I’ve watched the American version of The Office from day one, and watched it religiously. I saw every episode from that initial, “oh ho ho, Jim put Dwight’s stapler in Jello, but he’s in love with an engaged woman, oh dearie me!” pilot episode, to the “Jim kissed Pam!” second season finale, to the “Jim and Pam are finally going to go out!” third season finale, to the “Jim and Pam actually are going out!” fourth season premiere, to the “Jim proposed to Pam!” fifth season premiere, to the “Pam’s pregnant!” fifth season finale.
I still haven’t seen the wedding episode.
It’s ironic that I’ve followed the show, admittedly mostly because of these two characters, for so long, only to stop watching it right at the episode the show’s audience has literally waited six years for. But wait!, you might be thinking, I actually read your blog quite a bit and now that you’re in college now! You don’t always have time to rejoice in the merriment that is a television programme! And to that, dear figurative devoted reader, I respond with true, but the thing aired weeks ago. I’m sure I had time somewhere between now and then to catch up to this moment so eagerly and patiently waited for. There’s just not as much reason to. The fact of the matter is, like I said around the end of the last season, the show has been showing its age, and it’s only getting older.
The season premiere was funnier than I expected, even if it did absolutely nothing to significantly develop the story. While each episode after that did the opposite and worked on very significant changes to the story, and made the show less and less funny. Jim and Michael both being manager didn’t make things any more entertaining, and on the contrary made them worse. Like I’ve also said, every season of The Office, Jim’s character becomes less and less likable. As one of the office’s new bosses, Jim is just as much of a moron as Michael, except he’s even more awkward to watch.
Granted, I’ll still catch up on the show eventually, but it’s hard to feel like doing this with the show’s long decline into boredom. I honestly don’t know how much longer the show can last. The initial premise the show began with obviously had to change. I mean, six seasons of Jim being in love with Pam who’s engaged to Roy while they pull hijinks of all various manners on Dwight while Michael makes life a living hell for everyone who isn’t the viewer wouldn’t have been any better. But those two seasons were far and away the show’s best years. I’ll even say that the third season was wonderful too, and was a good example of how the show could evolve and age well. Right now, however, it’s not aging well. It’s just getting boring.
