So we’ve covered each and every episode for The Office which means it’s time to break it down season by season. My ranking process for the seasons was very simple. I had a rating for each episode, so I took the average episode rating and ranked the seasons accordingly. I also kept count of how many times we saw Stanley doing a puzzle and how many times Michael gave us a “That’s what she said.” Fair warning, I easily could have missed some, but I’m hoping I got them all. Hopefully you’ve read my episode rankings, so I won’t go into too much detail about each season, as those would give a pretty good indication of where each season would lie in the rankings.
The first of two full seasons sans Michael Scott was a tough go for the show. The only season with an average episode rating below 80. The Tallahassee stretch was still a letdown. Andy wasn’t great before, but the Florida run of episodes was the beginning of him becoming simply unbearable. Also Nellie. Ugh. It was clear the show would never be the same without Steve Carell.
Best episode: “Trivia” 86/100 Worst episode: “Angry Andy” 67/100 Number of times we see Stanley doing a puzzle: 5 Michael “That’s what she saids”: N/A
8) Season 1; Average rating 80.7
It’s not uncommon for the first season of a new sitcom to be a bit rough around the edges. So there’s nothing wrong with this season ending up how it did. It was a bit slow, characters were still being fleshed out. It was solid, if unspectacular.
Best episode: “Basketball” 86/100 Worst episode: “Hot Girl” 75/100 Number of times we see Stanley doing a puzzle: 0 Michael “That’s what she saids”: 0
7) Season 6; Average rating 81.1
A season of extremes. The second best episode of the series (“Niagara”), but also the two worst (“The Banker” and Scott’s Tots”). Certainly had some rough spots with the Pam/Michael/Pam’s mom storylines and Jim and Michael co-managing.
Best episode: “Niagara, Parts 1 & 2” 96/100 Worst episode: “The Banker” 50/100 Number of times we see Stanley doing a puzzle: 10 Michael “That’s what she saids”: 2
6t) Season 7; Average rating 82.2
Some of the Michael and Holly scenes are unwatchable. I know Holly was the perfect match for Michael, but the perfect match for Michael Scott is going to be equally “Michael Scott”-ish. You get two of them on screen together and you get some of the worst individual parts of the series. While the final episode sendoff for Michael was great, not the final season as a whole that he deserved.
Best episode: Tie, “Dwight K. Schrute, Acting Manager” and “Goodbye, Michael” 92/100 Worst episode: “Christening” 65/100 Number of times we see Stanley doing a puzzle: 8 Michael “That’s what she saids”: 1
6t) Season 9; Average rating 82.2
A real slow start to the season, but had a solid middle stretch, and a strong finish, with the final three episodes coming in with ratings of 87, 91, and 95. My biggest gripe with this season was, of all things, Jim and Pam’s relationship. These two had always been a highlight of the show, so it was disappointing to see them get the final season they did. I get that the producers wanted to throw some drama into their marriage. That maybe there was criticism that they were “too perfect.” But you just knew that they were going to work through any and all problems they were having. There was no way they were going to get divorced in the show’s final season. Fans would have rioted, for one. But it also wouldn’t have made any narrative sense. The end result was underwhelming and lacking in all drama. Andy sucked. Nellie, while she got to the point of “usually tolerable”, also sucked for most of the season.
Best episode: “Finale” 95/100 Worst episode: “”Couple’s Discount” 72/100 Number of times we see Stanley doing a puzzle: 9 Michael “That’s what she saids”: 1
4) Season 2; Average rating 84.5
After the so-so first season, the show came out hot right away in season 2. It kick-started the show into what we would come to know and love. Many consider this to be the best season and it’s hard to argue that. Holds a special place in my heart for being the season with “The Injury” (the first great episode of the series) and “Conflict Resolution” which long held the top spot in my episode rankings.
Best episode: “Casino Night” 94/100 Worst episode: “Halloween” 74/100 Number of times we see Stanley doing a puzzle: 7 Michael “That’s what she saids”: 6
3) Season 5; Average rating 84.9
More impressive when you consider just how long this season was. Twenty-eight episodes. To be able to have this kind of sustainability over the course of a season with this much content is amazing. An eventful season as well. Pam leaves for art school, presenting a new challenge for her and Jim’s relationship. Jim proposes. Michael quits and starts his own competing paper company.
Best episode: “Stress Relief, Parts 1 & 2” 94/100 Worst episode: “Blood Drive” 76/100 Number of times we see Stanley doing a puzzle: 11 Michael “That’s what she saids”: 1
2) Season 3; Average rating 86.6
Another season that many fans wold have in their top spot. Again, hard to find much fault with that. We get full-on Ed Helms with the Scranton-Stamford merger. Up until his terrible turn in season 8, he was a wonderful addition to the show.
Best episode: “The Job” 94/100 Worst episode: “Grief Counseling” 77/100 Number of times we see Stanley doing a puzzle: 16 Michael “That’s what she saids”: 5
1) Season 4; Average rating 87.4
Just a monster season. Has the best overall episode as well as the best worst episode of any season. There were no dud episodes. Sure, only having 14 episodes helps, but still, they went 14/14. We get the beginning of Jim and Pam’s relationship as well as the first hints at a possible future with Holly for Michael. I haven’t ranked seasons or episodes for any other sitcom, but I’d have to believe this season would be right up there as one of the better all-time sitcom seasons.
Best episode: “Dinner Party” 97/100 Worst episode: “Money” 83/100 Number of times we see Stanley doing a puzzle: 11 Michael “That’s what she saids”: 7
We’ve finished the episodes, we’ve finished the seasons. Now all that’s left is the best cold opens. I hope you enjoy reading that one as much as I am enjoying writing it.
