In the history of television NBC stalwart's best arc. It is considered to be when The Office was at its purest and most focused. Season two was an undeniable stride for the show and it still clocks in as the favorite for many fans and viewers.
There is good reason for this, too. Season two is among the most consistently funny, sweet, and well-written seasons in all of television, not just The Office. It is so well-regarded that only one episode, "The Carpet," rates below an 8.0 on IMDB. The ten best episodes of The Office season two are listed below, as voted on by IMDB s.
"The Fire" - 8.4
"The Fire" gives Office viewers a hint of Dwight's safety expertise, which would come back in a major way during "Stress Relief." But "The Fire" is only the tenth episode of the entire series.
The biggest focus, however, is the interplay and dynamics between the workers of Dunder Mifflin. Their ambitions, their ions, their interests. The viewers are clued into all of these and more, with a backdrop of Ryan Howard becoming the "Fire Guy." Not to mention, it also sees a quick pop-in from Amy Adams' Katy character, who is always a treat to see on screen!
"Office Olympics" - 8.4
"Office Olympics" is the episode that immediately precedes "The Fire" in season two and it is one of the first glimpses the show gives into how creative and ionate Jim can be when he really enjoys something. Plus, it is always fun to see characters play games around the entire office.
The other subplot of the episode, Michael purchasing a condo to live in, comes with a good deal of humor at Michael's expense. But it also comes with the first-ever mention of Schrute Farms. That alone warrants inclusion on the top ten for this episode.
"Dwight's Speech" - 8.5
If a speech that is the pastiche of famous bouts of rhetoric throughout history can captivate an entire audience, then perhaps a Screen Rant article about ten episodes of The Office can captivate an entire Internet readership base. That seems to be the primary ethos presented in "Dwight's Speech," an episode centered around Dwight's stage fright in the wake of his Salesman of the Year honor.
Back at Dunder Mifflin, there is quite a bit of melancholy as Jim cannot bear Pam's wedding planning and instead books a trip to Australia for the date of her ceremony.
"The Client" - 8.6
The title of the episode comes from the client, portrayed by Tim Meadows, who is wooed by Michael and Jan at a local Chili's. This instance sets up the future of Michael and Jan's relationship throughout the show. However, at Dunder Mifflin, the story of Michael writing a movie called Threat Level Midnight is also established as the office staff stays late to read through the screenplay.
Currently, Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey are recapping every episode of The Office on their podcast and they are in the midst of season two. Their coverage of "The Client" was one of their best.
"Booze Cruise" - 8.6
"Booze Cruise" likely has a solid argument to be rated much higher on this list than it is. It remains one of the most memorable episodes from the entire run of the second season, after all.
In the episode, the office takes to a local booze cruise, of course, and they act exactly how you would expect. Jim flirts with Pam, Michael makes a fool of himself. It's all to be expected until suddenly, it isn't. Michael shocks the world when he talks with Jim on top of the boat in the cold air. Jim bears his soul to Michael and its that he has feelings for Pam. In a rare moment of Michael having a heart, he says, "Never, ever, ever give up." It remains a famous instance.
"Conflict Resolution" - 8.7
Angela has a poster of babies in adult poses and it unnerves Oscar to the point where he raises the issue to Toby. This is the inciting incident of the episode that sees Michael combing through the entire folder of complaints in the office, culminating in a bone-headed attempt to solve them all.
For the audience, "Conflict Resolution" has its funniest moment when Michael lists off the entire arsenal of pranks that Jim has pulled on Dwight over the years. It is a humbling moment for Jim and an infuriating one for Dwight, but the laundry list of schemes still remains hilarious for everyone else.
"The Dundies" - 8.7
"The Dundies" is the second season premiere of The Office and its one of the episodes that convinced viewers that the show might actually be worth sticking around for. It redeemed some of the irascibility that came from the season one version of Michael, while also picking up on the Jim and Pam relationship thread in a major way (with a kiss!).
But the episode is also a hysterical one on its own. The list of trophies given out to the office staff only gets funnier, with Ryan being named "Hottest in the Office" remaining as a standout moment in particular.
"Christmas Party" - 8.9
"Christmas Party" is the first-ever Christmas episode of The Office, kicking off a long and hilarious tradition of holiday workplace comedy installments. The conceit of this specific episode is that Michael turns Secret Santa festivities into a Yankee Swap, which leaves just about everyone unhappy.
One of the shimmering moments of the episode comes when Jim gives Pam a teapot filled with inside jokes, but retrieves a letter that revealed his feelings for her and slides it into his back pocket. Seven seasons later, that letter would come out of the same pocket, leaving every fan in tears.
"The Injury" - 9.1
"The Injury" absolutely deserves its 9.1 rating on IMDB because it is not only one of the best episodes of season two, it is one of the best episodes in the history of The Office. It begins with Michael calling the office and asking for help after he cooked his foot on a George Foreman grill.
When Dwight crashes his car and suffers a concussion, that is when the true injury comes into play. It sets off some of the funniest scenes of any workplace comedy and it results in a truly cute friendship between Dwight and Pam. "The Injury" is a pillar of television comedy.
"Casino Night" - 9.4
"Casino Night" is the runaway winner for the highest-rated episode of season two on IMDB. It serves as the second season finale and the major aspect of the episode is the huge development between Jim and Pam. With Jim seeking a transfer, he decides to shoot his shot with Pam, only to be rejected in a tearful exchange. (The episode ending with a kiss only leaves viewers even more confused.)
But the episode is also a hysterical one, with the antics of Michael on a date with Carol and Jan simultaneously taking the forefront of the humor. It's hard to believe this episode is fourteen years old because it's just as remarkable today as it was in 2006.