The Ultimate Ranking Of The 3 Best And Worst Episodes Of ‘The Office’

It’s hard to believe that The Office first premiered over 20 years ago in March 2005, but time flies faster than Kevin’s chili.

Based on its British predecessor, the U.S. version of The Office became one of the most lovable and rewatchable sitcoms. It changed the face of American comedy with its talking head mockumentary style and became an inherent touchpoint for millennial culture.

Throughout its nine seasons, we saw Dunder Mifflin’s employees fall in and out of love, support each other and rival each other, and of course, prank each other. While most episodes are truly beloved, there are still a few duds, such as when Michael Scott (Steve Carrell) tactlessly tackles complicated subject matters, such as racism and homophobia. So to celebrate 20 years of The Office, here are three of the best and worst episodes of the series.

Worst: “The Christening” (Season 7, Episode 7)

“The Christening” is considered to be one of the worst The Office episodes by many. The main plot concerns Pam and Jim’s christening of their daughter, Cece, which Michael invites the entire office to. But when Michael feels ostracized by the group, he runs away with the churchgoers on a mission, although ultimately decides not to leave. With few jokes and a repeated storyline from Season 4’s “Money,” but with less sensitivity, “The Christening” has few redeeming qualities.

Best: “Dinner Party” (Season 4, Episode 13)

Loosely based on Edward Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, “Dinner Party” is easily one of the best and most iconic episodes of The Office. Michael has been eager to invite Jim (John Krasinski) and Pam (Jenna Fischer) over for a double date dinner with him and Jan at his condo, but what ensues is a chaotic, hilarious, uncomfortable evening. From Michael showing how he stands in front of his tiny television to Jan playing her assistant’s song on repeat, “Dinner Party” gives us non-stop laughs, character depth, and moves the show’s plot forward.

Worst: “Roy’s Wedding” (Season 9, Episode 2)

In “Roy’s Wedding,” Pam and Jim attend Roy’s wedding, witnessing his 180-degree change from who he was when he dated Pam. As a viewer, however, Roy’s transformation is cringey and comes across as inauthentic. Pam and Jim’s troubled marriage storyline is unfairly hated, but this episode in which they compare themselves to Roy is just too far of a step back. In addition, Clark’s efforts to film Erin in a low-cut top by tricking her with a fake newscaster job is beyond icky, while Erin’s naivete is also unrealistic. And in the final sub-plot, during which Nellie tries to raise money for a charity, Dwight’s insistence on raising money for the Taliban instead doesn’t quite align with his character.

Best: “Stress Relief” (Season 5, Episodes 14 and 15)

“Stress Relief” was created in a stressful situation; the episode would air directly after Super Bowl XLIII in 2009, making it one of the most watched episodes of The Office of all time. Because of this, it incorporates some of the funniest moments in The Office history. Between Dwight tearing apart a CPR doll, Jack Black, Cloris Leachman, and Jessica Alba’s cameos in a fake film, and Michael’s iconic “Boom, roasted!” speech, “Stress Relief” has too many memorable moments to recount.

Worst: “Couples Discount” (Season 9, Episode 15)

Many people hate Andy’s managerial storyline, but even worse is when he returns from a 3-month hiatus on a boat. He comes back ragged, expecting Erin to jump into his arms and the office to be relieved at his return. However, everyone is mad at him instead as they learn that the CEO, David Wallace, didn’t even know Andy was away. The plotline is frankly ridiculous as Andy hits his peak of unlikability. Jim and Pam’s marriage also hits its lowest moment as the drama supersedes the comedy in this disappointing episode of The Office.

Best: “The Dundies” (Season 2, Episode 1)

While Season 1 of The Office was thankfully good enough to keep the show going, it really picked up in Season 2 with the premiere episode, “The Dundies.” The episode made Chili’s a world-famous restaurant and took the characters out of the office into a new setting. Watching Pam get tipsy as her and Jim’s will-they-won’t-they romance starts to flourish gives The Office the heart we’d all been seeking. While the British Office lacked the sentimentality of the American version, “The Dundies” is what finally separated the version we know and love from its predecessor. Plus, Michael’s hilarious (and of course, cringey) speeches and Dwight’s performance as his right-hand man only add to the comedy.