I recently binged-watched The Office (US) on Netflix and absolutely fell in love with it. For the uninitiated, the show can be described as "A mockumentary on a group of typical office workers, where the workday consists of ego clashes, inappropriate behavior, and tedium. Based on the hit BBC series." (source: IMDB) It's hilarious, it's something we can relate to (though a boss like Michael Scott would be pretty rare and I'm not sure if that's a good thing or bad) and the best thing is how invested you get in the characters. I have watched many show endings but this was the one and only show till date that had me bawling my eyes out. Not something I'd expect from a comedy but then again, The Office manages that balance between comedy and drama, never letting the comic moments overpower the emotional quotient or letting too much melodrama keep it from being light and funny. And it is funny, I guarantee you!
One of the areas where this show succeeds is the depiction of office romances. There are romances that are crazy, romances that lead to people getting fired, romances that are cute and those that are destructive. And then there is an epic romance that doesn't fall into the usual trappings of television melodrama but is so beautiful and down-to-earth that everyone can hope to have something like it in their lives. Today I will take a look at the relationships on the show and how it relates to real life.
Pam & Jim - There is a reason why this relationship has an immense fan-following even after years of the show ending. This couple gave everyone serious relationship goals without being over-the-top and unbelievable. In fact the best thing about their relationship is that it is so believable that it makes the viewers believe it can happen to them. I love that the show creators never felt the need to make their relationship on again - off again like most TV couples are. They were best friends (with all the cute flirting) right from the start and once they finally got together in an epic (though literally a five second scene) moment, you knew they were always going to be together. Their drama was subtle and their moments were beautiful. To know that your soulmate is sitting five feet away... what could be better than that?
Angela & Dwight - Started off as a super secret relationship because c'mon, who would believe that the cold-as-ice Angela and the socially inept Dwight could ever be in a relationship? But the truth is that even though they broke up mid-show, they both continued to be in love with each other throughout the series. Whether Angela was engaged to Andy or married to the State Senator, she always came back to Dwight and Dwight pining for Angela are some of the most heart-rending scenes especially since Dwight is otherwise mostly seen as a odd, socially challenged man. The fact that the series finale finally brought the two together was satisfying and a great note to end the series on. They are not an example of a typical television couple but the show makes you root for them to end up together.
Jan & Michael - Probably the worst-case scenario of how office romances could turn out. It started off as a drunken kiss which the higher-ranking Jan tried her best to hide from the company but failed to. From Michael inadvertently circulating a almost-naked picture of Jan throughout the office to Jan getting a boob-job in order to win back Michael, this relationship was doomed from the start. I hated to see Jan change.. from a successful, in-control manager to a completely out-of-control, shrieking lunatic who is eventually fired from the company. I genuinely like her more when she was in a power position and their relationship should be a warning for people thinking about starting office relationships.
Kelly & Ryan - This was a very toxic relationship but because of the situations and the actors, it always came across as more funny than painful to watch. Because that is what it would have been if their lines were not funny and Kelly was not such a ditsy character... she is hilarious (and sometimes annoying) to watch. Kelly and Ryan were possibly the two most selfish people in the office and I'm pretty sure that's what keeps attracting them to each other. That relationship is sure headed for self-destruction. It's crazy how they run off together at the end of the series leaving Kelly's fiance and Ryan's baby behind... yes you read that correctly, they left a baby and ran away! Not a good example of how office relationships should be.
Holly & Michael - I actually really like this relationship and I'm happy that they ended up together. Holly was the only one who "got" Michael, who loved his quirkiness and understood his jokes. In fact, she was as big a dork as Michael. And isn't that what you want in life... Someone who loves you just as you are... not in spite of but because of... all your failings, your eccentricities, your craziness and enjoys spending time with you. Holly's character is in stark contrast to Jan who never appreciated Michael but always wanted to control him. Michael's proposal to Holly was one of the most beautiful ones I have seen on television (made my eyes water a little, I was so happy).
Erin & Gabe/Andy/Pete - Erin is one of those characters we see in real life who just can't say no to anyone. That's how she ended up dating Gabe (uggh, I really hated this character) and Andy (who treated her really badly at the end). To understand her relationships, you have to understand that Erin was an orphan who craved love and caring. She didn't like hurting people and that led to her forgiving their many faults and not having the strength to break up with them. I was very happy that she ended up with Pete who genuinely cared for her and made her laugh. Also, it was a nice salesman-receptionist parallel to the Jim-Pam relationship.
There were a lot more relationships happening on The Office but these are the ones that stood out the most for me. Now that I'm seriously missing watching this show, maybe it's time for a quick re-watch?
One of the areas where this show succeeds is the depiction of office romances. There are romances that are crazy, romances that lead to people getting fired, romances that are cute and those that are destructive. And then there is an epic romance that doesn't fall into the usual trappings of television melodrama but is so beautiful and down-to-earth that everyone can hope to have something like it in their lives. Today I will take a look at the relationships on the show and how it relates to real life.
Pam & Jim - There is a reason why this relationship has an immense fan-following even after years of the show ending. This couple gave everyone serious relationship goals without being over-the-top and unbelievable. In fact the best thing about their relationship is that it is so believable that it makes the viewers believe it can happen to them. I love that the show creators never felt the need to make their relationship on again - off again like most TV couples are. They were best friends (with all the cute flirting) right from the start and once they finally got together in an epic (though literally a five second scene) moment, you knew they were always going to be together. Their drama was subtle and their moments were beautiful. To know that your soulmate is sitting five feet away... what could be better than that?
Angela & Dwight - Started off as a super secret relationship because c'mon, who would believe that the cold-as-ice Angela and the socially inept Dwight could ever be in a relationship? But the truth is that even though they broke up mid-show, they both continued to be in love with each other throughout the series. Whether Angela was engaged to Andy or married to the State Senator, she always came back to Dwight and Dwight pining for Angela are some of the most heart-rending scenes especially since Dwight is otherwise mostly seen as a odd, socially challenged man. The fact that the series finale finally brought the two together was satisfying and a great note to end the series on. They are not an example of a typical television couple but the show makes you root for them to end up together.
Jan & Michael - Probably the worst-case scenario of how office romances could turn out. It started off as a drunken kiss which the higher-ranking Jan tried her best to hide from the company but failed to. From Michael inadvertently circulating a almost-naked picture of Jan throughout the office to Jan getting a boob-job in order to win back Michael, this relationship was doomed from the start. I hated to see Jan change.. from a successful, in-control manager to a completely out-of-control, shrieking lunatic who is eventually fired from the company. I genuinely like her more when she was in a power position and their relationship should be a warning for people thinking about starting office relationships.
Kelly & Ryan - This was a very toxic relationship but because of the situations and the actors, it always came across as more funny than painful to watch. Because that is what it would have been if their lines were not funny and Kelly was not such a ditsy character... she is hilarious (and sometimes annoying) to watch. Kelly and Ryan were possibly the two most selfish people in the office and I'm pretty sure that's what keeps attracting them to each other. That relationship is sure headed for self-destruction. It's crazy how they run off together at the end of the series leaving Kelly's fiance and Ryan's baby behind... yes you read that correctly, they left a baby and ran away! Not a good example of how office relationships should be.
Holly & Michael - I actually really like this relationship and I'm happy that they ended up together. Holly was the only one who "got" Michael, who loved his quirkiness and understood his jokes. In fact, she was as big a dork as Michael. And isn't that what you want in life... Someone who loves you just as you are... not in spite of but because of... all your failings, your eccentricities, your craziness and enjoys spending time with you. Holly's character is in stark contrast to Jan who never appreciated Michael but always wanted to control him. Michael's proposal to Holly was one of the most beautiful ones I have seen on television (made my eyes water a little, I was so happy).
Erin & Gabe/Andy/Pete - Erin is one of those characters we see in real life who just can't say no to anyone. That's how she ended up dating Gabe (uggh, I really hated this character) and Andy (who treated her really badly at the end). To understand her relationships, you have to understand that Erin was an orphan who craved love and caring. She didn't like hurting people and that led to her forgiving their many faults and not having the strength to break up with them. I was very happy that she ended up with Pete who genuinely cared for her and made her laugh. Also, it was a nice salesman-receptionist parallel to the Jim-Pam relationship.
There were a lot more relationships happening on The Office but these are the ones that stood out the most for me. Now that I'm seriously missing watching this show, maybe it's time for a quick re-watch?
