Every The Office Christmas Episode, Ranked

by

As a devoted fan of The Office, I must say that each holiday episode holds a special place in my heart. However, if I were to pick my top three, it would be a difficult task indeed, much like choosing between my favorite child (I don’t have children, but you get the point).

The original version of this article came out on December 20, 2018. We’re bringing it back to you again, celebrating the festive mood!

In its nine-season span, The Office provided an abundance of entertainment. It featured ongoing jokes like pranks, “that’s what she said,” and Fire Guy, many of which remain hilarious today. One of the most memorable recurring elements is the Dunder Mifflin annual Christmas party. The Party Planning Committee always pulled out all the stops with unique themes, decorations, and treats to make the event unforgettable. The boss would don a Santa suit, employees would exchange presents, and there was always someone who overindulged in holiday cheer – it wasn’t just Meredith every time. These festive antics resulted in some of the show’s funniest and most beloved episodes, each one remarkable in its own way.

It’s worth noting that there are just seven delightful episodes of the show Office set during Christmas. The first season, starting in March, had only six episodes in total and was not part of these festive installments. Similarly, season four was cut short due to the 2007-2008 Writers Guild of America strike and didn’t contribute any Christmas episodes.

If there were no Christmas parties on your schedule this year, feel free to join the festivities at Scranton’s not-too-shabby paper company, a place that’s always ready for you on Netflix. And even if you have received party invitations, consider staying in and streaming these instead. Here are some of the best Christmas episodes from The Office, listed based on their greatness.

7. “Christmas Wishes” (Season 8, 2011)

In this Christmas special without Michael Scott, his absence is profoundly noticed. The timid new boss, Andy, strives to bring cheer to his team members. Donning a Santa suit, he tries to grant everyone’s holiday dreams, albeit many of them raising eyebrows. Yet, being Andy, he opts for questionable taste rather than risk displeasing anyone. He gifts Dwight with an acre of lunar land; offers Meredith a designated driver role, effectively giving her carte blanche to drink excessively. Erin’s Christmas wish? A clean break from Andy’s new girlfriend, Jessica. Inebriated, Erin accepts a ride home from the recently single James Spader’s character, Robert California. While he doesn’t make advances towards her, his motives seem dubious and border on inappropriate #MeToo scenarios.

As Jim and Dwight continue to play pranks on each other, their colleagues, including Cathy, grow tired of the antics. Once a popular aspect of the show, these tricks have lost their luster by season eight due to a lack of fresh ideas. It’s become clear that they excel when collaborating, rather than competing against one another.

In summary, the episode carries a somber tone rather than one of merriment. Regrettably, overindulgence at the Christmas party occurs, yet humor fades when it crosses into inappropriate #MeToo boundaries. Particularly striking is Andy’s intervention: “Mistletoe doesn’t justify sexual misconduct,” he cautions. The situation is almost amusing, but its stark reality overshadows any potential hilarity.

6. “Secret Santa” (Season 6, 2009)

It’s well-known that Michael is quite immature at times, and this immaturity can sometimes turn sour, making for an uncomfortable spectacle. During this particular episode, he remains stuck in this overly childish state due to Jim and Dwight being chosen as the Party Planning Committee heads, who then allow Phyllis to dress up as Santa for the Christmas party. This triggers Michael, leading him to act out. Envious, he decides to don the Santa suit himself, attempting to get people to sit on his lap. Eventually, in a fit of frustration, he throws his Santa hat into the punch bowl.

If Michael behaves in an unpleasant manner, he should at least provide amusing one-liners, yet the humor often misses the mark. However, he does share one of the most underappreciated lines from all nine seasons: “When you need my help because I’m ruining everything, don’t look at me.” Unfortunately, the dialogue is filled with jokes about weight, sexist remarks, and awkward scenes that might not air nowadays. Michael even refers to Phyllis as “Tranny Claus,” which is in poor taste. By the time David Wallace announces their jobs are secure despite the company sale, I’ve lost interest. This Christmas episode is the most depressing of the entire series, contrary to the cheerful vibe we anticipate from holiday television. The subplot of Andy giving Erin the 12 Days of Christmas for Secret Santa is amusing, but it doesn’t significantly improve the episode’s ranking.

5. “Dwight Christmas” (Season 9, 2012)

It’s possible that you might think the last Office Christmas episode would be the least favorite, given that it lacks Michael, Ryan, and Kelly. However, considering it’s the series’ seventh Christmas episode in nine seasons, it manages to stand on its own better than anticipated. In their final festive gathering, Phyllis playfully “forgets” to organize a Christmas party as a means of increasing her leverage over Angela, whom she suspects is having an affair with Dwight. Meanwhile, Darryl gets so intoxicated that he falls onto the food table, and Nellie kisses Toby to silence his chatter about the Scranton Strangler.

However, as the episode title hints, it’s Dwight who truly shines. When the office is left without a Christmas party, he takes charge and organizes a genuine Pennsylvania Dutch-themed celebration. He even dons the costume of Belsnickel, a real figure from German folklore resembling Saint Nicholas, not a character invented by the writers. Thus, Dwight offers everyone generous helpings of glühwein (a traditional German mulled wine), hasenpfeffer (a stew made from rabbit, popular in Germany), and hog maw (a dish consisting of a stuffed pig’s stomach).

As a die-hard fan here, let me share my thoughts on this: While I’m delighted to witness Dwight at his best, it’s a bittersweet experience dealing with Jim and Pam at their lowest points. You see, Jim’s about to embark on a new journey in Philadelphia, and Pam isn’t exactly enthusiastic about the idea of moving. But surprisingly, it’s Dwight who seems to bridge the gap between them.

4. “Classy Christmas” (Season 7, 2010)

In this twofold tale, it’s not just your typical Christmas special; it also signifies Holly’s (temporary) comeback to Dunder Mifflin. The narrative unfolds on the morning of the office Christmas celebration, and the tension is remarkably low: The workspace is festively adorned, Gabe is distributing Sabre’s corporate Christmas presents, and Michael dons a Santa suit. There isn’t a hint of discontent among them all. Even Stanley, the grumpiest of them all, seems jovial. The situation is almost overly idyllic, prompting Michael to yearn for some excitement. He gets his wish in abundance: Toby declares he’ll be taking a leave due to jury duty on a significant case, and corporate will be sending Holly as his stand-in.

The news leaves Michael reeling, causing him to abruptly cancel Pam’s Christmas party and request a redo to coordinate with Holly’s arrival. Determined to make an impression, he transforms the event into a sophisticated Christmas soiree, replacing garish decorations with refined ones, opting for a live bassist instead of CDs, and swapping his Santa suit for a velvet smoking jacket. However, when Holly arrives, things don’t go exactly as Michael had envisioned; there’s one unexpected detail: she’s still dating AJ. We discover that Holly is eager to advance their relationship, but AJ is hesitant to commit. In typical Kelly fashion, she encourages Holly to give him an ultimatum: if he doesn’t propose by the end of the year (considering it’s already December), their relationship will be over.

In a supportive manner, the long-time admirer of Michael and Holly, Pam, consoles Michael during his tough times by sharing about the ultimatum. She motivates him yet again to remain patient. Michael’s affection for Holly drives him to act impulsively. With her around, he thrives; apart from her, he feels lonely, dejected, and envious – feelings amplified to maximum levels in this particular episode. It seems like a formula for chaos, but somehow, it manages to work. I challenge you not to wish for them to be together.

3. “Moroccan Christmas” (Season 5, 2008)

In this particular episode, it excels as both the top choice for a captivating Christmas cold open and the most hilarious Christmas prank. The scene involves Dwight tumbling into a ‘gift-wrapped’ setup (which turns out to be a trick by Jim) that was supposed to represent his desk. Additionally, one of the most amusing subplots for Christmas unfolds as Dwight attempts to profit from the popular Princess Unicorn dolls, charging desperate parents an excessive price for them.

In simpler terms, this episode of “The Office” Christmas special is particularly controversial due to its strong focus on Meredith’s struggle with alcohol. The trouble begins when Michael creates a drink called “One of Everything,” a mix of Scotch, absinthe, rum, gin, vermouth, triple sec, and Splenda. Overindulging in this potent concoction, Meredith becomes so intoxicated that she accidentally sets her hair on fire while dancing. The festive Moroccan-themed party takes an unexpected turn as it transforms into an intervention. Despite Meredith’s denial of being an alcoholic, Michael persists and even goes as far as tricking her into his car, claiming they’re going to a bar. Instead, he tries to admit her into rehab, forcibly dragging her into the facility. He eventually gives up when a police officer intervenes.

The story reaches an even more uncomfortable climax when Phyllis reveals that Angela, who is betrothed to Andy, is involved with Dwight. While the main focus of the episode revolves around Michael and Meredith, it’s clear that the true stars are the entire cast. “Moroccan Christmas” may not appeal to everyone, but if you enjoy it, it’s likely that you truly cherish it.

2. “Christmas Party” (Season 2, 2005)

As a devoted fan of “The Office,” one Christmas episode that instantly springs to mind is undeniably the first Secret Santa-themed one. Given its pioneering role in establishing what would later become an almost yearly tradition, there’s a certain endearing simplicity about it. In this episode, the entire office is abuzz with excitement over Secret Santa. Jim can hardly contain his anticipation to gift Pam a teapot filled with personal mementos and shared jokes; Kevin, having drawn his own name, indulges in a foot bath as a treat; Michael is bursting at the seams, eager to present Ryan with a brand-new video iPod, a rather lavish $400 purchase that far surpasses the $20 limit. Michael takes great pride in his generous gift-giving and rule-breaking skills, but his ego takes a hit when he unwraps Phyllis’s gift: a homemade oven mitt. Infuriated by her frugality compared to his extravagance, he spoils the Secret Santa plan by turning it into a White Elephant gift exchange instead.

Michael often reacts negatively if he doesn’t get what he desires by throwing a tantrum. However, when he makes mistakes, he admits to them and corrects them in his own unique way. In this instance, he decided to host a Christmas party with 15 bottles of vodka, even though corporate rules prohibit branches from serving alcohol at their events.

Discussing initial endeavors, the oddities and humor in this installment paved the path for numerous Christmas-themed episode gags: an unusual gift exchange; characters getting slightly tipsy (Kelly being the first to kiss Dwight, followed by Meredith flashing Michael); Angela overly adhering to her role as Party Organizer; and Michael throwing a fit when things don’t go according to plan. The “Christmas Party” episode truly established a high standard for all holiday episodes to follow, providing an excellent starting point.

1. “A Benihana Christmas” (Season 3, 2006)

In season three, everything simply ran smoothly, with the show reaching its peak performance by the time the Christmas episode arrived. A part of this festive episode unfolds outside the office, where Michael, Dwight, Jim, and Andy venture out for lunch at Benihana. Andy manages to divert Michael’s attention from his breakup with Carol by plying him with Nog-a-sakes (one part eggnog, three parts sake) and inciting flirtatious behavior towards their waitress. Upon returning to the office after a round of drinks, both Michael and Andy introduce their “supposed girlfriends” – neither of whom were the actual waitress from earlier scenes – into the Christmas celebration. Realizing that he cannot distinguish between them and having no real interest in either as a rebound, Michael still ends up serenading both with John Mayer’s “Your Body is a Wonderland.

This episode’s triumph primarily stems from the small, humorous incidents predominantly featuring Steve Carell. These include:

Even though Michael is the clear star here, Jim deserves an honorable mention for the squirmy faces he makes as he watches Pam and Karen form a friendship. Also, fun fact: This episode was directed by the late Harold Ramis. It couldn’t be more perfect.

Read More

2024-12-17 22:07