John Krasinski stood up against a storyline in The Office, unlike The Big Bang Theory star who pursued a similar plot without any objections.
Both The Office and The Big Bang Theory have left an indelible mark on television, starring several beloved and memorable characters. However, while both sitcoms enjoyed widespread acclaim, their respective approach to character development has been varied.
The CBS sitcom has particularly faced criticism for its controversial plot twist in the Season 8 finale, revealing that Leonard cheated on Penny, which has since been deemed one of the worst developments in the sitcom. However, The Office star John Krasinski was presented with a similar plot development, which he chose to decline.
The Big Bang Theory’s Controversial Plot Twist That Fans Disapproved Of
Despite being held at high acclaim, The Big Bang Theory has often faced criticism for several of its elements. One such aspect of the show also included the revelation made by Leonard (Johnny Galecki) in the Season 8 finale.
On their way to Las Vegas, Leonard reveals to Penny (Kaley Cuoco) that he cheated on her with Mandy Chow while he was at the North Sea. The plot twist, however, did not sit very well with the fans, who have since deemed it one of the worst storylines of the sitcom.
Disapproving the plot developments, fans argued how the cheating angle came out of nowhere, which appeared to have been included only to add a bit of chaos in the whole plot surrounding Leonard and Penny’s marriage.
The plot did appear to be rushed and out of place due to Leonard’s abrupt revelation, without any significant event exploring Leonard grappling with guilt or debating whether to tell Penny, as it happened when he kissed Alice while being in a long-distance relationship with Priya.
Cramming the whole development in one episode made it even worse, as not only it appear forced and disconnected, but the sudden jealousy and turmoil that followed seemed to lack depth and consistency for characters’ development.
John Krasinski Denied Following a Similar Plotline in The Office
John Krasinski rose to fame with his portrayal of Jim Halpert in The Office, a character who had a long-standing crush on Dunder Mifflin’s receptionist, Pam Beesly, played by Jenna Fischer.
Over the course of the show’s nine seasons, Jim and Pam’s relationship blossomed, eventually leading to marriage, with their love story becoming a central and beloved arc.
However, in Season 8, the show introduced a more intense storyline that sought to explore an unfaithful side of Jim. With Pam on maternity leave, Cathy Simms, her temporary replacement, forms a friendship with Jim.
She eventually tries to seduce him during a business trip to Florida. Despite her repeated attempts, Jim remains loyal to Pam. Krasinski later revealed that it was his decision to reject the idea of Jim cheating on Pam, as he felt that it would compromise the integrity of both his character and their relationship.
He said, as per Her,
That’s the only time I remember putting my foot down. ‘Cause [Greg] was saying, ‘You’re going to actually make out with her in this scene.’ I remember saying things that I never thought I’d say before, like, ‘I’m not going to shoot it.’
Thanks to Krasinski’s insistence, the writers altered the storyline, avoiding what could have been a damaging shift for the couple.
The actor added that such a plot would have pushed the couple to a point of no return, tarnishing the show’s most cherished love story and potentially casting a negative shadow over the series as a whole.
