The Top Ten Best Moments from The Office

Matt ClarkOct 28, 20151 Comment

From Megadesk, bears, beets, Battlestar Galactica, Jim & Pam, Andy, Dwight, and Michael – here are the top ten best moments from The Office.

Oh yeah, and… spoilers.

I was talking to a friend the other day about a rom com she was watching which turned out to be one of those super realistic looks at love. You know, where there’s no real clear or clean path for the two people to come together – the kind where there are about 5-6 big events or distractions that get in the way of what the audience wants right up until the very end. I usually actually enjoy those more realistic movies, whether it be looking at love, work, adventure or making decisions. Of course sometimes I just feel like something utterly mindless, but other times it’s kinda refreshing taking an exploratory look at real world problems in a fictional world setting.

In thinking about TV shows that fell into the same boat of realistic but highly entertaining, there was only one at the top of the list – The Office.

I love The Office (yes, the US version). I was so surprised by it the first time I watched it. I can’t believe how quickly the characters grew on me, how relateable so many of the situations and people were, and how it could be so hilarious while at the same time have a very serious look at so many diverse issues… all the while sustaining one of the largest viewership bases of any TV show ever. That’s impressive.

So you have your favourite moments, and so do I. It was criminal how many great moments I had to leave off this list to actually narrow it down to something feasible. So here we go – not in any particular order, but here are the top ten best moments from The Office.

Once again… spoilers.

Toby Returns – Frame Toby

Of all the Toby hate moments, this one reigns supreme.

Jim confesses to Pam – Casino Night

I think everyone was shocked by how honest a relationship Jim and Pam shared in getting to each other. Pam was in a 3 year engagement with a man who couldn’t commit, loved by a man who was there every day but felt he couldn’t speak up. The moment it finally happened was so raw and a great look at what happens on both sides of this conversation.

Pam steps up – Beach Games

Ah, but shy old Pam learnt that she didn’t have to stay shy or reserved forever. Finding her feet and herself, Pam also had a moment a season later where she threw all caution to the wind and went for what she wanted. It was an amazing scene seeing her character come so far and find the courage to ask for what she really cared about.

Jim asks Pam out

The moment we’ve all been waiting for. Hours and hours of excruciating taunting of the “will they won’t they”, they finally found the time when they could go for it. I think all the fans of the world rejoiced at this moment.

Holly finds Michael – The Search

Michael Scott is one of the most interesting characters in all of TV. He manages to be super offensive, super obnoxious, and yet endearing, charming, and at times all too relateable through his extreme behaviours. That, and way too many people tell me I look like Steve Carrell, so there’s that. Over the years of The Office, Michael had a number of attempts at love, all with troubled results – Jan, Pam’s mother, any random woman who walked into the office for a business purpose.

But then there was Holly. And she understood him. And he understood her. And the culmination of their together happens when Holly is the only one who knows where broken hearted Michael has wandered off to. Beautiful TV moment.

Getting to know the person you sit next to – Business Trip

I love The Office for its looks at interpersonal relationships in the workplace, and for some of the most profound writing in any TV show on the distance we keep between the people we sit right next to. This was perfect.

I couldn’t find a clip of the scene, but here’s the quote. Definitely a standout to keep in mind with the people we sit next to but not always with:

Andy: I had to go all the way to Canada to get to know a guy who sits 20 feet away from me. And he’s delightful

Andy pursues his dream – Livin’ The Dream

Ah. This was a very nice surprise in Season 9. As Andy finally endeavours to pursue his truest dreams, he leaves the staff of Dunder Miflin with a very sombre reminder to live our lives to the fullest.

Dwight pulls Angela over – A.A.R.M

Dwight always made me laugh my head off when he impersonated a police officer with his headlight and siren on his car. The episode where the police try to pull him over for doing it and him having to throw all his medieval weapons out the window was a moment of tears (laughter).

But this moment was similarly hilarious and deeply satisfying to see Dwight and Angela finally find each other too. Also great seeing him become his own assistant to the assistant to the regional manager.

1 Corinthians 13 – Paper Airplanes

Oh wow. This ending part to the episode “Paper Airplanes” (just the first minute or so in the video above) is probably one of the most powerful things I’ve seen in any TV show… ever. After so many seasons of ups and downs in their relationships – old flames, negotiating engagement, negotiating marriage, new jobs, children, feeling like you’re in a dead end, not being able to communicate properly, and all of the very real things all of us face in our relationships, this moment of decision where Jim leaves his job which was tearing his marriage apart for the love of his wife was one of the most amazing things I’ve ever seen on TV in my whole life. Unforgettable.

That Finale – Finale

One of the most satisfying ends to a TV series ever. Thank you, NBC. Who wasn’t moved by the humbling look back of the journey of all the characters’ lives? Love it.

Honourable Mentions:

Parkour – I absolutely lost it when I first saw Andy go through the fridge box

Finding a new manager – James Spader, Ray Romano, Jim Carrey, Catherine Tate, Will Arnett, even Warren Buffet… all star episode,

Creed – just… anything he’s in.

Threat Level Midnight – I was crying the whole episode with laughter. Probably the funniest episode they ever did.

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Ah. Them feels. Let them sink right into ya.

So there are the 10 best moments in The Office… or at least I think so. But with such a long TV series, there were so, so many more great things to happen in the series. What were some of your favourite moments?