Date: December 15, 2010 08:41 am Title: Chapter 1
If they were to have broken up mutually I would think this is exactly how it would sound. Good piece.
Date: December 15, 2010 08:41 am Title: Chapter 1
If they were to have broken up mutually I would think this is exactly how it would sound. Good piece.
Date: May 08, 2007 04:17 pm Title: Chapter 1
Aw, this was sweet but sad. I like that you were very respectful of their characters, pointing out their problems without really making either of them the villain. And I love that they were so respectful of each other's feelings.
Author's Response: Thanks Semby! This probably wouldn't make good TV but the tone felt right.
Date: May 08, 2007 12:20 am Title: Chapter 1
Aw! Well, it has to happen, and I think you wrote it pretty believably. Karen has every right to be upset with Jim, and vice versa. They're just not meant to be together. When Jim is really being himself, he's totally not the kind of guy Karen would want--even though, if she's honest with herself, I think it's his prankster ways that attracted her to him in the first place. Well, that and his TOTAL HOTNESS.
Author's Response: Exactly! "When Jim is being himself" - when he went to Stamford he tried to be fancy new Halpert - guess he figured the old way wasn't working so he'd try something new - and the old Halpert isn't really what Karen was looking to buy! Except for, as you say, the hotness factor. But she's too uptight to endure his boyish tendencies for too long so let's just get the party planning committee together and have a tasteful goodbye luncheon for Ms. Fillipelli and send her on her way. M'kay? Thanks invis!
Date: May 07, 2007 08:06 pm Title: Chapter 1
Dude. Duuuude! I'm envisioning something very similar for the season finale! Oh, that we're right. *Hugs Questionizer tight*
Author's Response: Dude! Thanks for the hug - I feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Am I being impatient in wanting to see this before the finale? Like this week? Is that selfish of me? Maybe, but I don't care. GD owes us big time! *crossing my fingers*
8 [Report This]Date: May 07, 2007 07:43 pm Title: Chapter 1
This was amazing. So very well done, it felt so real and truly sounded like both of them. They both made such valid points about each other. This is my favorite break-up story I've read yet. Going right into my favorites.
Author's Response: Thanks so much, kaystar! I figured since she likes that talking thing so much, she would be logical and somewhat more level-headed than emotional about the break-up. But the important thing to me is that they do indeed break up!
Date: May 07, 2007 07:19 pm Title: Chapter 1
Poor Karen...I feel a little bad for her, but I still kind of hope that this is what their 6-month anniversary was really like!! That is probably hoping for too much, but thanks for letting me pretend! I love how you included the parallels to Casino Night.
Author's Response: Don't feel too bad for her! After all, I would've preferred that her wine was poisoned or that crosstown bus took her out so this was my attempt at a kinder, gentler exit. Glad you caught the references to CN! Aaaannnnnddd hopefully there will be a parallel to that coming soon where Pam plays the role of the one who confesses her love and there is more kissing and all is right with the world. Thank you!
Date: May 07, 2007 05:32 pm Title: Chapter 1
“Can’t we just take a moment to celebrate the fact that we’ve reached the six month mark rather than analyzing how we got here?”
I think that probably exactly what would happen -- Karen and her 5 nights of talking, Jim and his autopilot.
“Well maybe it shouldn’t be so much work!” [/Jim]
“Maybe you're just wrong for each other" [/Pam, WA]
See these are the two who are perfect for each other! Hello, universe! Make this happen already!
I think you are spot-on with your characterization of Karen and your description of the sort of listless disconnect that is at the root of the breakup. I also like that you allowed Karen to exit with class, but exiting Scranton is sooo what we all need her to do.
Author's Response: See! Karen shouldn't have wanted to talk so much! I think she fast forwarded herself through 2 years of relationship in 6 months and Jim realized extra early how wrong she was for him! If she had just played it cool maybe FNB would've finished art school and run off with some bohemian to Paris to live in squalor. Instead, they're done and oh, hey, hi Pam! Whassup? Being more honest and stuff? Great! Did I mention Karen took your advice and skedaddled to corporate? Hee! Thanks lisahoo.
Date: May 07, 2007 05:30 pm Title: Chapter 1
If only!
This is certainly one way the anniversary dinner could have gone. I especially like Karen's Scranton is a freak-show talk.
They definitely aren't a real solid 6-month couple!
Author's Response:
"They definitely aren't a real solid 6-month couple!"
Word! It doesn't even seem like 6 months! Didn't even appear as though they got any traction for a few months there at the beginning. Let's hope we see this before the end of the season. Thanks for reviewing!
Date: May 07, 2007 03:18 pm Title: Chapter 1
Excellent. I really liked this. Great characterization all roung, and a completely believable conversation. I woudl go into more detail but I'm running very late this morning. Fantastic story!
Author's Response:
Thanks so much Benny_Boy! I figured with Karen's penchant for "talking it out" they would eventually talk themselves right out of this relationship. That it was Pam's words that were the impetus for the break-up? Bonus!
Date: May 07, 2007 02:03 pm Title: Chapter 1
Ah, I loved how low key that conversation was. I think it is totally realistic that their relationship would fizzle out because of communication difficulties rather than a grand dramatic gesture. I can imagine a follow up phone call to sort things out and then it would be truly over. Anyway, nicely done.
Author's Response: Yeah, over the past few weeks there's been less and less interaction between them so I let myself believe it was translating into their relationship outside work as well. Wishful thinking? Perhaps. But I really don't see their end being a big implosion - as you say, they fizzle out because when it comes right down to it, they want different things. She wants a fancy pants corporate boy toy and he wants Pam! Thanks so much, Morning Angel!
Date: May 07, 2007 10:56 am Title: Chapter 1
This would be so nice - and the set up completely realistic. I love the tweaking you did at the end. I really don't need Karen to be maimed in anyway - just out of the picture and you accomplished that beautifully. So thanks!
Author's Response: Thanks so much, hugs! I appreciated your input and I think way this works better too. Out of the picture is the goal - maiming is just a bonus, right?! Heh, heh... no really. I wish her no harm. ;-)
Date: May 07, 2007 10:31 am Title: Chapter 1
This was interesting, and realistic. I really liked how you handled this. Nice job!
Author's Response: Thanks so much GreenFish! Realistic, unrealistic - so long as Karen packs her bags soon, I love every possible way it could happen!
Date: May 07, 2007 10:17 am Title: Chapter 1
“Have you given any more thought to where you wanna go on vacation?”
“Um, not really. Why don’t you just pick somewhere and let me know what to pack?”
I ws reading this and it felt so familiar, and then it hit me- it reminds me of how I imagine Roy was with Pam, letting her take the reins b/c he just didn;t care about certain things (the wedding, for ex.) as much as she did. The thing with Roy and Pam, and the thing that you've illustrated so wonderfully in this fic with Karen/Jim, is that, even though there are clearly things they liked about each, it's just not enough when two people just don't click. I really like that aspect of the Karen/Jim dynamic, and you've developed it really well in this fic. Love the idea of Jim wanting to just enjoy the dinner, but Karen wants to analyze it, b/c she's more invested than he is. And I *adore* the last two paragraphs- I'd love for them to part so amiably on the show. Great job, overall!
Author's Response: I see what you mean about the comparison between Roy's behavior and Jim's. The only difference in my mind would be that Jim was probably interested at the beginning but Karen kept harping on him so much (5 nights of talking about the relationship, "go sell some paper so we can go on vacation"...) that I think he would shut down on her. And Karen tried to play it cool in the beginning but I think she's tightening her grip more as Jim pulls away. I do think the parting will be amiable - they can save the crazy stuff for the Jan/Michael break-up! Thanks for reading and reviewing Rowena!
10 [Report This]Date: May 07, 2007 10:07 am Title: Chapter 1
It seems to me that this is how their relationship should end. There doesn't need to be a huge fight in front of the whole office. Their break up should be understated. I like how you wrote both of them, and I like that Karen left with some dignity. Now, with any luck is the way it will go. :)
Author's Response: So you don't think Karen and Pam having a biting, screaming catfight in the break room over Jim would be dignified? Just kidding! No, I think we probably won't see much on the show so maybe this is how it plays out. We'll probably get a Jim TH "Yeah, so Karen and I were going out. And now we're not. Riveting..." Either way would satisfy! Thanks so much for your review!
10 [Report This]Date: May 07, 2007 10:04 am Title: Chapter 1
You rock as hard as a very hard, rocky thing. :-)
oh, and you left out the part where she crosses the alley to get to her car and is hit by a fast-moving crosstown bus.
Just sayin'.
(and I'm glad to see you posting stuff again - you are awesome!)
Author's Response:
Wow! High praise indeed! Hard as a rock (TWSS!) - niiiccce! As for the bus, somebody else beat me to it, so I thought I'd go with something kinder and gentler but as long as the end result is "B'bye Ms. Fillipelli, thanks for playing and we have some lovely parting gifts for you...", does it really matter? :-)
Thanks, Mox. You rule like a, um, really long ruler!
Date: May 07, 2007 09:21 am Title: Chapter 1
You hit one nail after another on the head about their relationship - first, with the title. Perfect. Then when he asks what she likes about him (and she answers, then immediately qualifies each one out of existence.) And the whole question of why she moved there in the first place. And... well, this is like a summation of precisely why they just don't fit (even without a Pam-cloud hanging over their heads.) Karen may be the 'awesomest' gf in town - for someone else. And I like how you ended it mutually and calmly - frankly, the level (or lack) of emotion between them always makes the idea of ending 'big' seem pretty unlikely. Your tone here is very apt. As you point out, the wrong things in this relationship are 'hard' (ahem.) Time to pack up her tater chips and move on.
Author's Response: Your review made me realize yet again that the link that keeps Jim with Karen is as tenuous as the wall that keeps Jim from Pam. As you said, there's a certain lack of emotion between Jim and Karen (save for the "do you still have feelings for her" episode) that makes it feel like the slightest reassurance from Pam would cause Jim to switch sides in a heartbeat. Might not be fair to Karen but she can share her chips with somebody else! Thanks for your extensive comments, Colette. Your reviews are as wonderful as your fics!
9 [Report This]Date: May 07, 2007 09:03 am Title: Chapter 1
Wonderful title, wonderful story. I really do think that this is the problem- they like each other a lot, but the pieces don't fit (not like Jim and Pam). You capture the shift from OK to not OK really skillfully. Very nice!
Author's Response: I agree - I think theirs is one of those relationships that mostly works but as time goes by, they just realize they want different things. Thanks so much for your thoughtful comments!