeting. Perhaps his interest isn't so one-sided.
Pranking Dwight
Jim and Pam bond over an elaborate prank on Dwight. It's surprisingly easy to get Dunder Mifflin's top salesman to hide in an box in the warehouse. Don't worry, he cut air holes.
Basketball Rivalry
When Michael organizes a basketball game between the office and the warehouse, Jim gets a little competitive with burly Roy. Unfortunately, Roy still gets the girl. Dwight wears a face mask, obviously.
Chili's
Pam totally felt God in that Chili's during the Dundies, the bizarre awards ceremony for Dunder Mifflin employees put on by boss Michael Scott. Pam just wanted to show Jim how excited she was for winning "Whitest Sneakers." Right.
Dundies Part 2
OK, maybe she was over-served. But drunk words are sober thoughts, right?
Flonkerton
Jim often dies of boredom at work, and it's usually up to Pam to revive him. While Michael and Dwight are away, a game of Office Olympics seems like the right thing to fight a case of the Mondays. They play Flonkerton—the national sport of Icelandic paper companies. Less popular? Pam Pong.
Halloween
A prank on Dwight backfires when Pam hurts Jim's feelings by suggesting he take a better job. "Seriously, if you left here, I would blow my brains out," she confesses. But, you know, that's just a common expression. Between friends.
Awkward Touching
Sexual. Tension. Was that weird today?
First Date
Dinner, candlelight, dancing...but it's not really a date if the girl goes home to her fiancé. And so the ballad of Jim and Pam goes on.
Hanging Out
Pam thinks she's uncovering Dwight's (very real) affair with uptight accountant Angela, but backs off when she realizes a saleswoman, Phyllis, thought she was hooking up with Jim. Like, people can just be friends, OK?
Christmas Teapot
Jim gets Pam the perfect Christmas gift, which she finally gets despite Michael's impromptu game of Yankee Swap. What she doesn't get? His heartfelt letter.
Booze Cruise
Jim tries to tell Pam his true feelings, but Roy sets a date for their wedding instead. Surprisingly, Michael gives Jim the best advice possible. She's engaged? BFD. Engaged ain't married.
True Feelings
Michael is the world's worst confidant. The pair goes to Hooters, because that's the best place for a great heart-to-heart. Eventually, Jim is forced to tell Pam he “used to" have a crush on her. Sure.