The Office

10 Best Episodes of The Office - Season 3

The Office, which aired on NBC from 2005-2013, is one of the most beloved sitcoms of all time. With a total of 10 seasons, The Office has plenty of great episodes to choose from. But which ones are the best? In this article, we'll rank the best episodes of The Office, according to fans and experts.

The Office follows the everyday lives of office employees in the Scranton, Pennsylvania branch of the fictional Dunder Mifflin Paper Company. The show was created by Greg Daniels and stars Steve Carell, John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer, and Rainn Wilson. Throughout its 10 seasons, The Office has won several awards, including Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Comedy Series, Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series, and Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series.

From classic episodes like "The Dundies" to fan favorites like "The Dinner Party," there's no shortage of great episodes in The Office's 10-season run. So, let's jump right in and rank the best episodes of The Office.

Written by Sophie and last updated on mar 28, 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!

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The Office - S3E7

#15 - Branch Closing (Season 3 - Episode 7)

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 1821 votes.

The Office - S3E13

#14 - The Return (Season 3 - Episode 13)

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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 1649 votes.

The Office - S3E11

#13 - Back from Vacation (Season 3 - Episode 11)

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 1683 votes.

The Office - S3E3

#12 - The Coup (Season 3 - Episode 3)

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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 7.82 from 1932 votes.

The Office - S3E19

#11 - Safety Training (Season 3 - Episode 19)

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 1655 votes.

The Office - S3E20

#10 - Product Recall (Season 3 - Episode 20)

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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 1695 votes.

The Office - S3E12

#9 - Traveling Salesmen (Season 3 - Episode 12)

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 1648 votes.

The Office - S3E8

#8 - The Merger (Season 3 - Episode 8)

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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 7.87 from 1806 votes.

The Office - S3E16

#7 - Business School (Season 3 - Episode 16)

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 1692 votes.

The Office - S3E21

#6 - Women's Appreciation (Season 3 - Episode 21)

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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 1602 votes.

The Office - S3E10

#5 - A Benihana Christmas (Season 3 - Episode 10)

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 7.92 from 1847 votes.

The Office - S3E18

#4 - The Negotiation (Season 3 - Episode 18)

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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 1667 votes.

The Office - S3E22

#3 - Beach Games (Season 3 - Episode 22)

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 8.03 from 1652 votes.

The Office - S3E1

#2 - Gay Witch Hunt (Season 3 - Episode 1)

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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 8.07 from 2039 votes.

The Office - S3E23

#1 - The Job (Season 3 - Episode 23)

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 1677 votes.

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