One of the thorniest arcs on this uneven season of The Office has been the promotion of Jim to co-manager, a move that has seemed more like a demotion, as he has seemed to have lost the respect of his co-workers (and possibly his wife) as well as misplaced his charm. Where there was once a shaggy haired goofball there’s now a well-coiffed suspender-less Bill Lumberg.
With The Office returning from winter break just an hour from now it’s a good time to ask, have we lost our lovable, affable Jim?
Last month Awl.com published an article entitled “The Office is the Most Depressing Show on Television,” locating the show’s current problems in the de-evolution of Jim, noting that’s here’s proved himself to be merely “a mediocre man who has already realized his full potential.” And just last week Macleans explained “Why no one likes Jim anymore.” Is this true? Does Jim Halpert have no friends? Is he the most annoying character on television? Has he become a humorless, corporate tool? A virtual washed up high school football star, his best days behind him?
I don’t think so.
Jumped The Snark 