10 Most Criminally Overlooked 'The Office' Episodes, Ranked

Over a decade after its final episode was released in 2013, The Office remains one of the most beloved television shows of all time. Its unique cast, daring writing, and absurd yet somehow relatable scenarios long held America in an entertainment chokehold. It proved that audiences responded well to smart, tongue-in-cheek content, and that the canned laughter of yore was no longer comedy’s secret sauce. Consequently, it paved the way for the likes of Modern Family, Parks and Recreation, and Brooklyn Nine-Nine.

Certain episodes of The Office are still quoted and cited today, having found their way to the heart of American culture. Who can forget “Dinner Party,” for instance, or Steve Carell’s emotional farewell to the show in “Goodbye, Michael”? And while there’s something to love in every episode of this transformative show, there are several gems that don’t get anywhere near the love they deserve.

10 "The Fire"

Season 2, Episode 4 (2005)

The Office exemplifies good pacing, particularly in its character development. By the time “The Fire” rolls around, audiences have a solid understanding of the sitcom's eclectic ensemble and the characters’ interpersonal dynamics. However, this episode propels the plot forward by introducing new information and character traits that prove crucial later on. Ryan Howard (played by B. J. Novak), for instance, plays a central role in this story. He expresses his lofty business ambitions and his desire to separate himself personally from the rest of his colleagues—two traits that will come to define his motivations. Pam Beesly (Jenna Fischer) also grows jealous of Jim Halpert’s (John Krasinski) relationship with Katy Moore (Amy Adams), driving home the extent of her feelings for him.

In addition to its role in the show’s storytelling, “The Fire” is also just plain fun. Dwight Schrute (Rainn Wilson) and Angela Martin (Angela Kinsey) provide early laughs as they evacuate the office when the fire alarm goes off, foreshadowing the memorable fire drill in Season 5's “Stress Relief, Part One.” After the office evacuates, most of the employees bond in the parking lot with lighthearted games, offering a then-rare instance total camaraderie.

9 "The Client"

Season 2, Episode 7 (2005)

Part of the comedy—and even the charm—of Michael Scott is his incompetence. He tells bad jokes, holds offensive diversity initiatives, and violates personal and professional boundaries regularly. But while these qualities come not only to define him but to render him lovable, he is afforded even more dimension by his rare moments of clarity.

In "The Client," Jan Levinson (Melora Hardin) doubts Michael just as much as the audience does. Like Jan, we cringe when he proposes meeting an important client (Tim Meadows) at Chili’s and when he procrastinates sales negotiations by focusing on personal talk. However, we discover that Michael has been operating under his own sales tactics all along, establishing rapport with the client before diving into business and closing the sale. In "The Client," we finally understand why Michael was ever promoted to regional manager in the first place, and it’s this prowess, perhaps, that leads Jan to kiss him in the end.

8 "Booze Cruise"

Season 2, Episode 11 (2006)

The concept of “Booze Cruise” is a fun one. Per the episode’s name, Michael takes the office on a booze cruise in the interest of professional development. He predictably causes chaos on board, challenging the authority of the captain and convincing terrified passengers that the vessel is sinking.

“Booze Cruise” also creates interesting nuance in Jim and Pam’s relationship. While Pam’s relationship with her fiancé, Roy Anderson (David Denman), advances, with a wedding date now set, Jim’s relationship with Katy implodes. His handling of the situation sheds light on his capacity for cruelty (he invites her on the cruise and breaks up with her abruptly during the event). Still, “Booze Cruise” leaves viewers rooting for Jim and Pam, from the pair’s painful tension to Michael’s supportive insistence that Jim “never, ever, ever give up.”

7 "The Deposition"

Season 4, Episode 12 (2008)

“The Deposition” is both funny and heartbreaking, inspiring intense pathos for Michael. It also establishes Jan as a villain, what with her manipulation of Michael, violation of his privacy, and betrayal of him as a professional. Facing a deposition with Dunder Mifflin, Jan takes Machiavellian measures to secure financial damages from the company, and both parties drag Michael into the trenches.

By the end of the episode, it’s revealed that Jan gave Michael an unnecessarily negative review and that David Wallace (Andy Buckley) has never taken Michael seriously. Wounded, Michael ultimately maintains his relationship with Dunder Mifflin, deepening his relationship with Wallace and putting a strain on his relationship with Jan that infamously crescendos in "Dinner Party."

6 "Night Out"

Season 4, Episode 15 (2008)

“Night Out” takes Michael and Dwight to New York City in an effort to fit in with Ryan and his new friends. Under the influence of drugs (a detail that goes over Michael and Dwight’s heads), Ryan appears excited to see his former colleagues. The three embark on a night filled with adventures and revelations, including Ryan admitting that he may have a drug addiction.

Ryan is one of the recurring antagonists of The Office, considering his treatment of Kelly Kapoor (Mindy Kaling) and his adversarial relationship with nearly all the protagonists. But “Night Out” lends him more insight. The funny The Office episode sheds light on his insecurities, foreshadowing his impending downfall. It also reveals that, beneath all his bravado, Ryan actually has a heart.

Season 4, Episode 9 (2007)

The magic of “Local Ad” lies in the camaraderie among The Office’s whole ensemble. In the episode, the Scranton branch is tasked with developing a local TV commercial for Dunder Mifflin. The ad is only supposed to include a few seconds of the staff waving at the camera, but the group takes the challenge to a whole new level with an original jingle and animation.

“Local Ad” is also interesting today for its mention of the virtual world "Second Life," which preceded contemporary phenomena such as Meta’s highly publicized failure, the Metaverse. Of course, Dwight is the character immersed in "Second Life." His aspirational avatar becomes the target of one of Jim’s most popular jokes—though Dwight doesn’t stay down long in this episode. In conversation with Andy Bernard (Ed Helms), he discovers that Angela isn’t over him, reigniting his hope.

4 "Andy's Play"

Season 7, Episode 3 (2010)

It’s hard to root for Andy in much of The Office. He behaves snobbishly, has violent outbursts, is a bad boyfriend, and violates boundaries so intensely that even Michael tires of him in the beginning. “Andy’s Play,” however, is one of the few episodes that humanizes him.

In this story, Andy invites the whole office to see his performance in Sweeney Todd. He especially wants secretary Erin Hannon (Ellie Kemper) to attend, hoping that he can win back her affections with his talent. However, in addition to her initial absence (she later shows up, with Jim and Pam’s baby in tow), Andy finds his show torpedoed by Michael’s misbehavior in the audience. In the end, his colleagues cheer him up after the disastrous performance, signaling the moment they—and the audience—finally warm to him.

3 "The Boat"

Season 9, Episode 6 (2012)

“The Boat” features one of the crueler pranks played on Dwight, but it nevertheless constitutes comedy gold. Nellie Bertram (Catherine Tate) poses as a reporter interviewing Dwight as an increasingly ludicrous, high-stakes situation unfolds. The sham ends in Dwight making a hilarious call to a confused David Wallace, and eventually emerging from the break room to universal applause.

Meanwhile, Oscar Martinez (Oscar Nuñez) struggles to keep his affair with Angela’s wife a secret. The situation becomes even more complicated when Kevin Malone (Brian Baumgartner) learns of the affair. This new dynamic between the office’s three accountants sets the stage for an inevitable reveal.

2 "Broke"

Season 5, Episode 25 (2009)

The Michael Scott Paper Company doesn’t last long, but its existence is nevertheless a gem in the history of The Office. Comprised of Ryan, Pam, and, of course, Michael, the tiny Dunder Mifflin rival creates a fascinating dynamic that brings three unlikely characters together. The banter between Pam and Ryan especially draws laughs, with its mutual contempt and clever, underhanded digs.

“Broke” is funniest in its depiction of the new company’s growing pains. The enthusiastic yet incompetent trio makes deliveries in a former church van, works from a closet space, and fails to realize that their competitively low prices mean that they don’t make a profit. Yet, in a miraculous David and Goliath-like twist of fate, they triumph in the end.

1 "Customer Loyalty"

Season 9, Episode 12 (2013)

As the series itself nears completion, “Customer Loyalty” ratchets up the tension. The show's central couple, Jim and Pam, begin to drift apart. And their final blowout alters not only the show's dynamic, but also its narrative methods.

Although the episode begins with a hilarious, office-wide search for a fake treasure that Jim planted years ago, it soon finds Jim growing increasingly stressed—and increasingly frustrated with his wife. In the end, he lashes out at her for failing to record their daughter’s dance recital, leaving her alone and in tears. Then, for the first time in the history of The Office, this mockumentary’s camera crew shatters the fourth wall when a boom operator named Brian (Chris Diamantopoulos) jumps into the frame to console Pam. Based on their interaction, it appears that the two have been close for some time, leading the audience to question the authenticity not only of Pam but of the entire office. This is a controversial moment for fans of Jim and Pam, which is likely why this underrated episode doesn't top many viewers' list of favorites.