I have to say, as much as I would have liked to see another big kiss between them, a grand moment, I *really* loved that he just asked her out on a date. It was so... normal!

Me, too. Also, this gives them much more room next season. If they start slow, maybe are a little tentative, it will be easier to build in believable levels of conflict (which will be compelling, I hope).

So, does anyone have any opinions on why Karen didn't get the coorporate job? She seems very career driven, capable, intelligent, professional, etc.

Do you think it's because she was willing to go, "Off the record," about Michael to David Wallace?

Hmm, that's also possible. So you think they were essentially over by the morning of the interviews? I just think they would have been a lot more uncomfortable around each other in those scenes if that were the case. I also think that Jim's interview was the catalyst for his deciding to go back to Scranton to be with Pam; if he'd already broken up with Karen by then, I think that scene and that decision would have played out differently.

Not that they had officially broken up, necessarily, but knowing that they didn't really have a future together has got to be the beginning of the end, IMO. Especially from Karen's side. Because, Jim...

Jim's not adventurous, he's not career-oriented, and he's not all that interested in advancing up the Dunder-Mifflin corporate ladder. What he wants is to be happy with Pam, and if that's gonna be in Scranton, then Scranton it is.

I'm assuming he's from there, and the one line about how he hadn't been to New York since his sixth-grade field trip was pretty telling to me.

So, does anyone have any opinions on why Karen didn't get the coorporate job? She seems very career driven, capable, intelligent, professional, etc.

But does she have an MBA? Also, she's a woman. Jan didn't end up working out too well in that position. At least they know Ryan won't sleep with Michael, as much as Michael wants to.

I doubt Jim has him MBA, and I really felt like he had the job and just didn't want it. It could be sexism. That's what Scott thinks. I just think Karen must look as good on paper as Jim, and she presents herself well. I'm wondering if she just made a classic blunder in believing anything is ever actually off the record. She didn't show loyalty or respect for her immediate superior. I assume that David Wallace will be the immediate superior of the person who gets Jan's position.

I'm guessing that after Jim's interview Karen came back from lunch, he told her that he thought she'd get the job and that he wouldn't move to NY to be with her and that she accepted that, also thinking she'd get the job. So Ryan getting it is going to make their break up retroactively harder.

I think he came back from lunch and told Karen he didn't want the job and wanted to go back to Scranton. Since they'd already had the, "We'll never make it in Scranton," conversation, there wasn't too much else to say.

So Ryan getting it is going to make their break up retroactively harder.

At least they know Ryan won't sleep with Michael, as much as Michael wants to.

I kept hoping for Ryan and Jim, but that's just me.

Ryan's not nice enough for Jim.

Jim: I liked you better as a temp

Ryan: Me, too.

I liked that Jim stuck around for Michael's "party". Once again, Michael's awkward side made me care about him. Also, I saw the Scrubs musical. Very cute.