Pippity Poppity, Gimme Da Zoppidy!
I finally finished watching the U.S. version of The Office (2005-2013) some weeks ago, and it has definitely cemented itself as one of my favorite sitcoms since then. Ranking its very best episodes was a tough job, but after putting a lot of thought into it, I managed.
SPOILER ALERT: Discussing the best episodes of a series like this would be challenging without spoilers, so I will be giving away specific plot points. Do not read this, if you haven't watched/finished the series but might do so someday.
Here are my honorable mentions: Goodbye, Toby (Season 4, Episode 14), Livin' The Dream (Season 9, Episode 21), Michael's Last Dundies (Season 7, Episode 20), Search Committee (Season 7, Episode 24), The Negotiation (Season 3, Episode 18)
15. Gossip (Season 6, Episode 1)
Season 6 opens with an absolutely fantastic premiere, packed with memorable moments and great laughs. From the "PARKOUR!" cold open to the main storyline, where Michael Scott (Steve Carell) spreads a rumor about Stanley (Leslie David Baker) and then tries to make it right by spreading a bunch of false rumors to bury it, Gossip is simply a stone-cold classic. The comedic highlight of the episode for me is Andy (Ed Helms) hearing the false rumor that he himself is gay, and starting to question his sexuality because of it. The line "Michael - am I gay?" is delivered by Helms with absolute perfection.
14. Casino Night (Season 2, Episode 22)
The story of Jim (John Krasinski) and Pam (Jenna Fischer) is without a doubt the greatest love story told on any television series, and this season 2 finale featured one of the most iconic major developments in their romance. While the bulk of the episode is devoted to casino-related shenanigans in the warehouse (including Kevin (Briam Baumgartner) being a poker pro, Michael struggling between two dates and Hooters catering the event), things get very dramatic towards the end.
The scene where Jim tells Pam about his feelings is one of the most vulnerable and real-feeling scenes in the entire series. Moments later, the episode ends with quite the cliffhanger, as the two of them kiss but the aftermath is left open (don't forget, Pam was engaged to Roy (David Denman) at that point). The episode took a bold move in advancing the relationship of Jim and Pam, making for an emotional viewing experience.
13. Dinner Party (Season 4, Episode 9)
If you're wondering why this episode, often considered by fans to be the greatest of the series, isn't higher - I'm guessing it's because the 'cringe humor' that The Office is known for isn't my #1 favorite thing about the series. Don't get me wrong, I love the show's cringiness, but there are other elements in it that I appreciate more, such as the creative writing and character development. It makes sense that for the cringe humor side of the series, Dinner Party is the epitome of what makes The Office great, as the levels of discomfort are off the charts.
We follow Michael and Jan (Melora Hardin) as they host a couples' dinner party to Jim, Pam, Andy and Angela (Angela Kinsey). The toxic nature of Michael and Jan's horrible but well-written relationship unveils itself slowly but surely to a whole new level, through a series of brilliantly built jokes and twists. Gags such as the camera next to the bed and Michael's tiny television, as well as the overall uncomfortable chemistry between him and Jan, make for a viewing experience that is absolutely hellish in the best way possible.
12. Weight Loss (Season 5, Episode 1)
There's a lot to enjoy in this season 5 premiere. Michael has fantastic chemistry with his new love interest Holly (Amy Ryan), the office's involvement in a weight loss competition makes for some decent satire, and the triangle drama between Dwight (Rainn Wilson), Andy and Angela starts to escalate.
But really, there's only one reason for why this episode made it all the way to my top 15, and that is Jim's proposal to Pam. While it isn't as elaborate as some of the most legendary TV proposal scenes (including one from this same series; more on that later), it feels very real and very appropriate for those two characters. The camerawork adds a lot of atmosphere, as the 'documentary crew' is forced to film the proposal from the other side of the road in the rain, therefore making the dialogue hard to comprehend, which makes for a wonderful stylistic choice. Another absolutely epic Jim&Pam moment.
11. Beach Games (Season 3, Episode 22)
The penultimate episode of The Office's greatest season is quite simply loads of fun. Michael takes the crew to the beach under the pretence of having a fun recreational day, while actually he's grooming his potential follower as Regional Manager, assuming he'll get a job in corporate. The episode is filled with hilarious contests between Jim, Stanley and Dwight - while Andy spends a majority of the episode adrift in the nearby lake.
The episode also contains the most defining character moment of Pam Beesly, one of the show's best characters. After struggling with multiple problems throughout the season, she takes a brave walk across a set of hot coals, thus gaining the confidence pour her heart out to her colleagues in a truly breathtaking sequence. From calling them out on not coming to her art show to telling Jim about her true feelings, Pam's speech is a great pinnacle of her well-written development from a shy pushover to a strong and independent thinker.
10. Business School (Season 3, Episode 16)
Business School follows multiple narratives, all of which are above-average even for the show's high standards. Michael is a guest speaker at Ryan's (B.J. Novak) business school, where he gives a hysterically awful speech. Meanwhile, there's a bat in the office, as Dwight goes full Van Helsing to get rid of it. Jim seizes the opportunity to perform one of his greatest pranks - pretending that he was bitten by the bat, and that he's slowly turning into a vampire. Dwight, of course, is completely fooled by Jim's shenanigans.
The episode's definitive high point is the surprisingly heartwarming ending, where Michael saves Pam's day by coming to her art show and being a supportive friend. Throughout the episode, Pam had gotten more and more frustrated about no one showing up or appreciating her art, and the average first-time viewer might have expected Jim to be the one who shows up at the last minute - but the writers thought outside the box. After two and a half seasons of being a jerk (especially to Pam) for most of the time, Michael had a sudden moment of vast empathy and humanity, that would go on to take his character arch into a more and more likable direction. Pam's tearful embrace of Michael after he compliments her art is one of the sweetest moments in the show's nine-season run.
9. A.A.R.M. (Season 9, Episode 22)
The second-last episode of the entire series is so filled with closure that it would've worked as a series finale - although the one after it was even better. There is a lot going on in A.A.R.M., as character archs are coming to their sweet closing points and long-term storylines are resolved. Jim proves his love for Pam by asking the documentary crew to prepare a video montage of their greatest moments together, Dwight realizes with some help from Jim that he's in love with Angela and proposes to her, and the employees gather to watch the first episode of the documentary about their lives as it is finally released. It's all very beautiful.
Also, Jim convincing Dwight to hire himself as "Assistant to Assistant to the Regional Manager", thus becoming an assistant to Jim despite also being Jim's boss, is one of his most amusing pranks.
8. Company Picnic (Season 5, Episode 26)
The eventful finale of season 5 is filled with cringe, laughs and tears - the perfect Office combination. The cringe comes from the fantastically built scene where Michael and Holly are doing a skit at Dunder Mifflin's company picnic and accidentally reveal that the Buffalo branch is closing, before Buffalo's employees have heard about it. Hard to watch, but absolute comedy gold. The more conventional laughs come from the various hijinks going on during the picnic, especially the high-stakes volleyball match between the Scranton branch and corporate.
And the tears? That final scene, where Jim and Pam find out that Pam is pregnant. It is an unexpected moment, and the acting performances really sell it. The scene where Jim exits the room, looks at the camera in joyful disbelief, and then returns to embrace his wife, is the best acting I've seen from Krasisnski (very much including his more serious performance in the movie A Quiet Place (2018)).
7. Gay Witch Hunt (Season 3, Episode 1)
The Office has exceptionally many great season premieres, but this one towers above the rest. First of all, the story is taken in a very intriguing direction, as Jim transfers to the Stamford branch of Dunder Mifflin, beginning a multi-episode story arch that follows two different branches until they eventually merge. This leads to the fantastic introductions to Karen (Rashida Jones) and Andy Bernard, who would both go on to make the series a lot better with their presence. Following Jim in this new environment is fascinating, although it is heartbreaking to see Pam trying to make do without his company (it's the little things, such as her glance at Ryan when Michael says something dumb and Ryan not realizing what's funny about it, that really get me).
Also, the episode deals with homophobia in an absolutely brilliant manner. After Michael outs Oscar (Oscar Nunez) as gay, he tries to salvage the situation with an awareness-themed seminar, only making things worse as usual. Much of the episode's dialogue is a pitch-perfect satire of homophobic attitudes, and the combination of cringe comedy and real-life lessons really hits a sweet spot. Also, the episode features what is certainly one of the most memorable kisses in the series, if not the most romantic.
6. Garage Sale (Season 7, Episode 18)
Despite appearing in a relatively small amount of episodes, Holly Flax is one of the show's better characters, and one of the main reasons is that she was written to be the perfect love interest for Michael Scott - and in that they succeeded, thus creating one of the best romances in a series full of great (and terrible) romances. Their epic love story culminates in Garage Sale, as Michael proposes to Holly in a truly spectacular sequence. From the tour of the most important locations of their relationship and the hilarious line of challenging proposals from other employees as a psychological test, to the candle-lit room and the sprinkler going off to create an atmospheric happy accident, the engagement scene is the stuff of legends.
This is also the episode that begins the endgame for Michael's character arch. Steve Carell was leaving the series, but not before his character was written out in the best way possible. While his exit would actually happen a few episodes later (more on that ahead), Garage Sale is where it started: Holly decides to move to Colorado to take care of her parents, and Michael decides to move with her, thus leaving his Dunder Mifflin job behind. It's a huge step for the series, and they bring it about magnificently - nothing proves Michael's love for Holly quite as much as the fact that he was willing to let go of his other great love, Dunder Mifflin.
5. The Job (Season 3, Episode 23)
The two-part finale of season 3 has a lot going on; following the events of Beach Games, several of the main characters are now interviewing for the same job at corporate, and viewers and characters alike are at the edge of their seats concerning who will get it. I just love that they ended up going with Ryan the temp out of the blue, as this decision was amusing at the time but also led to one hell of a curveball in his character arch in the next season. Meanwhile, Dwight enjoys his time as acting manager, as Michael is so sure of getting the job that he already passes the torch of Regional Manager to his loyal Assistant (to the) Regional Manager.
The Job also contains the hands-down greatest talking head interview segment of the series, which is also one of the most quintessential Jim&Pam moments. When the scene takes place, the viewer doesn't yet know what exactly Jim has done concerning the job interview, his relationship with Karen and his feelings for Pam. The answer is revealed as Pam is talking to the cameras, when the interview is suddenly interrupted by Jim who enters the room and asks Pam out. Jenna Fischer's acting is phenomenal, as her facial expression after Jim leaves is one the most earnest and realistic expressions of sheer joy that I've seen from any actor. A truly epic turning point for their relationship.
4. Stress Relief (Season 5, Episode 13)
The Office is filled with absolutely fantastic cold opens - Kevin's famous chili, the 'Asian Jim' prank and the musical number in the season 7 premiere to name a few. But none of them hold a candle to Dwight's fire drill in Stress Relief, probably the best cold open from any comedy series. The sheer escalation of well-directed panic and chaos is a thing to behold, as the situation gets worse and worse and Dwight maintains his cocky attitude, blissfully unaware of how over-the-line his drill is.
The rest of the episode is pretty great as well, as the fire drill leads to Stanley having a heart attack, thus leading to Michael dealing with workplace stress. Upon realizing that he is the main cause for his employees' stress, Michael tries to save the day by holding a 'celebrity roast' of himself in the warehouse, which leads to a variety of hilarious moments. The ending, where Michael gets back at everyone by roasting them and Stanley cracks up in laughter, is a hysterical and strangely sweet moment, perfect for wrapping up this extremely memorable two-parter.
3. Goodbye, Michael (Season 7, Episode 21)
One may argue that Michael's departure hurt the series, as seasons 8 and 9 weren't among the show's strongest. But with the situation being that Steve Carell wanted to leave the show, they sure did the best possible job in writing him out. Already his second-last episode Michael's Last Dundies was quite a tear-jerker, as the characters were gearing up for their boss's departure, but that was nothing compared to the emotional powerhouse that Goodbye, Michael was.
Michael accomplishes the perfect set of goodbyes by leaving a day earlier than his employees were expecting, and having a subtle but special moment with each of his employees during his actual final day. He makes things right with Dwight through a game of paintball, he gets a sweet going-away present from Phyllis, and so on. Towards the end, there are several moments bound to move you to tears, including Creed Bratton's (Creed Bratton) "See you tomorrow, boss!" and Jim's honest conversation with Michael about what a good boss he was.
What really gets me is the final airport scene, where Pam rushes to hug Michael and say her goodbye. The friendship between the two of them had grown into a beautiful thing during the later seasons, and the style choice of the dialogue not being audible (because Michael already handed his mic back to the documentary crew) adds emotional value to the scene. What an exit.
2. Niagara, Parts 1&2 (Season 6, Episodes 4-5)
The first part of Jim and Pam's iconic wedding episode is filled with hilarious shenanigans - Kevin loses his shoes, Jim accidentally reveals Pam's pregnancy to everyone, and Michael generally acts like himself. It's a bunch of fun. Towards the end of the second part, things take a turn for the emotional, and by 'emotional' I mean 'I cried like a baby'. Even in its most touching parts, The Office often keeps a tongue-in-cheek humorous approach, and thus it is appropriate that we cut between silly imagery of Jim & Pam's colleagues doing their wedding dance, and the couple getting actually married beforehand in a secret boat ceremony.
As I mentioned earlier, the love story between Jim and Pam is television's greatest, and definitely one of the strongest aspects in the whole series. That absolutely culminates in Niagara, as the scenery of the two characters running off and staring lovingly at each other while getting married on the boat is some of the most heart-warming material you'll find on any TV series. Jim's facial expressions have always been the backbone of the show's humor, and while they often take place in awkward and cringy situations, my #1 favorite instance of Jim looking at the camera is when he does so while holding his new wife in his arms, smiling a magnificently genuine smile that really says it all.
1. Finale (Season 9, Episode 23)
They saved the best for last. While the second-last episode already felt like a finale in its own right, Finale is a grandiose epilogue that picks up a year later to tie the knot - both in the sense of Dwight and Angela getting married, and in every major character getting a follow-up on their situation and being written out in the perfect way. Seriously, from Kevin becoming the owner of the local bar and Erin (Ellie Kemper) reuniting with her biological parents, to Dwight settling in as Regional Manager and Jim&Pam moving to Austin so that Jim can continue his work with his company, every character gets the poetic and fitting ending they deserve. Even Ryan and Kelly (Mindy Kaling), who were absolutely chaotic together, running off together and leaving Ryan's baby behind feels strangely appropriate for the pair of self-centered and toxic characters that they always were.
And then there's Michael. The way he returns at the end of the finale's first half is pitch-perfect, between Jim's positive "best prank ever" and Michael's well-timed "that's what she said" joke. He doesn't have much dialogue, which is understandable as the episode was mainly about sending off the characters whose archs had been built throughout the final season, but just seeing him mingling with the employees once more is very satisfying.
The melancholic song that Creed plays for his colleagues is strangely appropriate - at that point, the viewer (at least this viewer) feels a strange of mix of warm happiness due to how good the series and its ending have been, and sadness for the series being very nearly over. The final set of character interviews on top of it (especially Pam's, which brilliantly sums the whole series up) are emotional in a specific way that feels perfect for the series - while I'm the sort of viewer who is moved to tears quite frequently, the last moments of the last episode didn't make me cry. They made me sigh contently and smile, feeling grateful for seeing this series and ready to move on. And that is the best thing that the series finale of a great sitcom can accomplish.
Thank you for reading! Tune in next week for my ranking of Stanley Kubrick's movies.
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