80 comments

  1. seriously one of the best moments in office history. I didn’t think ANYTHING was going to happen. I thought “oh they’re just going to leave it blah… how lame..” and then “BAM! Jim comes in like Batman…” Except, he’s way hotter.

  3. Just a thought about all of this. Does anyone think there is a chance that Jim wants to talk to Pam about his future with Karen now that they are back to being “friends”?

    By the way, give Jenna an Emmy. She is amazing. I got goosebumps!

  4. that was amazing. i was so happy! and yes. jim is way hotter than batman. :)

  5. never before have I so appreciated the work that the editors at The Office are doing. that scene was beautifully put together and sequenced and whatnot. in my opinion, an even better finale than last year’s.

  6. Pangela-

    That’d be hokey, and would alienate fans of The Office. As Kim says, they’re dating, it’s as simple as that.

    I’m not sure that it’s the best thing for the future of the show, but there it is. It’ll be interesting to see how they can keep it interesting.

  7. The sound everyone heard was the collective exhale that we have been holding since Casino Night.

  8. Let me put it this way… if a girl smiled with that kind of conviction because of me, it’d be the best moment of my life. Jenna totally sold that and then some, it was wonderfully sincere.

  9. Man, that’s tear-inducing. They really got it right, all of them: Paul, Michael Schur, Ken Kwapis, Jenna, John…
    The episode was so intense and chockful of good dialog, plot lines, surprises and emotion. “The Job” should be submitted for Emmy consideration.

  10. #2 Kim — Pam and Jim are now dating. It’s as simple and complicated as that.

    perfectly, perfectly said.

    The writers can give us great moments of friendship, romance, humor within a relationship. And its only one storyline amongst many.

  11. yeah… Jenna/Pam’s reaction was fan-freaking-tastic. I also ADORED Jim’s face when he was like, “Okay thennn it’s a date.”

    Loves it.

  12. Pangela,

    I think if it was just to be friends, he would not have said “ITS A DATE”. He would have just said great. See you later.

    I totally think Jenna should get an emmy for this episode. I keep watching that last scene and i start crying.

    Its absurd. My husband now officially thinks i am a loser b/c I am such an office junkie.

    (He watches too, and loves it but he is wrapped up in Fantasy baseball.)

  13. NBC said it themselves in the description of the video: “Pam and Jim start a new chapter”

    The JAM is upon us… embrace it people!!!

  14. Tanster,

    You should take a poll to see which finale was more satisfying to viewers? Off the bat you would think people would say last nights but keep in mind that at the end of season 2 no one new that Pam was gonna turn down Jim, it just ended with the kiss. Both finales were great!

  16. He said “it’s a date”–can’t get more clearer than that.

    Although a little part of me is apprenhensive.

  17. Just perfect. Last night I wanted a kiss too but actually it would have been too much. Go season 4!

  18. Aww man. The video isn’t working for me. I guess I’ll just have to go and watch it (and then the whole episode) again on my DVR. So WHAT if I already watched the ending three times last night? I need all I can get to sustain me through the long summer months.

    And I agree, Jenna (and the whole cast) deserve Emmys for this episode and/or this season as a whole.

  19. LOOOVED IT and it gives me goosebumps everytime! I could watch it over and over and over and over…

  20. I say that this finale was a bit more satisfying that Casino Night–as amazing as that was–because of the circumstances of the characters.

    Last year, I don’t think any of us really believed that Pam would just up and dump Roy on the spot and live happily ever after with Jim. Both characters were in difficult places in their lives, and needed time to grow and mature. And this season was mostly about Pam and Jim “earning” the right (for lack of a better term) to be with each other.

    This finale felt so satisfying because we, the viewers, have been suffering right along with them this whole season, hoping that they’d figure it all out eventually. So when Pam was talking about being okay and happy for Jim and herself, I believe she was sincere. This is not a speech that season 2 Pam could ever have made. This was a moment when Fancy New Beesly emerged from her chrysalis and spread her wings.

    And the fact that Jim was there with his Pamtterfly net made it all the better. (okay, that was a lame joke…even for me)

    My point is that Jim and Pam are finally at a place where they can start being with each other. Will it be all yogurt and jellybeans? I doubt it. After all, Karen will most likely be back next season for more weirdness and angst.

    Still, it’s a beginning, and that’s good enough for right now.

  21. Those who watched the British show, may have noticed a similarity in the last scene to another, less happy moment on the British Show.
    In the British version there is a scene where the Jim character (Tim), stops during his interview, and goes and asks the Pam character (Dawn) out on a date, but she says no. The american version was almost like the complete reverse of the British show at that point, but in a way it was like a proper nod to the original!

  22. Halpertsgal, my boyfriend and I are in the SAME situation. Last night, while I was crying watching JAM, he kept making me flip to the SF Giants game.

    :-/

    JAM! I’m sappily content about this ending!

  23. I am so ready for this new chapter. I think we can all rest easy knowing that these two are together. Are we going to get to see their relationship bloom? Or are we going to start season four-four months later? hmmm

  24. If it makes me less of a man that I just teared up a tiny bit (again), then revoke my man card.
    Give that woman an Emmy immediately.

  26. omg i have watched this scene 5 times already. it is so well done. i love the tears that well up..made my morning!!!!

  27. I don’t think by next season there will be a full on JAM relationship yet. It is going to be implied they are going on dates, but don’t expect sweet little kisses at the reception desk and what not.

    That’s just too hokey and not real at all. These two have waited for a long time and have had a lot of complications – it’ll go slow.

  28. I had to go rewatch the last scene from The Office Christmas special (British) — when Dawn realizes that Tim was her secret santa and comes back to him:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yF9LZ_vXsc8

    You’ll be surprised at how similar Tim and Pam’s THs are — their tone, their realizations. Brilliant!

  29. #21- i said sort of the same thing last night. it did remind me a lot of the brit version. kind of a mish mash of the climactic tim/dawn moments. tim asks dawn out twice – once by interrupting his talking head and once he just does it in front of the whole staff. and in the very end, in the christmas special, he has that incredibly well written and delivered talking head where he is kind of saying something parallel to what pam was saying last night in her last TH – a sort of happy resignation to going their separate ways. and then in comes dawn and…voila. VOILA indeed!!!! i totally loved this. and jenna? you are amazing.

  30. I’ve been watching this since this morning. I can’t seem to stop! Pam’s smile, Jim’s realization of what he wants in 10 years…I love that they both have epiphanies and go for it. I feel like last season’s finale was more dramatic, but this season was definitely more satisfying in that we got some resolution.

  31. did anyone else clap when FNB did her pseudo-bow after her TH about taking 3 years to gather up the courage to make say what she said on Beach Day?

    Jenna was performance was FLAWLESS, last night! =)

  32. I don’t think a television show has ever made me this happy. I’ve watched the ending near on 20 times now!

  33. I thought it resembled the Christmas episode of the the British version. When Tim is giving the TH about him and Dawn, and how the video shows her in the car with the paints (similar to how Pam left Jim a touching note). I felt they drew from that episode and re-worked it magnificently.

  34. I thought the similarity between the British show and the American version was actually the point where Dawn was leaving town and she found a sweet gift and note from Tim. She turned around and headed back to the office. She and Tim hooked up from there. This was what I caught as the throwback to the British version.

    This was beautiful. I loved the Jam moments in this episode. Jim’s entrance at the end completely shocked me.

    A big THANK YOU to the writers and a standing ovation for Jenna and John on their execution of that ending scene.

    The fall cannot come soon enough.

  35. Halpertsgal #12

    I agree with you completely. A lot of emphaiss should be placed on the fct that he said “it’s a date” for a reason. I know I read too much into things at times, but when I when rewatched it and payed careful attention to the way he said “date”, it seems to be a subtle reference to “The Client.”

    Regardless of whether some may call their grilled cheese sandwiches on the roof, fireworks, and swaying to music a date, he is clear that this is indeed going to be date. No question about it.

  36. That scene couldn’t have been more perfect. I could watch it over and over and over again and never get tired of it. My heart and stomach flutter every time!!! LOVE THIS SHOW!!!!!!!

  37. Actually it reminded me of the UK Christmas episode (the series finale) where Dawn gets a note from Tim and comes back. It is juxtaposed similarly to the way Pam’s was, with Tim doing a talking head about how Dawn was a “ray of sunshine” in his life. Probably one of the best endings of a tv series I’ve ever seen.

  38. Actually there is another similarity in the last scene to the British show. When Jim found a memo from Pam during his job interview, it reminded me of the scene in the Christmas special episodes of the British show, in which Daun(Pam) founds a letter from Tim(Jim) in a taxi and comes back to Tim. It is my favorite scene.

    The scene of the Amrican show was as touching as the British one. I kind of liked the fact that Pam made things happen by being more hoenst and brave than ever before, unlike the British version where Tim made Daun come back. Jenna Ficher’s facial expression in the last scene was priceless.

  39. best jim and pam scene EVER. i had literally watched it over and over again and it never gets old. im grinning like an idiot right now, btw haha :]

  40. Just so I put it out there- that scene made my life. I cried. I told my husband it was better than our wedding day. (I told him later I was joking but I’m not sure I was.)

  41. Amazing clip from an amazing episode

    One question, why can I view this clip in Canada while the rest of the deleted scenes, etc it tells me that it cannot play the video in my location??

  42. Considering the history that the characters have and all of the circumstances that came to a head last night, I really believe that the scene is one of the most brilliant in the history of television. Maybe I’m being a bit melodramatic, but I’ve watched it over and over today and am still stunned at how well it was written, filmed, edited and especially acted.

    Jenna NAILED it. She managed to get her eyes to tear up and her voice to crack when she said “I’m sorry, what was the question again?”

  43. This scene will always leave me “satisfied and smiling”

    I absolutely loved it. I agree with #42. Best scene ever!

  44. alexandra-
    best Jim and Pam scene ever????

    although I agree that this is an amazing JAM scene. there is no way it beats the kiss (from Casino Night)

  45. I know! I thought it was so cute how Jim just bursted in there like he couldn’t hold his feelings any longer. And when he said “then, it’s a date”, he got all like schoolboy-shy at the end. i love themm (:

  48. I am so watching that scene over and over and over…. its just constantly playing on my computer, and I don’t care. It is so perfect.
    All is right with the world.

  49. I totally agree that this may be one of the best scenes in TV history because of the characters history together. It makes me feel excited, happy, and relieved all at the same time. I cannot stop watching it (and I thought the beach games scene was good). :)

  50. It kind of amazes me that some people have gotten so skeptical that they don’t see the significance of Jim saying “It’s a date”. He STRESSED the word date. Intentionally. I really don’t think that he would have done that unless he wanted to make it clear to Pam that he had more than friendship in mind. I have no doubt in my mind that we are ending this season with Jim and Pam in the early stages of becoming a couple. The only question in my mind is if it’s going to be real-time at the beginning of next season like it was this season. I’m inclined to believe that it will be, just because I can’t see them deviating from a formula that they used before…But who knows. As much as I would like to have seen the intital courtship, it’s probably for the best, to keep the show from being too, well, for lack of a better word, cutesy. A flashback would be nice. I also wouldn’t be opposed to a well-placed makeout session in the PLoD (parking lot of doom, as GMMR calls it) just to kill all those sad memories from past episodes.

  51. I too found myself sneaking peaks of the ending all throughout the workday. And being touched by the brilliant story–brilliant acting. Kudos to the writers for keeping the integrity of the show, developing Pam’s character so realistically and believeable.

    I wondered for weeks how they would wrap up this season, and while there were probably many “easy” story lines to develop, this one was absolutely perfect.

    Jenna with the tears and big grin…outstanding.
    John with the reflective nature and introspective…superb.

    Television ensemble at it’s best.

    BTW, my favorite scene all night was Jim’s face when he thought about the question “where do you see yourself in 10 years”

    Heading over to Itunes now to download!

  52. Same here #46…What an amazing moment. I smile everytime I think about it. :)

  53. Between last night and last week, give Jenna Fischer an Emmy already!!! That girl rocked both of these last 2 episodes!

  54. Couple quick comments –

    I figured the end of the season would have them get together, it’s been due that’s for sure. I just hope the series will stay fresh with Jim and Pam dating.

    I say this because when it was on the air, I was a huge fan of “Friends”. But I always thought the best episodes were when Rachel and Ross weren’t together. The episodes that went on and on about them being together/broken up were brutal to me. I just hope The Office doesn’t go in that direction, although with all the actors in the show I’d be surprised if they did (esp. Michael, the show will never get old with him there)

  55. Will Do-

    I can’t really equate Jim and Pam to Ross and Rachel, just because they’re totally different characters. I was an avid watcher of Friends, but The Office has by far surpassed my love for that show. Ross and Rachel were both very one-dimensional characters… Which has been the case with most sit-com characters before The Office. I have faith in the writers, and I think they can pull this off, especially since there are so many other storylines to follow besides Jim and Pam. Just look at Dwight and Angela. Very little has evolved or changed in their relationship, and they are clearly happy together now, yet they are every bit as funny, if not funnier, as they have ever been.

  56. It was a great ending, but not as good as Casino Night. I dunno, I loved the ep, but I didn’t get the same rush as I did last year.

    -Michael

  57. jim would not have drove 2 hours to scranton just to ask pam out on a date. a few of my office friends were worried that jim just meant a date as in just friends. i think thats ridiculous and i refuse to take the magic away from the moment lol

  58. Yeah I agree with Kismet too, and I love this show more than Friends as well. What I really was trying to say is I’m slightly worried of the Jim/Pam storyline. They probably wont stay together forever, that would be boring. And if they break-up/make-up over and over, that would be annoying. I’m just a little worried, I feel almost bad for the writers.. this past season was so amazingly good, I’m not sure how they will match it next year. But I sure hope I’m wrong!

  59. Kismet #56.

    Once again I completely agree with your comments. I was also a very loyal fan of “Friends”, and while it remains in or at least near the top 5 of my list of favorite television shows, “The Office” has, by far, surpassed my love for “Friends”. In fact, “The Office” has really helped me realize that as great as “Friends” and other shows may have seemed, they still lacked a lot, especially in the areas of realism and offering different categories of humor.

    The problem with getting romantic leads together and keeping them together on television shows has been the writers encountering problems keeping the relationship interesting. I think this is a trend that the writers of “The Office” can change because this is a different type of show and they are certainly a differnt type of writers. If ever a show could keep things fresh and exciting, I beleive it’s “The Office”. First, there is a certain innocence and purety to Pam and Jim’s relationship that we’ve never really seen from a television relationship. Second, as you noted and as I have pointed out in previous posts, while Pam and Jim are a big part of “The Office”, they are not the entire show. The writers are bleessed with so many storylines and so many great characters that they don’t have to feel forced to flood us with what is going on in their relationship in each and every show. They’ve certainly proven this over the past season.

    I just can’t wait to see what happens next.

  60. I’ve noticed a lot of comments made about how wonderfully-acted this entire segment was by both Jenna Fischer and John Krasinski. While it’s impossible to put into words just how great every aspect of the acting is (especially Jenna’s performance in the talking head), I’ve noticed that no one has commented on John Krasinski’s reaction during the beach scene when Pam says “I wish you would.” The look on his face at that moment completely blows away any reaction he had to Pam’s speech during “Beach Games.” I know that I’m probably the world’s worst for reading too much into the smallest subtleties, but the look on Jim/John’s face at that moment suggests that he finally realizes that Pam also wants to be “more than that.”

  61. I couldn’t stop thinking about it at work today. Jenna and John have such good chemistry together. I can’t wait to see where it goes!

  62. I’m still waiting to see the corpse of Karen and Jim’s relationship.

    It would suck if there was a talking head from Jim or Pam in the first episode that went along the lines of “well, we dated, but it was too weird and we decided to be friends.” They say weird a lot.

    Episode 4.01 The One Where They Disappoint Everyone

  63. Last night’s ending was perfectly The Office. This show compared to Friends is apples to oranges. Friends, while a great show and a great cast, always bowed to network pressure.

    The Office, on the other hand, has a team of genius writers who have done nothing but try to make the show an “anti” sitcom, if you will. I think they are laughing in the face of everyone who thinks Jim/Pam together will end the show or be boring. They haven’t given us anything conventional yet, and I hope they never will.

    Brilliant show. Brilliant.

  64. I agree with Kismet. Jim and Pam are far more evolved than Ross and Rachael ever were.

  65. 62 | James P. Albini

    UMMM, your last sentence made my tear up!! I’m seriously way too invested in these people. :)

  67. I suppose Karen is now looking for a new job in NYC?? Or will she return to Scranton just to make Pam’s life hell??? Stay tuned for Season 4 – Episode 1…

  68. James P. Albini, good observation. After watching the ending many times I’ve come to that same conclusion.

  70. Okay, just caught a little something on my 2nd time watching…when Jim is interviewing and about to hand over his numbers, Wallace makes a big deal about not liking the HR guy at corporate…even mentions his name.

    What to make of that??? Teaser for next season??

  71. DITTO, beetfarm (#66)!!! Couldn’t have said it better myself. God, I love this show.

  73. the word Date — remember Jim called their sandwiches on the roof a “Date” . Pam then freaked out a bit because Jim used that word and denied that it was a date — so Jim using that word – it had meaning – meaning all thru their relationship. Another reason why the writers on this series are soo incredible.

  74. Well well well, what a great 42 minutes. Not just for all the old questions answered but for all the new questions asked.

    From almost every standpoint, this episode was masterfully done. I echo the calls for Emmy nominations! The entire cast and crew have really delivered for this episode, and indeed this season in general. While the storyline mightn’t have always been what we wanted to see (Pam/Roy part 2 for example) it was a neccesary path to end up where we are now.

    Despite the best attempts to deny it beforehand, this episode was always going to be about Jim and Pam.

    Having said that, we had some other great stories here.

    – Jan’s meltdown was utterly epic, lord only knows where that new ‘stretchpants’ sub-plot is going to go!

    – The twist of Ryan being offered the job (assuming that is what actually happened) was such a brilliant comedy note to end on too! I can already picture Ryan having to chastise Michael over the phone for some transgression or another. Here’s hoping Ryan continues to feature strongly in season 4.

    – Creed, as always, cracks me up. Swing low, sweet chariots. Enough said.

    – Finally, Michael’s self-delusion about being a certainty for the job… WOW. For me, this was a classic ‘The Office’ plot that could have been at home in either the UK or the US version. I can picture David Brent suffering under the same delusions. It’s really nice to know that the writers aren’t straying too far from the basic principles that make this show so lovable.

    So, on to season 4 then, I will say this: I am REALLY looking forward to it, but with reservations.

    For me, the appeal of the Jim/Pam or Dawn/Tim relationship was always in the subtlety. A furtive smile over a joke or a head dozing on a shoulder meant so much more than any overt gesture ever could, and that is the appeal of such relationships on a show like this. I mean, if Dwight and Angela were openly making out all over the office that would be weird right? Oh wait, they are…

    I for one hope that Jim and Pam succeed in their relationship, and that it is a lasting feature of season 4. I just hope that it is carefully handled. The whole secrecy and ‘I can’t, I’m engaged’ nature of the relationship up until now is what makes it so appealing. Given that they’ve lost that element now, it has to be replaced with something else to make it interesting. But PLEASE let’s not see it flicker out too soon, they’ve gone through so much that it HAS to have some substance!!!

    SO, what do do now for the next 4 months? Well, I realised the other day I haven’t watched a single episode of the UK office since the start of the second season of the US version, and that’s a shame, because it is an excellent program.

    Those of you who haven’t seen the UK office, PLEASE do yourself a favour and go get hold of both seasons and the Christmas specials as well. I guarantee you’ll love it and it will give you a whole new appreciation of the characters you already know.

    Other than that, I’m going to try and wean myself off the US Office for a few months. Watching re-runs just won’t help me I’m afraid!

    Have a good summer / winter everyone. Just like you guys, I’ll be here at the start of September with my nerves on edge!!! What fun!

    Matt

  75. First, a shout out to Jenna for a continued recovery and what an amazing performance these last 2 eps and all season.

    One thing I had wondered is if the writers were worried that the S1/S2 “magic” between Jim & Pam could not be replicated. Jenna noted in an interview (linked to from OT) that on the Hi/Hey, they had no idea how amazing that was until they actually watched the show. The chemistry may not work when you are conscious of it and try to create it. But seeing this ep and even seeing pictures of them from the upfronts makes me think this will continue to be fresh. What seems to add to their charm is their “Next door” look and modesty.

    I have to admit I was not believing Jan/Michael and was shown why I was wrong.

    Thanks Tanster. I love the site and appreciate you getting it back up and running.

  76. OK maybe I’m off on this a little bit. But I’m pondering an attempt at a Ryan and Karen. Remember the ladies bathroom scene where he divulged his interest in Karen. Well now, he will be in NY and I would venture to believe that with Karen’s love of the city, she just might leave Scranton. After all there is too much of one person there, right?

    Anyways it would be an interesting flip. Two professionals always out to be on top, snooty, and and well a little jerky. They might fit well.

    So, Ryan and karen… Anyone see a possibility?

    -oh and I’ve never seen One UK episode. Am I the only Office fan who hasn’t crossed the ocean on this one?

  77. Ryan and Karen? Haha! That’d be hilarious, but I don’t think it will happen.

    As for Pam and Jim, I’d have to agree with the multitude of you that have commented on “maybe it’s just a friendship date”, but I WON’T BELIEVE IT! Not until it is thrust at me in the first episode this fall. Until then, stay hopeful! JAM forever!

  78. No way that is is just a friendship date. (1) Wallace asks where he sees himself in ten years, he thinks instantly of Pam (2)the word date has previous meaning to them and he emphasized the word (3)the emotion that he showed during the exchange, there was more there than simply friendship though I do believe they will take things very slow (as they should so we can all get to see how great their relationship becomes…)

  79. Ok so the conversation has drifted from this topic, but I just watched the UK scene and Tim’s talking head was so similar to Pam’s that they had to be purposely modeled after each other.

    And someone is going to yell at me, but I’ve never seen any of the UK show…I can’t believe that british Jim is the naked guy from love actually! lol!

    (ps: OH, and I LOVE JAM!!!! :) )

  80. Not sure if this has been mentioned yet but…
    I’ve read a lot of comments about the moment when Jim finally realizes that he belongs in Scranton with Pam (the note w/the yogurt lid..)
    But how about the moment when he realizes that he absolutely DOESN’T belong with Karen…during Jan’s breakdown when she tells them that he shouldn’t feel sorry for her because she’s “Crazy”. Jim’s response…fake laugh then “OH MAN”…that moment of exhale is when he realizes that he and Karen are not and will never be on the same page.

    Pam would have never gotten that much enjoyment (as Karen obviously did) over Jan’s situation.

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