Another Top 10 The Office Episodes
#10: “The Injury”
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We’d love to wake up to the smell of crispy bacon, too, but not enough to risk making the same mistake as Michael Scott. When Michael burns himself by stepping on his George Foreman grill, he calls for someone to pick him up, begging his staff to not send Dwight over. Sure enough, Dwight bolts out the door and winds up crashing his car when exiting the parking lot. Michael wastes the rest of the episode trying to get his employees to take his injury more seriously while Dwight suffers a severe concussion. Along with its ridiculous premise, “The Injury” boasts some hilarious writing and performances - the moment when Dwight is sent to the hospital being particularly memorable.
#9: “Scott’s Tots”
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When he finds out that he’s ineligible for Employee of the Month, you’d think Michael’s day couldn’t get any worse. And yet, fate always finds a way. Turns out Michael promised a class that he’d pay for their college tuition after they finished high school. When he returns to the school, he finds that the school has made “Scott’s Tots” shirts, and the class makes a big “thank you” presentation. The whole episode is hilariously awkward, offering up arguably some of the series’ most uncomfortable moments, but what makes it more special is Michael’s touching conversation with Erin on their way back to the office. “Hey, Mr. Scott! Whatcha gonna do? Whatcha gonna do? Make our dreams come true!” Or not!
#8: “A Benihana Christmas”
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Of all the Christmas specials “The Office” has had, “A Benihana Christmas” is the one that tends to resonate most with viewers. While Andy tries to help Michael cope with his breakup, Pam and Karen get in a Christmas party war with Angela. Most of the episode is spent in conflict, but the ending perfectly conveys the spirit of Christmas without being condescending about it. Eventually, the two parties merge, and everyone gets drunk off of margaritas and singing karaoke. The lesson here, kids, is that Christmas is a time to put aside differences and find common ground. That… and a time for wacky workplace hijinks.
#7: “Branch Wars”
When he finds out Stanley is being poached by Dunder Mifflin’s Utica branch, Michael tries to form a plan to get back at Karen. (Yes, the same Karen that Jim used to date.) He and Dwight end up tricking Jim into joining them, and the trio head to Utica to sabotage their operations. While it was (somewhat) heartwarming to see Michael go to desperate measures to keep an employee, this episode shed a light on a side of Jim we rarely got to see. The way he handles his unintended reunion with Karen shows even Scranton’s lovable prankster is capable of being genuinely inconsiderate, and it reflected a change in his attitude we’d see evolve later on.
#6: “Golden Ticket”
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In an effort to boost marketing, Michael takes a page from Willy Wonka and hides five golden tickets in various shipments. Since this is Michael we’re talking about, this was of course done without consulting anyone in marketing. However, when the office discovers their biggest client received all five tickets, the whole stunt blows up in Michael’s face. The branch faces a possible shutdown, and Michael tries to get Dwight to take the fall...which also blows up in his face. Between Michael’s paranoia-fueled schemes and the KGB knock-knock jokes, “Golden Ticket” quickly distinguished one of the most memorable episodes of Season Five.
#5: “The Deposition”
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In this season four episode, Michael finds himself having to testify on behalf of his girlfriend and former boss Jan as she plans to sue Dunder Mifflin for “patterns of disrespect and inappropriate behaviors”. While “The Deposition” has its shares of laughs (especially given the awkward circumstances), it makes the list for how crucial it ended up being in the story. During the testimony, Michael discovers Jan is suing the company for the wrong reasons and that she has used him for her own personal gain. Somber and heartbreaking, “The Deposition” was a turning point for not just Michael and Jan’s relationship, but also arguably the show as a whole.
#4: “Did I Stutter?”
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This episode can be hard to watch, but it’s undeniably a great 22 minutes of television. During a meeting, Michael tries to get everyone to come up with ways to re-energize the office, pressuring an uncaring Stanley to share his thoughts. When he pushes a little too hard however, he gets an unexpected response from usually indifferent salesman. Dwight tries to convince Michael to initiate his emergency plan, but really, who would fall for that? “Did I Stutter” was unique in how it intensified Michael and Stanley’s relationship and gave a relatively quiet character a moment in the spotlight. It was also one of the very few occasions where Michael had to set aside his childish behavior to really exercise his authority.
#3: “Sexual Harassment”
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This episode is wrong on so many levels, and we mean that in a “hilariously shocking” sort of way. When an old friend comes to visit Michael and starts spouting misogynistic remarks, the manager is forced to go through multiple sessions regarding Dunder Mifflin’s sexual harassment policies. Clearly, he doesn’t take this stuff seriously as he throws a small pizza party with the warehouse staff while they watch an outdated video discussing the topic. Mining Michael’s inability to accept criticism for all its worth, this episode is both insightful and hilarious, offering plenty of replay value for diehard fans.
#2: “The Convict”
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Upon discovering Martin’s criminal record, the office becomes interested in knowing what the ex-convict did to get thrown in jail. This ultimately leads to a conflict between Michael and his staff as he tries to convince them that being in the office is more fun than being in prison. Of course, we all know why “The Convict” makes the list; it gave birth to one of the best bits in the show’s history. To try and scare his employees, Michael puts on his “Prison Mike” persona and tells them what life in prison is REALLY like… at least according to television and movies. Before we reveal our top pick, here are a few Honorable Mentions… “Niagara” “Garden Party” “Goodbye, Toby” “The Duel” “Cafe Disco”
#1: “The Dundies”
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Every year, Michael hosts a branch-wide awards show he dubs “The Dundies”. Unfortunately, his budget for this frivolous event has been pulled by Jan, and he is now forced to put on the event with minimal funds. What puts this episode at the top of the list is the shift in the show’s tone. Whereas most of season one portrays the characters in a bit of a mean-spirited light, the season two premiere promised a series with more heart moving forward. When Michael is ridiculed by bar patrons for his terrible singing, his colleagues step up and encourage him to continue the show. Simply put, “The Dundies” was a precedent for what “The Office” would become - funny, absurd and cringey, but ultimately human.
