Ryan in The Office quickly transformed from a mild-mannered temp into one of the least likable characters by season 4, but his downfall was foreshadowed much earlier (and so was Pam’s dislike of him). Played by B.J. Novak, Ryan Howard’s descent into corporate egoism, fraud, and hipster nonsense was both hilarious and tragic, but also a brilliant parody of startup culture and millennial narcissism. What made Ryan’s arc even more memorable, though, was his ongoing rivalry with Pam Beesly (Jenna Fischer). Despite having little direct conflict in the early seasons, Pam and Ryan slowly became antagonistic forces in each other’s stories, and that contrast is what made both of them stand out in some of the show’s best comedic moments.
What’s often overlooked, however, is just how early The Office planted the seeds of this rivalry and Ryan’s villain turn. Most fans pinpoint the start of his downfall to the season 3 finale, “The Job,” when he lands a position at corporate and immediately dumps Kelly. However, there’s a quiet, blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment much earlier in the show that hints at everything to come. Before Ryan becomes the power-hungry suit and Pam finds her confidence, The Office dropped a major clue to their eventual clash way back in season 2’s “Office Olympics.”
Pam’s Hatred Of Ryan Started In The Office Season 2
Pam Quietly Started Resenting Ryan In Season 2 After A Subtle But Powerful Moment
Pam’s dislike of Ryan in The Office didn’t begin when he became her boss or when he started abusing his power – it actually began in season 2, episode 3, “Office Olympics.” In an episode filled with heartfelt and humorous moments, a key exchange laid the foundation for one of the show’s most underrated rivalries. When Michael leaves the office to buy his condo (which would later become the stage for the infamous “Dinner Party” episode), Pam and Jim organize the “Office Olympics” to boost morale. It’s a rare display of Pam stepping outside her receptionist box, finding joy in her job, and showcasing her creative energy.
She sees Ryan as someone who doesn’t appreciate connection or the effort she and Jim put in.
The episode ends with everyone who participated in the games receiving yogurt-lid medals – cheap, silly, but deeply meaningful to Pam. It’s one of the first times she starts to feel connected to her coworkers in a positive, team-building way. But Ryan, ever the detached outsider, throws his medal in the trash.
Ryan isn’t discreet about throwing out his medal, either. Pam catches him in the act, and the camera lingers on her stunned expression. It’s a moment that subtly says everything: she sees Ryan as someone who doesn’t appreciate connection or the effort she and Jim put in. The wordless exchange is made all the more poignant when Ryan catches Pam’s eye and simply gives an unapologetic half-shrug.
Related
The Office: 10 Best Pam Vs. Ryan Quotes
The Office has lots of rivalries, but few are as funny as Ryan and Pam’s hatred for each other, which has resulted in hilarious insults on both parts.
Ryan’s explanation during his talking head -“It was really nice of Pam to make them, but what am I going to do with a medal made of paperclips and an old yogurt lid” – seals the deal. That single act of indifference triggers a quiet fury in Pam, even if she doesn’t voice it. To her, the Office Olympics meant something. To Ryan, they were just another disposable moment. This is when Ryan in The Office stopped being a background character in Pam’s story and started becoming an antagonist. “Office Olympics” planted a seed that wouldn’t blossom until much later, but it’s the real beginning of Pam vs. Ryan.
Ryan And Pam’s Rivalry Was One Of The Funniest Relationships In The Office
Pam And Ryan’s Dynamic Gave The Series One Of Its Most Consistently Underrated Comedic Pairings
After “Office Olympics,” Pam and Ryan in The Office rarely shared deep, emotional scenes. What they did share, however, was tension and sarcasm, often delivered with brutal comedic timing. Their dynamic reached peak hilarity during the Michael Scott Paper Company arc in season 5. Forced into the same cramped room with Michael, Pam and Ryan turned their years of subtle disdain into full-blown passive-aggression.
These moments weren’t just punchlines – they were payoffs to years of building animosity.
Pam wasn’t afraid to call out Ryan’s laziness, his lack of value, or his ridiculous business lingo. Meanwhile, Ryan treated Pam’s artistic aspirations and moral compass with complete disdain. There’s an incredible moment when Pam tells him, “You’re worse than useless,” and the awkward silence that follows makes it even funnier. These moments weren’t just punchlines – they were payoffs to years of building animosity.
Part of what made Pam and Ryan’s feud so funny is how unspoken it often was. There wasn’t a dramatic falling out or huge confrontation. It was a Cold War of glares, insults, and petty jabs. Every glance and side-eye exchange was steeped in shared history. Ryan in The Office became the smug embodiment of everything Pam hated about corporate culture, while Pam became a constant reminder to Ryan of everything he thought he was too cool for. Their rivalry is one of the show’s sharpest slow-burn jokes – and one of its most rewatchable.
“Office Olympics” Is An Underrated Episode Of The Office
It Was Quietly One Of The Most Layered And Meaningful Early Episodes Of The Series
Despite being one of the most heartfelt and relatable episodes of the series, “Office Olympics” rarely gets the credit it deserves. On IMDb, it doesn’t even crack the top 50 episodes of The Office, which is surprising considering how well it captures the essence of what made the show great. It’s not just about paper sales or awkward meetings, it’s about the quiet desperation of office life, and how people find joy in the little things.
“Office Olympics” perfectly parodies the quirky rituals that real office workers create to make it through the day.
From Flonkerton to the medal ceremony, “Office Olympics” perfectly parodies the quirky rituals that real office workers create to make it through the day. It’s a celebration of the mundane turned magical, and it shows Pam and Jim at their most charming. At the same time, it introduces subtle threads of deeper character arcs, like Michael’s fear of commitment and, of course, Pam’s early clash with Ryan.
Related
The Office: Every Event During The Office Olympics Episode
The Dunder Mifflin employees played several games during the Olympics-themed episode in The Office season 2. Here’s everything they competed in.
Ryan doesn’t have a huge role in “Office Olympics”, but his short, dismissive action speaks volumes. It adds a layer of subtle darkness to an otherwise light episode. “Office Olympics” isn’t just fun filler – it’s quiet storytelling mastery. It showcases how The Office excelled at turning small character beats into long-term payoffs. For fans watching closely, it was the true beginning of Ryan’s fall and his long-running feud with Pam.
This story originally appeared on Screenrant
