The writers couldn’t string viewers on forever, yet those furtive glances and prank team-ups were all the more delicious because it was unrequited. It really was a terrific will-they-or-won’t-they setup that had a lot of spark to it but also was heading down a path of inevitable decision. The two are obviously infatuated with each other to varying degrees, but Jim is too hesitant to reveal his feelings and Pam is too loyal to her idiot fiancee Roy to consider investigating this relationship further. The first episode, The Dundies (which is the first episode of the series to mostly take place out of the office), establishes the crux of this romantic drama. The real framework for season two, of course, is the unrequited romance between doofy lovable Jim and engaged-forever Pam. “I’m sorry I misinterpreted our friendship.”

And looking over the episode list, I’m amazed at the sheer quality of hilarious stories that are packed into this season, which is why it propelled The Office into a “must watch” type of show. A lot of work went into rethinking characters and getting into a comfortable groove, and the employees of Dunder Mifflin that we know and love today emerged as a true ensemble force here. I consider the first episode of the second season to be the “real” start to The Office. Maybe it was Steve Carrell’s charisma that convinced the network to do so, but good decision, boys! As lackluster, short, and - let’s face it - nearly irrelevant as season one of The Office was, the decision to pick it up for a 22-episode second season was as surprising as it was fortuitous.

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