The Office is known for its often cringe-worthy humor, and while sometimes fans were uncomfortable watching what happened on the screen, this was also part of the show’s appeal. However, there were certain characters, like Jim and Pam, who acted as anchors and were more relatable to audiences. Yet, while Jim and Pam might be more rational than many of the people at Dunder Mifflin, they weren’t always on their best behavior.
There were multiple times throughout the series when this beloved couple was awkward, mean, or just downright embarrassing. While they might have been better behaved than Michael or Dwight, they also had their moments.
Their Superiority Complex
One of the least admirable traits about Jim and Pam is that they definitely thought they were better than their co-workers. On the one hand, it’s easy to see why they’d get this attitude as people like Dwight would do things like bring weapons to work.
On the other hand, they could come off as superior given that they, too, worked at a failing paper company and had fairly average lives. They had an attitude that they were too good for their jobs but yet stayed in them for years.
Pam Failing At Art
There’s no shame in trying to do something and failing, and there's also no shame in having a hobby where you’re not the best at it. However, Pam’s art journey on The Office could, at times, be cringe-inducing.
She quit art school to be with Jim, and then she would get highly offended when no one thought her art was amazing. Given that her art show featured very simple sketches of inanimate objects, it was hard to take the idea that she was a gifted artist seriously.
How Jim Broke Up With Karen (And Katy)
While Jim and Pam are presented as a fairytale love story in the series, Jim’s treatment of some of his other girlfriends was a bit lacking. He broke up with Katy in the middle of the Booze Cruise he invited her on and broke up with Karen while in New York. Plus, he then asked Pam out right after this.
This is meant to show how in love Jim was with Pam, but he could have still treated these other women with a little more consideration. Even if he didn't truly love them. He didn’t use a lot of tact or compassion in how he broke up with them.
Jim Refusing To Talk To Coworkers About Emotions
While Jim might be more emotionally intelligent than many of his coworkers, he also had an unfortunate habit of walking away from them when they asked for support. And, he usually dumped this work off on Pam.
Whether it was Erin asking for love advice or Michael’s neediness, he would always slink away and leave Pam to deal with the problem which came across as being an unsupportive partner.
The Finer Things Club
The Finer Things Club consisted of Pam, Toby, and Andy, and both Pam and Jim were a bit cringey in this situation.
Firstly, the way Pam and the other two tried to monopolize the break room and got annoyed when others would use it was unnecessarily snobby and immature. But, the way Jim acted when he joined was also obnoxious. He tried to be the center of attention and insert himself into a group that he didn't need to be in.
Jim Never Sticking Up For Pam Over Harassment
Many fans of The Office have pointed out that Pam was treated rather horribly by many of the men she worked with. Michael was often trying to date her while Dwight would make comments about her period. Kevin, too, would make some very sexually inappropriate remarks.
However, Jim barely said a word. Despite being painted as a good guy and great boyfriend, he mostly just shrugged his shoulders and acted like it didn’t matter.
When Jim Tried To Leave Pam At The Dinner Party
Some of the awkward moments between Jim and Pam landed differently for some viewers than others, and this is one of them. While Jim trying to come up with an excuse to get them both away from Michael and Jan’s infamous dinner party was funny, the way he was so willing to abandon Pam wasn’t.
While it might not have been the worst thing to do, Pam was already dealing with Michael insisting they used to date and Jan treating Pam poorly because of this. Pam was more in need of escaping than Jim was in this scenario.
Pam Blaming Lice On Meredith
Jim and Pam start to lose some of their shiny, fairy-tale-like appeal in seasons 8 and 9. In some ways this is refreshing, as it shows their relationship isn’t perfect, but it did also lead to some cringe moments.
When Pam gets lice from Cece’s school, she’s happy to let Meredith take the blame. It’s a low moment for her, and it wasn't the right thing to do. However, Meredith was gracious enough to forgive her, and it did lead to a strangely rewarding moment when the two found some common ground.
Their Visit To The Daycare
Of all the uncomfortable or awkward moments involving Jim and Pam, this one likely sticks out for many viewers. It’s one of the first episodes where Jim and Pam are shown as being not completely charming.
They expect to be loved by the daycare owner, and while Jim didn’t mean to embarrass the man, accidentally walking in on him in the bathroom still gave secondhand embarrassment. However, while they weren’t at fault for this really, Jim and Pam needed to just accept the fact that not everyone was going to like them.
The Danny Cordray Fiasco
Of all the cringe-inducing scenes of this pair, the Halloween episode with Danny Cordray was the worst. Jim and Pam just couldn’t handle the fact that Danny hadn’t called Pam back when they briefly went out.
It was very awkward, and it made them look insecure especially given the fact they were married with a kid at this point. The fact that they needed to be liked so badly made them seem almost as socially awkward as Micahel, and it wasn’t a good look.