It’s hard to picture a world where Jim and Pam split on The Office, especially considering how beloved the couple is within the fandom.
But believe it or not, the concept of the leading couple getting a divorce was a heavily discussed topic in the writers room. Of course, this twist was intended to shock fans, with the purpose of the two reconciling their differences and getting back together in the finale.
But once you learn why Jim Halpert and Pam Beasley were written to break up, you’ll be thanking your lucky stars that the writers decided to scrap this cynical turn of events.
John Krasinski and Jenna Fischer’s Characters Were Originally Going To Cheat On Each Other Before The Writers Scrapped This Idea
Can you imagine how infuriated The Office fans would be if Jim and Pam cheated on each other? Dedicated lovers of the show were already fed up with the later seasons to begin with, since the couple we’ve all grown to know and love experienced such a rocky ending towards the end of the series. All at once, the Jim and Pam we’ve gotten so used to seeing had morphed into a cold marriage that was filled with arguments, tension, and dullness that completely went against their warmth from the first few seasons.
No longer were the two giggling mischievously over an elaborate prank they’ve pulled on Dwight, nor were they counting on each other as best friends. Instead, fans were forced to witness a version of the formerly happy couple, that felt like a shell of its former self.
And although this sort of shift happens often in marriages after couples exit the honeymoon phase, audiences preferred a less bleak storyline for the sitcom’s pairing. “It gives me worse anxiety than Scott’s Tots,” one user wrote of Jim and Pam’s marital issues on the Dunder Mifflin Subreddit. They continued, writing, “Contrary to popular opinion, I don’t find the storyline silly or forced. The conflict feels entirely plausible to me, which is what makes it hard to watch.”
Another fan agreed, responding, “The marital issues between Jim and Pam make me kind of anxious just because of how realistic it is, like it’s scary!”
To add to their already anxiety-inducing tension in the latter seasons, the writers wanted Pam to cheat on Jim, and vise versa! (Jim with their new co-worker Kathy, and Pam with Brian.
Jim and Pam Were Going to Divorce In The Final Season Before Getting Back Together
According to People, creator Greg Daniels wanted to take a bold risk on The Office by splitting Jim and Pam up in the last season, only for them to resolve their differences in the final reunion episode. According to the writer, he believed Jim and Pam’s relationship was getting rather stale for viewers. So in an effort to shake things up, they were gonna throw in this storyline to spice up the whole “will they/won’t they” dynamic, which was all the rage between Jim and Pam in season 2.
But ultimately, it was John Krasinski who persuaded the writers to kill this storyline. The A Quiet Place actor believed this sour turn of events for Jim and Pam would destroy longtime fans of the series, even if they mended their relationship in the end.
“We had to pull the ripcord on it because it was so painful to the fans of the show,” says writer Brent Forrester. “John Krasinski said to me, ‘Brent, this final season is for the ultra fans of the show. They’re the only ones really still left watching, right? This is for them. Jim and Pam splitting up is too painful for them to sustain all the way to the reunion. We have to get them back together immediately.’ I was like, ‘Wow, we can’t allow this beautiful couple to really be like on the verge of divorce. It’s too awful for them.'”
Sounds about right!
How do you feel about this scrapped ending? Do you prefer a more realistic portrayal of the beloved couple who faces marital issues? Or do you like your sitcoms to have fairytale endings like the one Jim and Pam ultimately end up with?
