1 [Report This]Date: April 08, 2021 02:07 pm Title: Opportunities
Catching up with reviews - love love love this chapter, so much heart in this with Pam's description of why she fell in love with Jim and why she still loves him.
Author's Response: Thank you as always. The journals entries were some of the harder bits to write so I’m so please you enjoyed them.
1 [Report This]Date: April 05, 2021 06:08 am Title: Opportunities
Oof this story is killing me, but in a really good way! I love the deeper dive into their therapy sessions here, particularly the part about it feeling unnatural for them to thank each other for all the small things they always do (I always thought on the show that that must have been weird), and the glimpse into Jim’s feelings about the documentary which I agree the show definitely skimped out on! I can 100% see Jim feeling like this. And then Pam’s journal entry about all the times Jim has supported and challenged her was so lovely. (I also loved the moment in the show when Jim drops to his knee to speak to her, so I’m really glad you included it here). And then argh the ending to this chapter!
Author's Response:
I'm so pleased you have been affected by this story.
Yes, I've got to think that it would have been quite awkward - I think the show spoke to that, I maybe just took it a step further. That and around this time when they were finding out just how much of their lives was caught by the doc crew I was thinking might be more on their minds as they struggled through this crisis.
The exercise of the journal I think really got them looking inward and helped open their eyes to things that maybe they'd forgotten, taken for granted or got lost in the heat of their arguments.
Ughh that Jim gravel in that scen - how could I not. I watched that scene closely a bunch of times to get it right...their eye contact or lack of was painful.
The ending - sorry to put you through it.
Thanks for your words. Always great to hear from you.
1 [Report This]Date: March 31, 2021 09:26 pm Title: Opportunities
I think you've done well here getting at the complexities of a conflict that's intractable between two people who aren't good at conflict and are so in love they had never really conceived of the idea that they could find themselves in an intractable conflict.
I thought the water metaphor worked here, explaining how relationships are supposed to work and their anger and the way it all comes in fits and starts. The problem is that unlike with water, there's no objective view of how far the tide is in or out, and they're both making judgments on how high the sea can rise again based on their own perception.
I thought the way they're resistant to the therapeutic tools rang true. They're definitely going to take time to feel natural, and there's going to be a strong instinct to reject them. (I thought the detail of Jim being more worried about their bills and their financial future seemed right as well - it certainly puts his desire to break out from Dunder Mifflin in a different conflict.)
Obviously I love that you're digging into the way the cameras are impacting them here, and the way they're actively changing the story they document. (One of the things that ticked me off about Season 9 was that they had this HUGE card to play in making the documentary real, and they decided to utilize it in the most boring, unnecessary way possible. Grrrr.) It's especially interesting seeing JIM reacting to that, which I don't think we get in canon at all until the finale.
I liked Pam's journal entry a lot. A good sense of the history they're coming from at this juncture.
Oooof. Painful ending - not only do we lose out on the umbrella, we see the small gestures that have brought them together before all of a sudden aren't working for them, and they really don't know how to deal with that.
You're right, I'm not a season 9 fan, partially because I had enough angst with Jam, thank you very much, partially because I think it relies on both of them acting kind of out of character and partially because of Brian and partially because I don't think it connects well with the history of their relationship... so, a lot of reasons. But one thing I've discovered is that my issues with the execution of Season 9 do tend to loan themselves well to good fic, so I'm glad you're doing this.
Author's Response:
I'm with you - season 9 was tough - sure all marriages can have problems, but I can't really give away my issues with what was going on without spoiling the story -but I will say these 2 have bad timing.
See this is what I love about your reviews - how you take an idea and expound on it - and written so well it should be added to the story. (the tides).
Yes, it seems like they were playing at the exercises in the show - they were coming from a real place but you could tell how hard they were - that's why I added the journals - I thought this would help them get at their truths a bit more. (plus we know from OL what a big journaler JF was). Sometimes things come out better when you can write them down.
You know me and how my Jim is very AWARE of those cameras - after all I think he was the most aware of them on the show. I took the opportunity that the promos were airing to have them realize just how much they caught and just how much it was shaping things - including their current conflict.
Always so thrilled to get your reviews and appreciate the time you take to share your thoughts.
1 [Report This]Date: March 29, 2021 08:40 pm Title: Opportunities
So I like the marriage counseling scene. Feels very much like how they would have been advised to do all the "speaking your truths" and "look for opportunities" that we saw in the show. Good way to get the backstory for that. Really liked the lines about how the water in a marriage still needs to flow. I assume those are the lines from your Rabbi, yes?
Pam's thoughts were very interesting to read. Both in her head and what she wrote. And then, there's the note with the lid. I mean, one of the biggest gestures she ever did for him and now he gives it back to her.
The image of Jim waiting in the cab and her not coming out feels just heartbreaking for him. They both know the meaning of that note and so far it seems like it hasn't mattered. Just oof.
So where do we go from here? I have no idea. It felt like they were making progress but then Jim is off in the cab. Great writing to bring out a ton of emotion.
Author's Response:
Actually those were all me. The whole counseling scene, while having never been through it, it came to me a lot easier than writing Pam's journal entry which I struggled though to get her voice correct.
(the Rabbi's lines began at ...Happiness is not a gift. It is something that is achieved. Success in a marriage is much more than finding the right partner, it’s a matter of being the right partner.” and the right partner part I've discovered is a well known saying. But in my many years of marriage I have often heard his little speech in my head).
Not sure if you knew this was where it was headed when he took that lid out of the garbage - but that was the idea that this whole story was built around. The thing that popped into my head when I heard the song, Gold. Glad it stood out for you.
Thanks as always my friend.
1 [Report This]Date: March 29, 2021 01:12 am Title: Opportunities
This is such an insightful take of all of the complicated and nuanced emotions both of them were feeling at that time. Marriage is work, even the best of marriages, and I think you perfectly captured that here. I really loved the journal entry too! Fabulous job.
Author's Response:
I struggled through that journal entry, searching for Pam's voice and what she might be thinking back on. I'm so pleased you mentioned it. I feel like maybe I got close.
Writing this story had me rewatching my wedding video and thinking back on everything from then until now. We agree on that - marriage only works when you work at it. But the rewards are so worth it.
Thanks again for reading and sharing what you thought. Always a thrill to get reviews.
1 [Report This]Date: March 28, 2021 06:55 pm Title: Opportunities
He waited how many years and 15 minutes, and the last 15 minutes killed it? Now that's a fucking gut punch
Author's Response: This is a pretty big storm...is his umbrella going to be big enough?
Date: March 28, 2021 06:44 pm Title: Opportunities
The umbrella paragraph starting with "He picked up the umbrella that he purposely left at the end of the desk so he wouldn’t forget it again..." is one of the loveliest bits of layering I've ever read. Good onya
Author's Response:
Ah yes, the umbrella - if only he'd left the umbrella instead of a gold circle and a pink note....(I'm responding to this and the review you wrote after this - the one where I kicked you in the gut)....
But thank you - wrote and rewrote that section I can't tell you how many times...I knew what I wanted to get across in my head and heart but wasn't sure how to translate it to words so I'm glad it worked for you.
Thanks for the words and onya- always appreciate your insights and reactions.