Jan Levinson is viewed as an antagonist throughout The Office. She started the series as a no-nonsense corporate vice president before getting into a romantic relationship with Michael Scott. It was after her relationship began with Michael that her personality began to shift and she was later fired from Dunder Mifflin. The things Jan started doing didn’t make sense for the woman fans met in season 1.
Michael and Jan were too toxic of a couple to ever fully work, but she continued to appear throughout the series. As cruel as Jan was, she also had soft moments that made fans see a different side to her. Regardless of how nice or mean she was, Jan’s scenes were some of the best in the series.
When She Didn’t Hear A Word Karen Said In “Cocktails”
One of the best The Office storylines was in “Cocktails,” where David Wallace’s cocktail party was Jan & Michael’s first outing as a couple. Their relationship became official in their eyes because they had to sign a contract regarding their professional and personal relationships.
And while Michael was thrilled to show off Jan as his new paramour, she was in comedic misery as she started to immediately regret her decision to become romantically involved with him. Her behavior was so awkward and uncomfortable that fans couldn’t stop laughing. In one scene, Karen said hello to her and Jan was in such turmoil that she completely misheard Karen and responded with “Not too good.”
She Helped Michael During His Meltdown
As many alter egos as Michael uses to escape his own reality, he couldn’t escape from his financial woes in season 4. When Jan was fired from Dunder Mifflin, she moved in with Michael and he became the breadwinner. However, they were not spending like they were a one-person income household. Michael’s financial woes became such a burden that he ran away.
Jan could have moved out and ignored Michael’s situation but instead, she chased him down and helped him. She soothed him and made fun of the dire situation they were in. This was one of Jan’s best moments since it shows she cared more about Michael than material things. Her careless financial actions were just the result of her insecurity at her new role as the less powerful one in the relationship.
“Dinner Party” Had Some Of Her Best & Worst Moments
“Dinner Party” was so hilariously bizarre and memorable that fans beg for behind-the-scenes facts about The Office episode. In those awkward 22 minutes, Jan and Michael threw their first dinner party for their friends. However, the cracks in their relationship were obvious as the night went on.
Her frustrations with Michael and her life were so evident that it was impossible to ignore her. The scenes in “Dinner Party” were some of her best because of how angry and delusional she was in her own home. While usually portrayed as smart and perceptive, here Jan was comically oblivious to the mounting horror and pity that each of her guests displayed as the dinner party deteriorated into a fight between the combative couple.
Jan Was Underrated In “Boys And Girls”
“Boys and Girls” was one of Pam and Jim’s best episodes. It was the episode that Pam realized she wanted to do more with her life and Jim was more supportive of her goals than her fiance, Roy, was. Yet it was also a key moment for Jan to showcase one of her good qualities: leadership. In the episode, Jan came to the office to talk about women’s empowerment in the workplace. She tried to learn about the womens’ goals as a way to promote Dunder Mifflin’s corporate strategies.
The likes of Pam, Kelly, Angela, and Phyllis didn’t have too many goals in the workplace but Jan tried her best to inspire each of them. Her advice to Pam was direct, brutal, and honest: “There are always a million reasons not to do something.” For the procrastinating Pam, these words jolted her into action as they verbalized what she had been doing, or not doing, with her romantic and professional aspirations.
The New & Improved Jan
It was for the best when Michael broke up with Jan in “Women’s Appreciation.” A few months after breaking up, however, Jan came back told Michael that she wanted a fresh start with him. Michael was against the idea of getting back together with her but after she took off her jacket and showed off her new breast enhancement, he quickly changed his mind.
This moment was one of Jan’s best in the show because it showed how she knew exactly what she was doing and how to manipulate the situation. The easily swayed Michael couldn’t resist her transformation and Jan used that to her advantage to get what she wanted. While some may deem her diabolical for such an action, Jan is really just showcasing yet again how intelligent she is by using the flaws in others to gain an advantage.
Jan’s Epic Baby Shower
Jan proved she was the worst in The Office when Michael found out she was pregnant. In a shocking twist, Jan was pregnant but Michael wasn’t the dad. She told him she went to a sperm bank while they were dating so that she could give this baby a “real shot.”
Michael was so desperate for a family that he wanted to be a part of Jan’s pregnancy, so he threw her a baby shower at the office. The office put so much work into this baby shower but Jan threw everyone off when she showed up with the baby. Her interactions with her former colleagues and her baby were so awkward, it was impossible not to laugh.
Jan Was Willing To Give Michael A Raise
After over a decade of working for Dunder Mifflin, Darryl encouraged Michael to ask for a raise. Now that he was dating Jan, he had to work up the courage to ask his girlfriend—who was also his boss—for a raise. It was a pivotal moment in Jan and Michael’s relationship because he was finally secure enough to speak his mind.
Shockingly, Jan was willing to give Michael a larger raise than he expected. All Michael had to do was ask for a 15% raise and Jan would counter his offer with a 12% raise. But when Michael didn’t understand Jan’s hints that would benefit him, she became irritated. Melora Hardin’s acting was impeccable in this scene because fans could feel her simmering hatred for Michael.
Jan And Michael’s Life After Vacation
One of Michael’s funniest scenes in The Office was when he came home from a Sandals Resort vacation. Michael had a picture of himself with a topless Jan which he accidentally sent to most of Dunder Mifflin via email. He then had to backtrack and try to hide that fact from Jan.
When Jan arrived at Dunder Mifflin, she appeared defeated. Her loss for words was a big scene for her character because she admitted that she did, in fact, have feelings for the one and only Michael Scott. It was both a great comic moment for Jan, but also a touching scene as it showed for the first time that she had emotions behind her steely facade.
Jan’s Dedication To Michael And The Cause In “Fun Run”
In “Fun Run,” Michael and Jan were probably at their comedic best. Michael threw a race in support of curing rabies in America and Jan showed up to help with the “event.” She passed out water to runners, which led to a quote that perfectly summed up her personality.
When an exhausted Michael declines water she was handing out to each runner, she quietly exasperates “Michael, that’s irrational!” as he passes by. Jan’s sensibility shines through here but also her dedication to her new beau as she sticks around to support him even after he becomes dehydrated and is taken to the hospital.
