The Best Episodes Of The Office, Ranked From Good To GREAT
Even on a re-watch, these episodes of The Office never get old.
It’s hard to think of a modern comedy series whose popularity surpasses NBC’s The Office. Originally a pale remake of the United Kingdom’s successful sitcom of the same name, the American Office soon took on a life of its own right around the time of its second season. Focusing on the mundane exploits of a small-time paper company in Scranton, Pennsylvania, Greg Daniels’ hit series hilariously captured the atmosphere of an average corporate environment. From its portrayal of workplace romances to its satirical presentation of ineffective branch managers, The Office became more than a mere TV show by the end of the 2000s, capturing mainstream viewers’ attention just as Seinfeld, Friends, and Frasier had in the decades prior.
From the fan-favorite “Threat Level Midnight” to the infamously uncomfortable “Dinner Party,” here are some of The Office’s absolute finest episodes, ranked in order from worst to best.
Fun Run (Season 4, Episodes 1 and 2)
It’s a bold move to open your fourth season by having your main character hit his employee with his car. But then again, The Office has always delighted in subverting preconceived expectations. Brilliantly capturing viewers’ attention within its opening two minutes, “Fun Run” made the idea of an office-organized 5K seem somehow fresh and exciting. Balancing plenty of laughs with some satisfying conclusions to long-running storylines (such as Jim and Pam’s long-awaited romantic relationship), “Fun Run” set the entire tone for The Office’s fourth season moving forward.
Threat Level Midnight (Season 7, Episode 17)
Regularly hinted at throughout The Office’s first several seasons, Michael’s amateur filmmaking efforts finally came to fruition with season 7’s “Threat Level Midnight.” A tongue-in-cheek nod to over-the-top espionage films like James Bond, “Threat Level Midnight” also doubles as an endearing love letter to The Office’s pre-existing continuity. Weaving in cameos from former cast members like Melora Hardin, David Denman, and Rashida Jones, this laugh-out-loud spy pastiche spelled out the beginning of the end for Michael’s run on The Office, illustrating just how far each character had grown over the course of the series.
Casino Night (Season 2, Episode 22)
Just as “Fun Run” helped kick off The Office’s fourth season in a wholly unexpected manner, “Casino Night” helped draw the series’ second season to a close in a fittingly wondrous way. Balancing Michael’s burgeoning love triangle with Jan and Carol with Jim’s attempts to admit his true feelings to Pam, “Casino Night”’s ambiguous final note left fans thoroughly entertained, as well as extremely interested to see what might happen with season three.
Stress Relief (Season 5, Episodes 14 and 15)
“Stress Relief” deserves a spot on every list of The Office’s best episodes if only for its anarchic cold open alone. In true Office fashion, “Stress Relief” starts things off with Dwight simulating a fire in Dunder Mifflin’s office building – a controlled disaster scenario that quickly spirals out of control. From Oscar crashing through the ceiling to Kevin feverishly raiding the vending machine, from Michael shrilly cursing to Andy absurdly crying out, “The fire is shooting at us!”, “Stress Relief”’s cold opening is a chaotic thing of beauty in and of itself.
Broke (Season 5, Episode 25)
As even the most casual fan of The Office is sure to know, Michel Scott regularly displays a less-than-mature attitude when it comes to his workplace responsibilities. Shirking his managerial duties like a child refusing a time out, many audience members might wonder how such a buffoonish personality could have been promoted to the position of regional manager. With episodes like “Broke,” though, viewers witness Michael’s mental prowess at its absolute peak. Outwitting his former employer David Wallace and masterfully orchestrating his return to Dunder Mifflin’s Scranton branch, “Broke” eloquently underscores the complexity behind Michael’s character (childlike and immature one moment, a slick, multifaceted salesman in the next).
Goodbye, Michael (Season 7, Episode 22)
For better or for worse, it’s not an exaggeration to say that Michael Scott was the heart and soul of The Office. Fans might have regularly tuned in to see which pranks Jim played on Dwight, but Michael held such an integral place at the center of the show, it seemed almost inconceivable that we’d ever see him leave. It’s for this reason that “Goodbye, Michael” hits as hard as it does, tugging on the heartstrings of every viewer who’d fallen in love with Michael’s character since The Office’s inaugural season.
Dinner Party (Season 4, Episode 13)
The Office may have perfected the use of cringe comedy in a mainstream TV show, but “Dinner Party” remains an entirely different sort of beast altogether. A full 22 minutes of awkward scene after awkward scene, it’s impossible not to watch this classic Office episode without gritting your teeth in discomfort. Transposing viewers from the usual Dunder Mifflin workplace to the unsettling confines of Michael and Jan’s apartment, “Dinner Party” unfolds like a slow-motion car accident that we’re powerless to stop – yet also perversely unable to look away from.
