Hot Take: What If Jim Halpert Was the True Villain of The Office All Along?
We've often seen Dwight as a negative character who can hurt others, but a much more manipulative candidate has emerged.
The Office is a beloved American sitcom that aired from 2005 to 2013. It follows the daily lives of employees at the Dunder Mifflin Paper Company.
One of the series' most popular characters is Jim Halpert — the charming salesman who has a crush on Pam Beesly.
However, some fans now believe that this nice guy may actually be the show's true villain.
This is based on Jim's behavior towards his co-worker, Roy Anderson. Roy, who was engaged to Pam at the beginning of the series, was often portrayed as a jealous and aggressive boyfriend.
However, Reddit users argued that Jim was actually the one who instigated the conflict between the two.
According to the theory, Jim knew that Roy was insecure about his relationship with Pam and used this to flirt with her and make her doubt her feelings for her future husband.
He often interrupted their conversations, made snide comments about the couple, and even kissed Pam while she was still with her boyfriend.
Jim's actions were not innocent pranks, but a calculated attempt to break up the lovebirds for his own selfish desires.
Jim's behavior throughout the show is not as innocent and harmless as it may seem. Fans point to Halpert's treatment of co-worker and rival Dwight Schrute as evidence of his villainy.
The former nice office guy is often shown playing pranks on Dwight, including hiding his belongings, putting his stapler in Jell-O, and convincing him that he's Asian.
Some viewers say this isn't the behavior of a charming man, but of a bully.
Another example is that Michael is always looking for leniency from Jim and instead gets humorous and cold answers.
The branch regional manager does not understand that the real antagonist is often using him to get better conditions at work or to get a new job, even if it means going over his head.
In the episode where Jim replaces the boss, he's even mistakenly called "Michael" which makes him a dubious character.
Is everyone's favorite character really a secret villain of the show?
Whether you agree or are already preparing to defend Jim's honor online, it's great to see your beloved show still sparking such lively discussion after so many years off the air.
Source: Reddit