NBC started regularly asking for extra-long episodes of The Office in its fourth season (although the first two-parter appeared in season 3), around the time it became one of the most popular shows on television, as a means of selling more airtime to rs who wanted to reach its fan base.
The writers of the show used the longer runtimes to explore story premises in more depth and shed more light on how each character reacted to a given situation. There were 16 two-part installments of The Office in total, with both great and disappointing entries, so we’ve ranked all of them.
Search Committee
In the season 7 finale, the search for Michael Scott’s replacement brought some hilarious cameos from such A-list comic talent as Ray Romano, Jim Carrey, and Will Arnett.
On the whole, though, this episode just highlights the gaping hole left in the series by Steve Carell’s departure.
Classy Christmas
The worst episodes of The Office are the ones where Michael is a real jerk, and in “Classy Christmas,” as his jealousy over Holly’s relationship with A.J. gets the better of him, that is unfortunately the case. Still, the subplot involving Jim and Dwight’s snowball fight is hysterical.
A.A.R.M.
Like most sitcoms, The Office had shown a serious decline in quality by its ninth and final season. But “A.A.R.M.,” the last regular episode before the series finale, interestingly sets up the conclusion of the series.
Jim and Dwight hold try-outs for the “Assistant to the Assistant to the Regional Manager” position, while Andy auditions for a TV talent show and has a breakdown that goes viral. At the end of the episode, Dunder Mifflin’s Scranton employees head down to Poor Richard’s to watch the airing of the in-universe documentary.
A Benihana Christmas
The Office’s second Christmas episode, “A Benihana Christmas,” begins with Michael’s girlfriend Carol breaking up with him. To cheer him up, Andy takes him to Benihana, where they pick up a couple of waitresses to take back to the office Christmas party.
As the series’ first two-part episode, it feels a little stretched, but there’s plenty to enjoy here.
Dunder Mifflin Infinity
As Ryan pioneers a new website for selling Dunder Mifflin’s paper, Michael becomes fearful of technology and decides to go around various clients’ offices with gift baskets. His anti-technological stance leads him to ignore his GPS and drive his car into a lake.
Weight Loss
Some characters go to extreme lengths when corporate offers a few extra vacation days to the branch that can lose the most weight in “Weight Loss.”
The episode points out how problematic such an incentive is, which makes a good springboard for Michael’s relationship with H.R. rep Holly to develop. Plus, this is the episode with Jim’s heartwarming proposal to Pam at a rainy gas station.
The Delivery
In the first half of “The Delivery,” Pam goes into labor, but she’s determined to hold off the delivery until midnight, so her insurance will cover an extra full day. As the office indulges her, Jim frets about the length between her contractions.
In the second half, she has the baby, and she and Jim adjust to life as new parents. Jenna Fischer shines here, particularly in the scene where a panicking Pam tells Jim that she isn’t ready to give birth and he assures her she can do it.
Goodbye, Toby
Michael rejoices in the season 4 finale “Goodbye, Toby,” as Toby is leaving for Costa Rica and Michael quickly falls in love with his replacement, Holly Flax.
From Michael’s “Goodbye Stranger” parody to Andy unwittingly hijacking Jim’s proposal, Toby’s farewell party is filled with great moments.
The Job
In the season 3 finale “The Job,” Michael, Jim, and Karen all head to New York to interview for Jan’s job. A heartfelt note left by Pam reminds Jim who he’s really in love with, so he breaks things off with Karen and asks out Pam in the episode’s adorable final moments.
Stress Relief
Opening with the classic fire drill sequence led by Dwight that culminates in Stanley having a heart attack, “Stress Relief” focuses on Michael’s attempts to alleviate stress in the office.
When he realizes that he is the source of everyone’s stress, he allows his employees to roast him. The roast that the roastee can’t handle is a tired staple of sitcoms, which drags down the second half of this episode, but Steve Carell still plays it brilliantly.