The Office is an American television sitcom, originally aired on NBC, that follows the lives of employees at Dunder Mifflin Paper Company in Scranton, Pennsylvania. It was first aired on March 24, 2005 and the show has since gone on to have 10 seasons. The show has been widely praised for its witty writing and hilarious characters, receiving a multitude of awards and nominations.
Despite the show's success, there is no doubt that it has had its fair share of bad episodes. Here we will take a look at the worst and least liked episodes as ranked by fans, critics, and viewers.
So let's dive right in and explore the worst episodes of The Office, and see why they didn't live up to the show's usual high standards.
Written by Sophie and last updated on Nov 22, 2024.
PS: The following content contains spoilers!
PPS: I will admit that parts of this page was written with the help of AI - it makes my work so much easier to not start from a blank page!
Jan told Michael that the board had voted to close the Scranton branch. There would be a select group of employees that would get a severance package; the others would be going to work at the Stamford branch. She informed Michael that he would be one who would get a severance package.
The episode was rated 7,81 from 1895 votes.
Karen and Jim had their first big fight in the relationship. Karen had been living in a hotel since taking her job in Scranton. When she decided to live next door to Jim, he took it as the next step to living together and that was too fast. She was not pleased with his response.
The episode was rated 7,81 from 1758 votes.
Since Dwight's departure, Andy had been clinging to Michael. Andy's antics had been wearing very thin on his co-workers. In fact, Andy left Jim actually wishing Dwight would come back.
The episode was rated 7,81 from 1709 votes.
Michael had made it a point to have Movie Monday every week. He called the office into the conference room to watch a 30-minute installment of Varsity Blues, but Jan made an unexpected visit and did not like what she saw.
The episode was rated 7,81 from 2017 votes.
Andy was back to work, fresh from anger management training. He insisted on being called Drew, even though Jim continued to call him Andy just to toy with him. Meanwhile, Dwight had decided to shun Andy for the next three years.
The episode was rated 7,83 from 1724 votes.
Michael was in crisis mode at Dunder-Mifflin when a disgruntled employee at the paper mill put an obscene watermark on one of their most popular orders of paper. Michael called the staff into a meeting and pointed the blame on Creed, who was responsible for quality assurance at the paper mill and blew it off.
The episode was rated 7,83 from 1762 votes.
Michael decided to send his employees out into the field for sales calls. He paired himself up with Andy. He let the veterans choose who they wanted their partners to be. Phyllis chose Karen, Stanley chose Ryan and that left Jim and Dwight paired together. This wasn't the first time Dwight and Jim had done sales calls together.
The episode was rated 7,85 from 1723 votes.
The Scranton branch was getting ready for their new employees to arrive in from the defunct Stamford branch. Pam was especially excited to be reunited with Jim. While, Michael was most concerned with impressing his new staff.
The episode was rated 7,86 from 1879 votes.
Roy stopped by Pam's desk to let her know how excited he was to see her art show. She reminded him that it was just a small show being put on by her art class. Pam later admitted she was very happy she was back together with Roy because it showed maturity. Jim feigns indifference to the reconciliation.
The episode was rated 7,87 from 1759 votes.
Phyllis walked into the office looking pale and shocked. A concerned staff surrounded her for comfort. She told them she had been flashed in the parking lot. Jim alerted the police and they already had three other incidents of flashing in the area. Michael didn't think much of it, because it was Phyllis.
The episode was rated 7,91 from 1668 votes.
Michael was in the holiday spirit and couldn't wait to share in it with his girlfriend, Carol. He had bought two tickets to paradise, hoping to whisk her away on a romantic vacation to Jamaica. Carol came by the office early to have a talk with Michael and it didn't go well.
The episode was rated 7,91 from 1923 votes.
In "The Negotiation" episode of The Office, tensions reach a boiling point when Roy confronts Jim, seeking revenge for past transgressions. Roy's anger escalates as he charges towards Jim, but Dwight quickly intervenes with a surprise attack of his own - pepper spray. Chaos ensues as Dwight's aim goes awry, leaving everyone in the vicinity feeling the burn.
Dwight, always prepared for any situation, comically reflects on his years of carrying pepper spray to protect himself and his colleagues. Finally, his foresight pays off, leaving him with the last laugh. This episode is guaranteed to have you in stitches, especially with Michael's accidental cross-dressing adding to the hilarity.
Interestingly, some viewers have noticed a discrepancy in the runtime of this episode. While it originally aired as a supersized episode, some streaming platforms, like Prime in the UK, have a shorter 21-minute version. The reason behind this edit remains a mystery, as there is limited information available. So, if you're planning to watch "The Negotiation," make sure to check the runtime and don't miss out on any memorable scenes.
The episode was rated 7,99 from 1737 votes.
The Office episode "Beach Games" is an epic episode that follows Michael as he gets the surprise of a lifetime with a call from Corporate asking him to interview for a position. With his newfound excitement, Michael also has to plan a beach day outing with the crew. He has to remind Toby that someone has to stay in the office, which elicits a few laughs.
The episode is full of comedic moments, like Stanley's moodiness, and a well-done performance by Pam. Fans love the episode for its epicness and the laughs it brings. It's the perfect blend of serious and lighthearted moments. It's a great episode that shows why The Office is so beloved and enjoyable to watch.
The episode was rated 8,04 from 1718 votes.
In the episode "Gay Witch Hunt" of The Office, Michael finds out that Oscar is gay and is concerned about how to behave around him. He then enlists Dwight to help him figure out who else in the office is homosexual. The episode is filled with many hilarious moments, most notably Ryan's facial expression, which is sure to make anyone laugh out loud. Michael's quote, "The company has made it my responsibility today to put an end to 100,000 years of being weirded out by gays" is not only funny but also a reflection of how uncomfortable people are with the topic of homosexuality. This episode is sure to leave viewers feeling uncomfortable yet entertained.
The episode was rated 8,06 from 2125 votes.
In the episode "The Job" of The Office, Jim and Pam have a conversation after her passionate speech at Beach Day and realize how much they missed their friendship. Pam is pleased that it only took her three years to find the courage to say what she was feeling. Michael remarks that Pam's advice was good, but Jan's was bigger.
Many viewers were happy with the episode's ending, as Jim and Pam's relationship is restored, but Karen is still in the picture. Despite Karen being a cute addition to the show, Jim just couldn't let her go, a situation many viewers could relate to. It was an amazingly well-written episode with a plot twist that left viewers surprised and satisfied.
The episode was rated 8,29 from 1751 votes.
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