The Pam Dichotomy

[More Than That]

If you were on the NBC message boards back in the day chances are you stumbled onto the Pam Dichotomy, where along with the Jim Paradox user ScrantonBranch lovingly unpacked and explained every look and exchange Pam and Jim shared in Seasons 3, 4 and 5. The NBC boards went the way of the Stamford Branch, but we reached out to ScrantonBranch and now the Pam Dichotomy is being archived in it’s entirety on MTT!

In addition to being a fun trip down memory lane, the PD is a great fanfiction resource especially when trying to get into the heads of these two in the early years. ScrantonBranch is also including the original discussion questions which are potentially great prompts for some “what if” fanfics. These analyses are also just great to read as you rewatch episodes and will give you a deep appreciation for the work and attention to detail that actress Jenna Fischer along with the writers put Pam’s story.

Should anyone feel like some meta discussion, you’re free to discuss any of the Questions to Ponder that ScrantonBranch posed at the end of each episode analysis here on this thread. Some of the “unanswered” QtPs will be posted in the next reply.

[More Than That]

Some Unanswered Questions to Ponder (and FNB stands for “Fancy New Beesly”, a term used to describe Pam going from shy, passive and fearful to assertive and confident)

Season 3

S3 Unanswered Question to Ponder

305 Initiation:
4. If Ryan didn’t interrupt, what else would Jim and Pam have talked about? How much longer would the conversation have lasted?
5. What did Pam do with the teapot Jim gave her for Christmas?

306 Diwali:
1. What if Roy had stayed at the Diwali party? Do you think Pam would have hung out with him given her emotional status? Would she have still texted Jim?
2. What did Pam text Jim?
3. Has there been contact since the Initiation conversation, or is Pam’s text the first attempt?

307 Branch Closing:
3. Pam has always been very private about her feelings for Jim, around everyone from the start. However, in this episode she lets Phyllis see her “real” emotional reaction to Jim’s return. Why???

308 The Merger:
2. What could Pam have done differently to get Jim’s attention? Was she trying too hard? How can she overcome his distant behavior?
4. Why do you think Pam is so afraid to tell Jim how she feels? She’s not engaged anymore, so why is she holding it all back?

309 The Convict:
1) Is Pam’s toned down behavior towards Jim more conscious or subconscious? Is this behavior change an attribute of FNB or Old Pam?

310 A Benihana Christmas:
5) Did Pam get Roy a Christmas gift?

312 Back From Vacation
2) Did Pam make the right move with her advice to Jim?
3) What did FNB learn about herself?

313 Traveling Salesmen
(Original Version) 4) Should Pam date?
(Newpeat Version)
1) Why did Pam first tell the most emotionless people in the office about her art contest? Why didn’t she tell Kelly?
2) If Jim were in the office, would Pam have told him first about her win, rather than Kevin or Angela?
3) Would Pam still have seen through Roy as quickly as she did in Business School without Jim’s validation in Traveling Salesmen?
4) Did Pam get to show Jim her art work when he got back from having coffee with Karen?
5) Is Pam’s need for Jim’s validation detrimental or necessary for her transformation into FNB?

314 The Return:
2) Do you think Pam saw Jim strike out with Karen and Ryan? Does this have anything to do with how she responded to Jim’s prank request?
3) Was Pam aware of Karen’s observations?

315 Ben Franklin
2) Should Pam have told Karen the truth? (about her feelings for Jim)

316 Phyllis Wedding
1) Why didn’t Pam ask Jim to dance at the bar?

317 Business School
1) Why wasn’t Pam’s mom at her art show?
2) Do you think Pam was waiting for Jim? Why didn’t she ask him to come? Is she hurt he didn’t show up

318 Cocktails
4) Did Pam make a mistake in telling Roy about Casino Night? (Should she have told him?)

320 Safety Training
2. There has been a lot of debate of whether it’s “right” for Pam to make a move on Jim while he is with Karen. What do you think? What are the pros and cons to of making her move?
3. What is your assessment of the timeline? How much time has passed between Cocktails, The Negotiation and Safety Training? Is everything in real time or are adjustments necessary?

321 Women’s Appreciation
4) At this point, how would Pam handle a confrontation from Karen?

322 Beach Games
3) How different would Pam’s speech be if she were alone with Jim? Would the speech have happened at all without the group?

323 The Job
*Can Pam truly be happy if Jim is nothing more than a friend? Why or Why not?
*Does Pam think Jim can be happy in New York?  How about with Karen?

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