Jim Halpert and Pam Beesley. PB and J. It is no secret that “The Office,” one of the most popular TV shows of the modern era, also spawned one of the most adored couples in TV history. In honor of Valentine’s Day, let’s take a look back at their relationship and see how the love between two coworkers at Dunder Mifflin Paper Company developed into an ideal relationship.
Jim and Pam always seemed destined to share a last name. Their chemistry was evident from the beginning, and they had the luxury of sitting mere feet away from each other for 40 hours a week, able to share conversation and laughs at a moment’s notice.
But sparking a romantic relationship for the two was not simple. Pam was engaged to another man, Roy, and had been for years. Jim had his fair share of relationships before beginning his relationship with Pam, but it was clear that his love for Pam never went away.
Not only that, but Jim and Pam did not just spend 40 hours a week with each other, but spent it with many other coworkers who all knew that Jim and Pam had a special relationship. This meant that people like Michael Scott would nearly reveal Jim’s feelings for Pam, or people like Ryan or Bernard would hit on her. Jim even eventually revealed his love for Pam, only to have her stay loyal to her fiancée.
For many couples, that would have been the end. But one of the beautiful things about their relationship is that it was able to overcome the obstacles, the fiancées and the girlfriends, the doubt, and they were able to discover the what they wanted was each other. And just as Pam was ready to admit things wouldn’t work out between the two of them, Jim, like a ruffed grouse (state bird of Pennsylvania), swooped in and asked her on a date, thus beginning a romance which was long overdue.
From then, their love only continued to grow, and their relationship strengthened. From Jim’s gas station proposal, to their Niagra Falls wedding, to their two children together, their love was rarely in question.
Their relationship was wonderful to see develop, not simply because their love was so evident, but it was refreshing to see that their love was not always easy. They obviously had their struggles in starting a romantic partnership, but they also had their fair share of struggles. Being separated from each other when Pam was at art school, having others try and tear apart their relationship, none of these even comparing to their struggles with Jim’s job at Athlead.
Despite these struggles, the colossal relationship that was Jim and Pam never toppled. It was hard work, and both of them made sacrifices for each other. But that is love, making sacrifices and loving the other person so much that you want what is best for them.
And that is the ideal love that Jim and Pam showed us. Objectively, viewers of “The Office” were seeing a fairly mundane relationship between two people who work at a small paper company in Scranton, Pennsylvania. But that is part of what made it so appealing: it was so real. Unlike many other love stories, Jim and Pam were just ordinary people who experienced an extraordinary love. One that is not based on shallow reasons, but one that is rooted in a deep desire to make the other person happy and in loving them for who they are.
Because when you find someone who makes you deliriously happy, you want to repay that love to them however you can. So in turn you find every opportunity you can to make them laugh, or make them feel loved or supported. And when you do that, you become a better person. That is the kind of Jim and Pam love we all hope for.
It is easy to find yourself hoping for a love that you think you will never receive.
Don’t lose hope.
Because you may find love with that cute guy with the messy hair who always makes you laugh, or that curly haired girl with a beautiful smile. Or your love may look totally different than you could possibly imagine.
Or you may just have to do the hardest thing you’ve ever had to do, which is to just wait.
