The Office: The most believable bond wasn’t just scripted — it was real

Every fan of The Office is aware of the tumultuous relationship between Kelly and Ryan that spanned over multiple seasons. Mindy Kaling and B. J. Novak played Kelly and Ryan while also serving as writers on The Office which ran from 2005 to 2013.

Recently, Mindy Kaling was awarded the Norman Lear achievement award at the Producers Guild of America Awards. B. J Novak presented Kaling with the award and gave a speech, speaking about the times ge worked with her.

In the speech, Novak revealed that their own screen relationship on The Office, wasn't just scripted, it was a result of their real life dynamic.

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B. J. Novak and Mindy Kaling's dynamic in The Office

The Office ran for nine seasons, from 2005 to 2013. During its run, the show featured multiple couple dynamics, some were together till the end, while some weren't.

Jim (played by John Krasinski) and Pam (Jenna Fischer), Dwight (played by Rainn Wilson) and Angela (played by Angela Kinsey), and Michael (played by Steve Carell) and Holly (played by Amy Ryan) were couples that stood out. They all had various ups and downs in their relationships, but none were as chaotic as Kelly and Ryan's.

In season one of The Office, it looked like Kelly was the only one who was toxic and impulsive. However, as time goes on, we see Ryan is equally toxic and even manipulative. The pair has an on-and-off relationship, which is a hilarious story arc in the show. However, it isn't something that happened just on the show.

B. J. Novak recently presented Mindy Kaling with the Norman Lear Achievement Award at the Producers Guild of America Awards. In his presentation speech, Novak said,

"We were in love with each other, and we were reckless idiots, and the two of us would argue about all of these things forever grinding the writers room into a halt until we got too upset and we go to our respective offices and slammed the door where we would continue arguing over AOL and Instant Messenger,"

The Office fans who watched him give the speech must have laughed helplessly, because it makes so much sense. Kelly and Ryan's fights or banters were always loud, messy, and nonsensical. It often has the impression that the duo was fighting just for the sake of it.

It makes sense how their in-person dynamic somehow translated into their characters' behaviour. Although it's been years since they broke up, and are now the best of friends, Novak and Kaling's relationship reckless fights, gave us the hilarious dynamic between Kelly and Ryan.

We are not shown if Kelly and Ryan end up together at the end of the show. In the last episode of The Office, we see Kelly and Ryan leading different lives. Kelly is engaged to Ravi, while Ryan is raising a baby called Drake. They reunite at Dwight and Angela's wedding.

Ryan fakes Drake having a medical emergency so that Ravi, a pediatrician, would look into it. When Ravi goes inside the house to check Drake out, Ryan tells Mindy that he let Drake suck on a strawberry, which he's allergic to, but he'll be fine soon. He said he did that so he could talk to Mindy. Kelly is immediately impressed, asking,

"You gave your baby an allergic reaction just to talk to me?"

This is followed by them kissing. Finally, we see Ryan and Kelly run away from the wedding, confessing their love to each other.

When Ravi comes looking for them, Kevin informs him that they left together and says,

"Kelly was hoping that you would keep the baby so they could start a life together."

Hence, it looks like the pair ended up together. But knowing them, it might not last. However, that's when the show ends, and it ends on the note that Ryan and Kelly are together in the end.

The Office is streaming on Peacock.

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