1 [Report This]Date: July 19, 2021 09:16 pm Title: Words Better Left Unsaid
Not bad. Considering some time has gone by since Jim and Karen ended things I think it's good that they both have some perspective. I'm sure there was a lot of in the heat of the moment anger and hurt when Jim broke things off with her thus leading to her tearing him a new one. Still it's good to see that Jim has learned to get things off his chest like this. I don't really blame him for firing back at her. If the relationship was as troubled as it seems, it might be a bit harsh, but it also feels needed that she really hear his side of things.
Looks like Karen has let some of that anger go too. She's also gotten some perspective on things and is trying to move on.
The interaction afterwards after all is said and done doesn't feel like there's any malice in how they interact. Nice job.
Author's Response:
Many thanks!
I felt like it was necessary to write Jim's perspective on the whole thing, since we never really see it. Karen's feelings are obvious, but he doesn't talk about the situation since, well, he's moved on. But just because he screwed up doesn't make her blameless, and I liked getting that across through his own words. And poor Karen's still hurt over the whole thing, which given how short of a timeframe it is makes sense, but to me deep down she knew she acted petty at that moment and would not be proud of it.
I wanted the interaction to be a mix of friendliness, awkwardness, and closure, and hopefully I achieved getting that across.
Thanks for the review!
1 [Report This]Date: July 18, 2021 08:10 am Title: Words Better Left Unsaid
This certainly feels like a conversation they should have had and Karen was owed, and that the genre never would have allowed them to have in canon.
I also felt like this feels accurate to Karen - she comes off still lingering on her relationship with Jim in this episode in a way that makes sense but also makes it seem like her anger about it was more central to her life than it probably was at this point, especially for someone who is not THAT far away from being quite happily married to someone else.
Author's Response:
Thank you!
Precisely! You put into words my exact thoughts on Karen’s reaction to seeing Jim again. Her treatment of him was not unwarranted, but it was certainly more bitter than I felt it should have been, especially how successful she becomes after Scranton. I like to think that she meets Dan a few days after that.
Thanks for the review!
1 [Report This]Date: July 18, 2021 04:53 am Title: Words Better Left Unsaid
Well these provided some much needed closure for them. The breakup at the fountain and the fight in the office, were much too heated for either of them to speak with this much truth or compassion.
Very clever to have them meet up at the Christmas party.
Author's Response:
Thank you!
Yeah, emotions were running high and neither really had a clear head, so them sitting down, cooling off and getting all that out would help them communicate better.
Also, appreciate the Christmas Party compliment, liked writing that the most.
Thanks for the review!
1 [Report This]Date: July 17, 2021 11:50 pm Title: Words Better Left Unsaid
Yep. Nailed it. And somehow you’ve given ME closure for them as well - thank you for that!
I don’t have much further to add, it it’s well written and feels comprehensive in addressing all those pesky leftover feelings they both had.
Author's Response:
Many thanks! If there's one thing I like to write for these characters, it's closure.
Thanks for the review!
1 [Report This]Date: July 17, 2021 06:01 pm Title: Words Better Left Unsaid
Interesting story. I’m not sure I completely understand that last part with David Wallace.
Am I missing something?
I think that Jim hit the nail on the head when describing his relationship with Karen.
The Jim she wanted was Stamford Jim,
who was not the real guy.
I also agree that Jim and Karen didn’t have
much in common, not to mention a complete
lack of chemistry. Yes I do think that Jim gave Karen mixed signals about wanting to be in
a long term relationship with her.
However, Karen also knew that Jim had loved
Pam, so Karen took a gamble with getting hurt,
and she lost. I will say kudos to Karen though
for sticking up for Pam.
Author's Response:
Appreciate the compliments!
About the bit with David Wallace: in a later episode, Ryan passive-aggressively confronts Jim about talking to David Wallace regarding an issue with Dunder Mifflin Infinity; it was during a Christmas party, hence the line with Pam visiting family. It was never shown on screen because of the writers strike's influence on S4's production.
Anyway, I did want to present their issues in full force, the heated emotions that both of them feel towards each other coming back. Neither of them are really blameless here. And yeah, I always wanted Karen and Pam to be friends, hence their reunion in "Lecture Circuit" being so amicable.
Thanks for the review!