8. The Evolution of Jim Halpert
John Krasinski's character Jim Halpert characterised what The Office was about in its earlier seasons. Lazy, sarcastic and aloof, Jim hated his job and waited everyday until 5. His burgeoning romance with receptionist Pam was an emotionally rich and interesting story arc that defined the first three series. However, he exists these days as a go-getter. He applied for a position at corporate in the last episode of the third season, and in season six worked his way into a co-management position in The Office. In the last season he even worked with Dwight, his sworn enemy and frequent victim of his pranks, to illegally boost his commission. While it makes sense for Jim to invest more heavily in his job to support his wife and children, it's far less amusing. Jim was always capable of representing how the average person felt about their job, but his quest for advancement and the idea that he genuinely cares about his job are much less interesting and relate-able. How we miss the Jim that once said "If this were my career, I'd have to throw myself in front of a train."