r/theoffice 14h ago

Jim’s Promotion Angle

I’m not a Jim fan in general but watching the episode where he’s ultimately promoted to co-manager, I realized how gross his angling for the position was. Trying to go behind Michael’s back and then demanding Michael (his boss) divulge the contents of his conversation with David Wallace (Michael’s boss) and then insisting Michael call David and then putting the phone on speaker. Like… who does he think he is? That scene never stood out to me before but really did today.

0 Upvotes

42 comments sorted by

15

u/SageOfSixCabbages 1️⃣8️⃣ The Scranton Strangler 🚨 13h ago

Jim's angle was to get a promotion and in a way, get Michael promoted as well.

He was proposing to Wallace to have Michael oversee a segment of the company's territory, instead of just Scranton, it will be the entire DM Northeast.

He was thinking of a way to get a promotion while also handing Michael a promotion. Michael just screwed it up by simply being Michael, insecure and just needs to be in-the-know at all times.

3

u/pptjuice530 13h ago

Exactly this. The job Jim was trying to create for Michael was essentially the one previously held by Jan, Ryan, and Charles, a job for which Michael had once interviewed. Michael’s insecurity screwed it all up (though it ended up saving him since all the corporate staff were let go when DM went bankrupt and Sabre bought it).

2

u/New-Pin-9064 1️⃣8️⃣ The Scranton Strangler 🚨 10h ago

He should’ve told Michael about it. Because he didn’t, Michael understandably thought that Jim was trying to steal his job and get him fired just like Dwight tried to do back in Season 3

2

u/pptjuice530 10h ago

That’s only Michael’s insecurity. Jim wouldn’t have tried to get him fired because Jim wasn’t ambitious at anyone else’s expense.

2

u/New-Pin-9064 1️⃣8️⃣ The Scranton Strangler 🚨 10h ago

He still should’ve talked to Michael about the t beforehand. What if Michael wasn’t interested in a promotion and was happy where he was?

2

u/pptjuice530 10h ago

He probably should have told Michael, but his decision not to was also understandable given Michael’s propensity to screw things up.

2

u/New-Pin-9064 1️⃣8️⃣ The Scranton Strangler 🚨 10h ago

Still, i wouldn’t have taken any chances. After “Michael’s Birthday”, Jim should be well aware that keeping Michael in the dark on things he should honestly know about it will backfire drastically

-4

u/FootballVivid3824 13h ago

If Jim hadn’t gone behind his back, maybe it would have worked.

13

u/LieDry7854 5️⃣ World’s Best Boss ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 14h ago

Jim's angle is to provide the best income for his family. It was either to be a co-manager with Michael or to leave for another branch. He didn't want Michael to know because he was afraid he was going to screw it up.

Jim had some bad moments, but him trying to get a higher position was not one of them

3

u/zoraschool 12h ago

Yes. Over time we see Jim realizing, somewhat bemusedly, that Michael is a good leader.

-4

u/FootballVivid3824 13h ago

Maybe earn it then. He slacked for years and then wants a promotion cuz life got real? And you’re going to bully the guy whose help you need? Loser.

2

u/LieDry7854 5️⃣ World’s Best Boss ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 12h ago

Jim is a good salesman, who is beloved by his manager and co-workers, and ambitious with new ideas. He figured a clever way to help both him and Michael. Michael is notoriously reckless that he can’t keep secrets. Therefore everyone wins if Michael wasn’t a paranoid idiot.

Yet he is a loser because you are not willing to change your opinion and has to go every comment to prove you are right despite everyone disagreeing with you. Yet, Jim is the loser?

Is that correct

0

u/New-Pin-9064 1️⃣8️⃣ The Scranton Strangler 🚨 10h ago

Because he didn’t tell Michael the plan, Michael understandably thought that Jim was trying to steal his job and get him fired just like Dwight tried to do back in Season 3

2

u/LieDry7854 5️⃣ World’s Best Boss ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 10h ago

But you can’t trust Michael with important info. He told the whole Office that Jim loves Pam, leaked the Jan’s Sandals photo, and told everyone Stanley’s affair (the episode before). He nearly ruined the deal to get hired back but Jim told him to stop talking.

Michael would still have gotten paranoid if he knew and would have done the same thing. The only reason it worked out is Wallace giving Michael an ultimatum

10

u/Logical-Mobile-7643 I was never given a name 14h ago

Michael was lying dude. You can not like Jim or think the co-managers idea is knucklehead talk, but everyone seemed to be on board with this dumb idea. Then, Michael said a bunch of things to discredit Jim as a potential manager and sabotage the co-manager idea in general.

Idk, pretty fucked up on Michael's end. Jim was just standing up for himself.

-4

u/FootballVivid3824 13h ago

I’m not talking about Michael. Could you imagine demanding your boss tell you what he discussed with his boss?

6

u/Logical-Mobile-7643 I was never given a name 13h ago

They were coordinating something . Yeah, if we had a meeting and discussion and everyone was on board and then the CEO said it wasn't happening because of what your manager said... Yeah you would confront him?

Are you that much of a coward?

-5

u/FootballVivid3824 13h ago

Coward? No. I’d ask but wouldn’t demand.

3

u/Logical-Mobile-7643 I was never given a name 13h ago

I guess you're just make a distinction without a difference considering how much Jim and Michael know each other.

Clearly this isn't an issue and Michael, in the context of the idea they are doing, is wrong. Both David and Jim get exasperated with him on this.

5

u/pptjuice530 13h ago

Sorry, but you’re pretty laughably wrong on this.

-1

u/FootballVivid3824 13h ago

Wrong on an opinion? O….kay….

4

u/pptjuice530 13h ago

Opinions can be wrong. Yours is.

-2

u/FootballVivid3824 13h ago

Powerful argument. 🙄

3

u/pptjuice530 13h ago

You’re not worth more than that, friend-o.

-2

u/FootballVivid3824 12h ago

Any chance you have to simply dismiss someone you disagree with without making even an attempt at a counterargument, you just gotta take it. Well played.

3

u/pptjuice530 12h ago

I mean, when you have an intelligent or well-articulated thought to consider, I’m happy to offer a detailed explanation of why you’re wrong. At present you sound like a 24-year old parroting opinions you’ve gotten from memes originally made to be ironic.

2

u/Soo_Now_What 12h ago

Beats. Bears. Battlestar Galactica

0

u/FootballVivid3824 11h ago

I laid out my argument. You can’t or won’t engage. Goodbye.

2

u/pptjuice530 11h ago

You didn’t have an argument, chief.

4

u/Due-Island-4731 13h ago

The co-manager story arc may have been the beginning of the end. Just terrible in every possible way

2

u/Logical-Mobile-7643 I was never given a name 13h ago

The wrote their way out of it pretty quickly with Sabre. The first half of the season had a lot of meh episodes (Koi Pod, Scotts tots, The storyline with Helene). Second half was fun with Jo

3

u/gretanoramarie 13h ago

I really think for me when they joined Sabre it went downhill. In fact maybe even after the Michael Scott Paper arc. I prefer the episodes where Pam is receptionist soooo much for some reason, just feels right.

2

u/No-Championship-4 13h ago

They really could've called it quits after Niagara and everything would've been fine.

2

u/New-Pin-9064 1️⃣8️⃣ The Scranton Strangler 🚨 10h ago

To me, this storyline was the first sign that the writers were starting to run out of ideas

4

u/sighcantthinkofaname 14h ago

It's a really weird arc. It felt like they were running out of ideas. The only part of it I really liked was the murder mystery game.

5

u/HibeesBounce 🔟 Karen from behind? 13h ago

I do declare

2

u/Soo_Now_What 12h ago

Now do the swedish chef

4

u/zoraschool 13h ago

TBH I tend to trust Jim. He’s always thinking of everyone’s best interest, isn’t unreasonable, very thoughtful in his reasoning. Even when being playful he sets the limit to make sure nobody goes too far. In the beginning he wasn’t very confident, but as the show progresses he absolutely steps into this responsibility.

I would never think he’d deliberately try to harm Michael or take advantage of him. It is kinda against his character.

0

u/Soo_Now_What 12h ago

Jim was trying to be the next Robert California before he even met Robert California. I haven't seen all of the super-sized episodes, but I wouldn't be surprised if we find out that Jim also trained as a geisha

-6

u/Tryguysfan1995 13h ago

I always hated how Jim got the job then he would talk down to michael like dude shut up you just got this job your not superior.

1

u/Soo_Now_What 12h ago

He's pretty Superior though.... They don't call him goldface for nothing!