The Office: Defending Karen

by Jennifer Squires Biller

Fans of The Office, I’m bravely going where few dare.

I’ve put on my body armor and helmet and am prepared for the onslaught of hate-filled e-mails I’m sure to get after this admission.

I love Karen!

Whew! It felt good to get that off my chest. I know it’s not a popular opinion, but hey, I’ve always marched to the beat of a different drummer. (I actually liked Good Morning, Miami.)

TV critics across the Web are counting the days until Karen takes a job at corporate or leaves our beloved Scranton for another job, so Jim’s attention will be entirely focused on Pam once again. But, I don’t think they should be so eager to push lovely Karen out the door. Here’s why.

Karen infused some fun into The Office. She’s smart, confident, humorous, and fits in well with the office dynamic. And she makes Jim smile, a welcome change over mopey Jim, who spent months pining over indecisive Pam.

Don’t get me wrong. I adore Pam and Jim and know that eventually those two will end up on the fast track to white-picket-fence bliss. But this is now. And frankly, I think it’s time Jim found a little happiness — a.k.a. Karen.

Jim has spent too long obsessing over a girl who won’t take a risk and tell him how she feels. I think Karen is the antithesis of that and exactly what Jim needs. Perhaps she’s what Pam needs, too, to make her realize that Jim Halpert isn’t going to be around forever.

Until the day Jim and Pam actually get together, I’m enjoying Karen. Join me, won’t you? It’s not like I’m defending that lunkhead Roy.

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