The Office S2 Ep1: The Dundies
This episode is about Pam’s relationships with three men. One she loves and two she puts up with.
"No cus the ice melts and then it's like second drink" - Pam
Breaking down Jim & Pam’s love story in The Office one episode at a time…
All Office episode breakdowns.
Beginning
When will Pam finally do what she wants?
First, Michael has her re-watch old footage of the Dundies. Jim and Pam laugh about it. Up pops last year’s clip of Michael giving Pam the award for “Longest Engagement.” Pam looks uncomfortable in the clip and in real time. So does Jim. In the video, Roy jumps up to accept the award and tells everyone he’ll be back for it again next year. Pam has to face the reality that her fiance has no intention of marrying her anytime soon. Michael’s request is silly and Roy’s ignorance is personal. But, in both cases, Pam complies… on the outside.
Instead of asserting her feelings, Pam gets what she wants through passive means that avoid confrontation, to a point. She writes something mean about Michael on the bathroom wall. She doesn’t tell Roy that she feels chronically ignored. She finds emotional connection outside the relationship.
"I mean who's gonna give Kevin an award, Dunkin' Donuts?" - Michael
Middle
We arrive at Chili’s and the Dundies begin.
Darryl tells Roy they should leave mid-show. Roy agrees and stands up without so much as looking at Pam. She apologizes to Michael and leaves. Jim sees all this and looks disappointed.
“If you cannot behave like ladies, well then you are not going to have a bathroom” - Dwight
Roy and Pam fight in the parking lost. He grabs her arm. She says, “I don’t want to, I don’t want to,” while pulling away. She says, “If you had asked me that then you would know.” Meaning, if Roy had asked her if she wanted to leave, he would know she wanted to stay.
Why would Pam rather sit at an awkward office party when she could go out with her fiance? I can think of only one person reason.
Roy tells Pam he wants to leave because Michael is a jackass every year. I don’t think that’s why. I think he knows the upcoming award will prompt Pam to express her dissatisfaction at their long engagement. Instead of resolving the root issue, he wants to avoid the thing that will bring it to the surface. He could also just want to drink beer with his friends, without Michael. That is perfectly plausible too.
I don’t think Roy is a villain. He doesn't pay attention to Pam or recognize how unhappy she is in the relationship, but she also doesn’t make her needs known until tensions escalate to an argument. She wants Roy to read her mind. When he doesn’t, she lets her dissatisfaction build. It’s a recipe for long-term resentment (and a long-term engagement).
The busiest beaver.
End
Let the drinking begin. Back inside, Pam is next to Jim, three drinks in, and giggling.
Some other customers heckle Michael. He’s dejected. Pam cheers for Michael, Jim joins in, and soon the entire staff is applauding. Pam comes through for Michael. She sees him.
Michael returns the favor when he gives her the whitest sneakers award instead of longest engagement. She gives her iconic “I feel God in this Chili’s” acceptance speech. WHOOOO! Both Pam and Michael see how embarrassed the other is and make the other feel better.
Except Michael’s gesture wasn’t his idea. It was Jim’s. Jim saw Pam was upset about the engagement award and convinced Michael to change it. He sees Pam and acts on what he sees. He is the opposite of Roy. Whether intentionally or unintentionally, Roy doesn’t see Pam.
As drunk as she may be, she gives Michael a kiss on the cheek. This establishes that she can aim her lips where she wants to. Next, she kisses Jim on the lips. She leans forward and it lasts a few seconds. In my opinion, it lasts too long to be a mistake.
Later in a talking head, Pam stares and nods intently at Jim. Now that she is drunk, her filter of “I can’t stare at (or kiss!) him” is down. She laughs and falls off her bar stool.
Pam’s story isn’t about a guy saving her.
Pam and Jim laugh in the parking lot while waiting for Pam’s ride. Jim repeats, “You’re so drunk.” Maybe he is saying this over and over to convince himself the kiss wasn’t real. It was real!
Angela’s car pulls up. Pam asks, “Hey, um, can I ask you a question?” Jim and Pam make eye contact for more than a moment, then she looks at the camera and backtracks, “I just wanted to say thanks.”
She may have had the courage to kiss Jim, but not to have a heart-to-heart. I think the question was going to be something like, “What do you think of Roy?” There is a big difference between asking a leading question versus saying, “I am unhappy with Roy.” The former would have put all the action on Jim.
I would love to hear the snarky Angela comments on that car-ride home. Can you imagine!
I like that the episode ends without a resolution for Jim and Pam. Pam’s story isn’t about a guy saving her. It’s about her learning to fight for what she wants, even if it disrupts the peace. She has to learn to value herself over the status-quo. But for now, she only has the confidence to do what she wants after a few too many drinks. She still relies on quiet, passive, and ultimately unsatisfying outlets.
