The Best Romance on ‘The Office’ Wasn’t Jim and Pam — It Was Dwight and Angela

Jim Halpert and Pam Beesly. Meredith Grey and Derek Shepherd (aka McDreamy). Two romanticized work romances. Both relationships are very dreamy (no pun intended), and I must admit I’ve fantasized of a love as consuming. Each of them pined for one another at some point (for what felt like a long period of time), and when these couples finally got together, they decorated their world for two with a love of their own.

But surprising to some, according to Business.org, America’s most beloved TV workplace romance is The Office‘s Kelly Kapoor (played by Mindy Kaling) and Ryan Howard (played by B.J. Novak). “The closest we can figure is people in Arkansas, Delaware, Iowa, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and West Virginia just really love all the comedic elements of Kelly and Ryan’s relationship,” the media outlet explains. Business.org’s findings are based on searches between 2009 and 2019, with the exclusion of 2017 and 2018 to avoid confusion with LIVE with Kelly and Ryan which came out in 2017.

The Office‘s Jim (played by John Krasinski) and Pam (played by Jenna Fischer) came in second as most beloved, and Grey’s Anatomy‘s Meredith and Derek came in fourth. As I’ve re-watched both TV series (The Office and Grey’s Anatomy) too many times to count, I’ve become more intrigued by the unconventional love, by the relationships that aren’t as whimsical or the couple’s whose journey to “forever” wasn’t as foreseeable because how real is that? (Also, how interesting is that when binge watching over and over again?)

I’d like to make a case for Dwight Schrute (played by Rainn Wilson) and Angela Martin (played by Angela Kinsey) being the best romance on The Office. Dwight and Angela’s love affair played out primarily behind closed doors: viewers, alongside the rest of their colleagues, would get glimpses of their dynamic through cracked doors and window blinds. The on again-off again couple kept their love to themselves, in the beginning, in fear of being criticized by their employees. Despite the risk of being outed, they’d sneak in acts of love whenever they could, big or small–from Angela calling “out sick” to tape Dwight’s top salesman speech (season 2, episode 17), to Angela buying Dwight a custom Dwight bobblehead to Dwight gifting her with a copy of his house key (season 2, episode 10), to Dwight being publicly slapped by Angela (and liking it) when kissing her on her cheek after winning a game of craps during casino night (season 2, episode 22). With each act, they were less fearful of showing their love for one another in front of the cameras.

Both had their own authoritarian tenets, and if they were to waver (which Dwight usually did for his loyalty towards Scranton’s Regional Manager, Michael Scott), they’d challenge one another to be better for the other. While they feared being caught by their co-workers, they put themselves on the line, to the point of unemployment, to protect the other. In season 3, episode 13, Dwight drives to Dunder Mifflin’s corporate office in New York City to deliver tax forms that Angela forgot to mail. When confronted by Michael (played by Steve Carell) as to why he was tardy, Dwight chooses to resign to not risk publicly revealing his and Angela’s relationship. Even though Dwight assures Angela “we will reveal our true love. It won’t be that bad,” he prioritizes Angela’s fear. Angela distraught that she “denied him,” she lets Michael know why Dwight was late (without needing to confess that they’re dating).

It’s not a secret that they’ve hurt one another, and badly, usually when not compromising on their peculiar principles. There was cheating within cheating (Dwight felt betrayed when he found out Angela was sleeping with her then-fiance Andy while cheating with him) and even a mercy killing of Angela’s beloved cat (Sprinkles) which was the cause of their first major falling out (season 4, episode 1).

But they’d forgive and choose one another, and wanted the other even when they tried not to or were dating other people. After the death of Sprinkles, Angela tells Dwight that they can solely be friends, and Dwight tries to oblige but can’t resist but to plead for more: “Fine, then I just want to be friends. Plus a little extra. Also I love you.” (Season 4, episode 2)

Dwight and Angela truly knew each other, and loved each other genuinely. Timing rarely worked to their advantage, but they’d try; they’d try against their own ego and the fear of others’ perceptions. And while Dwight’s “feelings regenerate twice the speed of a normal man’s,” Angela brought out the most dramatic displays of affection from Dwight, one being a wedding proposal. On season 9, episode 22, Dwight chases Angela down in his car and runs her off the road. The best part is when he uses a bullhorn to profess his love and propose because “this expresses how loudly I love you.” Both finally let down their pride; Angela admits that her son Phillip is Dwight’s and Dwight doesn’t care for Angela’s baggage. “I just needed you to marry me because you wanted to marry me,” she says.

No matter how dead set each were (or “tightly wound”), their loyalty for one another, as well as their mutual love and respect for one another’s unconventional beliefs, made for the series’ best romance, not to mention a shining example of the benefits of choosing love over pride.

Erika Ramirez–born in San Jose, CA and based in Los Angeles, CA–is a writer, editor, and producer. She’s the founder of digital magazine, ILY, which is about love. She’s also currently the Artist Marketing Manager (Content) at Red Bull. She’s held editorial positions and written for various outlets as Billboard, ROOKIE, NPR, VOGUE, ELLE, Pitchfork, and more. Follow her on Twitter: @3rika

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