Hey Jim, the Honeymoon is Over!

I certainly think Pam overreacted to the news that Michael is dating her mother. (If you have no idea what I am referring to, you obviously don't watch “The Office,” so feel free to skip this article altogether.)
But what I enjoyed most about the episode titled “The Lover” was poor Jim's reactions to the freaked out Pam. Now Jim's mugging to the mockumentary camera has always been one of the show's highlights over the years.
Last night, however, his reaction shots alone were probably worthy of an Emmy nomination.
Moreover, Jim learned during this episode the one commandment that any married man who wants to stay married must learn. (And it makes no difference whether you just returned from your honeymoon or you have been married for decades.)
The commandment is a simple one, but it should be engraved on a tablet and presented to every groom within seconds after the priest, rabbi, justice of the peace or ship's captain says “I now pronounce you man and wife.” It reads as follows:
“WHEN YOUR WIFE MAKES A STATEMENT USING A CERTAIN ANGST-FILLED TONE, ALWAYS IMMEDIATELY AGREE WITH HER!”
When Pam cried out during a staff meeting “Welcome to my personal Hell…,” I could not help but recall another statement that elicited a similar bone-chilling reaction: Tony Montana's “Say hello to my little friend” in the movie “Scarface.”
(Speaking of movie references, I hope everyone realized that Pam and Jim's cutesy “frank and beans” was an homage to the scene in “Something About Mary,” when Ben Stiller gets his “frank and beans” caught in his zipper.)
Anyway, the intensity of the Pam and Jim standoff reached an unmatched level for this usually light-hearted and funny sitcom. There have been many awkward and uncomfortable moments over the years (such as when poor Michael had to be escorted out of the office by the security guard after his resignation last season), but none matched the seat-squirming emotions generated by last night's episode.
And there was poor Jim, caught in the middle, perhaps analogous to Ben's “frank and beans.”
In a scene which most husbands could easily relate to, Jim tried to cheer Pam up by bringing her a cup of hot chocolate and relating his plan to gain revenge on Dwight for the bugged duck (I mean mallard). Yet his efforts were thwarted by a hostile “You need to be more upsets about this, she's your mother now too” comeback from the usually mild-mannered Pam.
And later his mild greeting of “Hey,” to his wife as she stormed out of the break room after sparring with Michael was met with a “shove it” comment.
But Jim is smart and learned quickly, so when Pam later says “Maybe I'm, overreacting,” he first mumbles “Yep, maybe.” But when Pam immediately responds “But I don't think I am,” Jim quickly agrees, asserting “You're not, nope, nope.”
So welcome to marriage Jim, and enjoy the ride.