It's rare, if not unheard of, to find a fan of The Office who does not adore Jim and Pam. Jim and Pam's relationship is among the most beloved modern-day love stories, be it fiction or not--people do not care. Most fans would consider Jim and Pam's romance to be the absolute ideal of love.
But is it? Many factors contribute to how a show is received, and it's possible that Jim and Pam came at just the right time to be well-received by fans, burning them into romantic media history to be idealized forever. Or maybe, just maybe, they are truly just a perfect love story.
Idealized: They Had Limited Options
Pam and Jim work in Scranton, PA, a place that isn't exactly thriving or full of a social scene. They also both work full-time jobs. This means it's not very easy for them to meet other people outside of work, and makes it much more likely that if they even have a slight crush one a coworker, it will eventually blow up to seem much more intense than it would if they had access to more people.
Real Thing: They Always Return To Each Other
If Pam and Jim were just in love with the ideas of each other the wouldn't have come back to each other every time they were separated. Each of them went through extended periods of time where they had little to no access to the other, and yet they still found themselves wanting to be with the other person instead of whoever they were with.
Idealized: Jim Infantilizes Pam
Jim spends most of his time in the office--prior to actually dating Pam--paying attention to how Pam's day is going, and making sure that if anyone wrongs her he tries to make it better in some way, such as when Michael makes her cry and Jim puts his mug Jell-O. It's sweet on the surface, but it also suggests that Jim is in the habit of treating Pam as a pet or pastime to tend to while he's bored at work.
Real Thing: They Knew Each Other Well
Jim and Pam work together for years before they become a romantic couple. This gives them both a chance to become familiar with the subtleties of the other person, even if their time is always spent at work.
Jim and Pam end up chatting more than working much of the time, anyway, which suggests that by the time they get together they know each other far better than most people who get married after a year or two.
Idealized: They Wanted What They Couldn't Have
It's the same old clichéd tale--one person pines for the other, and then as soon as that person finds love the other one realizes they want them. When Pam is with Roy, Jim desperately wants Pam. Jim makes it clear how he feels about her, and she rejects his advances. Jim dates someone else, and Pam becomes jealous. It's possible, also, that what made Pam so alluring to Jim in the first place was that she was unavailable.
Real Thing: They Were Close Friends First
The fact that Jim and Pam remained friends to each other throughout the show, despite whether they were together or not, is a testament to the depth of their relationship.
If their relationship was substantial as friends, it's less likely that their romance started from a mistaken idealization of each other. Such a valued friendship would also stop them from making careless moves based on shallow, romantic notions.
Idealized: They Were Each Other's Escape
Both Pam and Jim assert from the start of the show that they are bored to death by their occupations. Working in an uninspiring environment is the perfect situation to become preoccupied with people one works with, especially if there is any subtle spark between personalities. Jim and Pam use each other as distracting from the drudge of the day-to-day.
Real Thing: They Don't Shy Away From A Fight
People who don't take their relationship seriously also don't fight seriously. If Jim and Pam weren't invested in their relationship the would give up when times get hard, but they don't. There are times when Jim wants to quit fighting, and it's at this moment that Pam asks him to stay, and to keep fighting--because it means they are still talking and trying to work through things.
Idealized: They Were A Safe Option
Living in a small town at a small-time job for an extended period of time can make a person accustomed to an underwhelming life. They spend their time sitting in an office daydreaming about what else they might do with their lives, but the prospect of actually shaking up normality is scary. This is why choosing one another as a partner is appealing because it's different enough to feel exciting but not so different than it challenges what they know.
Real Thing: They Support Each Other
If Pam and Jim had chosen each other as an escape, or a safety net, or out of romantic impulsiveness, the wouldn't be so attentive to each other's dreams and desires and support them in any real way. Lovers so often act as though their beloved is the whole world, but saying so is different than acting so. Pam and Jim put their words into action, illustrating the difference between real love and idealized love.