6. Italian food - Money, 4x04

(Top 20 Jim and Pam Moments)

Dwight is heartbroken over Angela and is curled up in the stairwell, so Jim goes out to talk to him. 

“Did I ever tell you why I left Scranton?” Jim pauses whilst Dwight makes a crying noise before continuing. “Yeah, I didn’t think I had. Well, it was all about Pam. Yeah, I mean, she was with Roy… and I just couldn’t take it. I mean, I lost it, Dwight. I couldn’t sleep, I couldn’t concentrate on anything. And then weird stuff, like, food had no taste. So my solution was to move away. It was awful. And it is something that I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy. And that includes you.” 

After offering some comfort to Dwight, Jim walks back into The Office where Pam begins to talk to him about dinner before he interrupts her with a kiss. She looks stunned and smiles, before Jim suggests Italian for dinner. In a talking head with regards to the scene, Pam says Jim’s just really passionate about Italian food. A very happy looking Jim adds, “In fact, I’m in love with Italian food.”

It’s that gorgeous moment when Jim puts it all into context. It’s one of the only times that Jim or Pam ever contemplates their lives before their relationship. Jim broke my heart so many times in season 2 because he was so desperately in love with Pam, and I thought this episode was great for reflecting on that. To compare Jim’s life then to Jim’s life now, the smile is understandable. 

When Jim marches back into the office after seeing Dwight, it’s just a moment where Jim almost seems to want to remind himself of what he has. For so long, he couldn’t do it and he used to be the tortured one in the office, not Dwight. Now he and Pam are together. And the kiss is almost a celebration of that. 

There’s a beautiful connection between Jim talking about how his heartbreak made him feel like he couldn’t eat and how food had no taste, to Pam then asking about dinner and Jim saying he’s in love with Italian food.

The added, “I’m in love with Italian food” comment perfects an already perfect scene. Everyone and their mother knew Jim was in love with Pam but it’s always nice to hear. Man, do I get sucked in with these two!