Extremely Clever Office Story Arc That Went Unnoticed from First to Last Episode

It is generally agreed that The Office is one of the greatest sitcoms produced so far in the 21st century. From the brilliant premise to the actors who can break character and still somehow stay in character, it has everything you want in a sitcom and more. The Office just has that magic that no other show has.

While the Internet is busy debating whether HBO will be able to recreate that same magic in its upcoming reboot, people are reflecting on their initial thoughts about the characters when the original series first aired and how perceptions changed in time for the finale. It turns out that one of the biggest 180s of the series was Jim and Dwight.

You may have noticed the same thing in your own reactions. In the early episodes of The Office, the audience is more interested in Jim.

Dwight, although hilariously portrayed by Rainn Wilson, remains that one guy who lacks social skills and sometimes the common sense to go with them. He's successful, but he's also the kind of person you'd avoid crossing paths with by the coffee machine in your own workplace.

Jim, portrayed by John Krasinski, on the other hand, is a colleague you'd go to in any stressful situation, knowing you'd get the support you need. He's willing to get distracted from work, talk a little, and welcome new people into the group. Even though it affects his performance and ambition to grow, he's more likable as a person.

The characters don't resemble each other at all at the beginning of the series, but as the story progresses and they develop episode by episode, they begin to influence each other in a certain way.

By the end of the series, we see Dwight, through various tortures and rule enforcement, become much better at communicating with people, become a manager, and marry Angela. Jim's development from a man-child to an adult who is actually happy with his career cannot go unnoticed either.

Although there are several other characters who are key to the story, for many viewers it's Dwight and Jim who are at the heart of The Office. Whether you agree with that or not, you will probably want to revisit the show and see the changes for yourself. You can stream The Office on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, or Peacock TV.