10 Best Episodes of ‘The Office’

There are plenty of reasons why ‘The Office’ still pulls new viewers every year. Across nine seasons the series mixed everyday workplace chaos with long running arcs that shaped the relationships inside Dunder Mifflin. The result is a run of standout half hours that are packed with quotable lines, big story turns, and memorable cold opens that keep people rewatching.

This list gathers ten episodes that defined what made ‘The Office’ work so well. Each entry includes where it falls in the series and the key story beats that moved the larger narrative forward. If you are diving back in or checking out specific chapters for the first time, these episodes show how the Scranton branch evolved from a small sales team into a family with careers, marriages, and goodbyes that landed with real impact.

The Dinner Party

Season 4 Episode 9 places Michael and Jan in a cramped condo as they host Jim, Pam, Andy, and Angela. The evening starts with a tour of the home and a look at Jan’s candle venture and Michael’s tiny plasma TV before shifting into a tense meal where personal and professional lives collide at the dining table. Dwight arrives later with his former babysitter as his date which adds a new layer to the already crowded night.

The episode documents how Michael and Jan’s relationship affects the office the next day. It captures the fallout that reaches HR, the sales team, and corporate, and it ties back to earlier conflicts from Season 3 while setting up future changes in leadership and morale around the branch.

Stress Relief

Season 5 runs a two part story that opens with a chaotic fire drill orchestrated by Dwight. The scramble through the office and the aftermath lead corporate to bring in a safety presentation. Michael follows that with a roast intended to lift spirits after a rough morning and to show corporate that the branch can still function as a team.

The episode also moves the Jim and Pam thread along with a major moment during a movie screening in the conference room. It highlights how managerial decisions can ripple through the staff and it references earlier pranks and training sessions while preparing the ground for later changes in leadership style at Scranton.

Casino Night

Season 2 Episode 22 turns the warehouse into a charity casino event organized by Michael. The night brings together employees, clients, and friends in a setting that lets sales rivalries play out at poker tables and at the raffle desk. Michael accidentally invites two dates which sets up an HR follow up that continues into the next season.

The episode closes the season with a turning point for Jim and Pam that affects their coworkers and their immediate plans at the office. It marks a transition into Season 3 by raising stakes for transfers and promotions and by confirming how after hours events can reshape the team dynamic the next day.

The Injury

Season 2 Episode 12 begins when Michael burns his foot on a George Foreman Grill and expects full support from the staff. Dwight experiences a concussion early in the morning which leads to unusual behavior during calls and meetings. Jim and Pam manage the day while trying to keep sales moving amid medical distractions.

The story provides new details about workplace safety procedures and HR protocols for injuries on company property. It also advances the Jim and Dwight relationship by showing how a medical incident temporarily changes their usual prank and counterprank rhythm and it introduces a care plan that gets referenced later in the season.

Niagara

Season 6 airs the two part wedding for Jim and Pam with the office traveling to Niagara Falls. The couple plans a simple ceremony that grows complicated as coworkers bring side stories, secret relationships, and last minute issues to the hotel and the church. Michael and Dwight navigate lodging, plus Andy deals with an injury that threatens his role in the festivities.

The episode records how a branch wide trip impacts sales coverage back in Scranton and how travel plans, per diem rules, and HR guidelines apply during off site events. It also updates family ties for the Halperts and folds those changes into future episodes that feature childcare, commuting, and time off requests at work.

Goodbye, Michael

Season 7 Episode 22 follows Michael as he prepares to leave Scranton for Colorado. He schedules one on one moments with each member of his team while trying to keep the exact timing of his departure quiet. The day includes handing off duties, updating contact lists, and closing out open sales accounts.

The episode documents how corporate plans for a leadership transition with interim coverage, interviews, and adjustments to reporting lines. It sets up the search for a new regional manager and outlines how the branch tracks morale and performance during a change at the top, which becomes a key thread for the remainder of the season.

Beach Games

Season 3 Episode 23 takes the staff to a lakeside retreat where Michael runs a series of contests to evaluate potential successors. Team members compete in physical and problem solving challenges while corporate business continues by phone. Pam uses the day to push past earlier hesitations about speaking up and volunteering ideas.

The events on the beach feed directly into later interviews for regional manager and into transfers that reshape the sales floor. The episode also provides a clear timeline from the retreat back to Scranton where results of the games inform scheduling, travel decisions, and meetings that affect the finale of the season.

Threat Level Midnight

Season 7 Episode 17 reveals Michael’s completed action movie, titled ‘Threat Level Midnight’, which he filmed over several years with help from coworkers. The office watches the full cut in the conference room, and the screening features returns of former employees and locations that appeared across earlier seasons.

The episode stitches together footage shot during past arcs and connects cameo appearances with character departures and promotions. It functions as a catalog of in universe references that track back to Season 2 and it gives a timeline for when certain characters were available to film, which helps map their comings and goings in ‘The Office’.

The Dundies

Season 2 Episode 1 brings back the annual awards night at Chili’s organized by Michael. The branch attends as a group and balances public presentations with the need to maintain professional behavior in a public space. Dwight sets up sound and lighting, Ryan takes notes for temp duties, and HR keeps an eye on guidelines for company events.

This season opener establishes new norms for how the show uses after hours gatherings to advance workplace stories. It introduces recurring award categories that reappear in later seasons and it provides context for how the Scranton branch handles public relations, expense reporting, and transportation after a company sponsored night out.

Safety Training

Season 3 Episode 20 splits the day between the warehouse and the upstairs office. Darryl leads a session on heavy equipment safety while Michael responds with his own seminar about office hazards. Jim and Pam coordinate logistics for the training materials and help keep the schedule on track for department coverage.

The episode clarifies OSHA minded practices at Dunder Mifflin and shows how safety briefings affect shipping timelines and call availability. It also ties into future episodes that reference equipment certifications, floor markings, and rules for visitors, which continue to shape how the warehouse and sales teams work together.

Share your picks for the best ‘The Office’ episodes in the comments and let us know which moments you always rewatch.