The Office: An Emotionally Satisfying End to Season Three

If you're like me, part of the fun of watching The Office the last three seasons has been the romantic tension between Jim and Pam. I talk about these people as though they are real people. Why? Because I have seasons 1&2 on DVD and will keep season 3 on my DVR until I can purchase it. And since I watch it so much, they really are like real people. I mean, I am emotionally invested in the characters, especially Jim and Pam.

Yes, Michael's antics are annoying and hilarious, and everything else that goes into The Office creates a very entertaining and smart show. But it's the tension between Pam and Jim that gets me on pins and needles (and feeling physically ill at the end of season 2). But it was nice of The Office folks to wrap things up and provide a measure of closure for the end of season three. After all, with ratings for the show down (TV needs a new rating system -- one that takes into account DVR folks like me), it was unclear whether The Office would picked up for another season. I don't know if The Office creators did it on purpose, but it was nice of them to imply that Jim and Pam might actually get together.

The Season 3 finale leads off with Jim, Karen and Michael all headed to the corporate offices of Dunder Mifflin to interview for Jan's job (she doesn't know, and when she finds out -- WOW!). But Jim is obviously still conflicted over Pam's fireside confession on beach day, and Karen is obviously annoyed that Jim seems conflicted. And, of course, the side plot of Dwight achieving his fondest dream and taking over the office adds to the hilarity. But the end is what's great. When Jim drives back from NYC in a hurry to ask Pam out, wow! My little heart just went thud-thud. Very emotionally satisfying after three seasons of uncertainty.

Ultimately, we like to see things turn out between those pegged as the leading lady and the leading man. And even on The Office, I wanted a fairytale ending. Life isn't a fairytale, but I want my TV shows to be one. But the next question is this: If The Office derived so much of its emotional impact from the tension between Pam and Jim, where will the show go? Hilarity will still ensue in the fourth season, I'm sure, and the show will be clever as ever, but what sort of emotional investment can be had?