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The Office

TV·2001–2003·2 seasons, 12 episodes·BBC Two·Comedy·30m·7.7·Created by Stephen Merchant, Ricky Gervais

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A mockumentary about life in a mid-sized suboffice paper merchants in a bleak British industrial town, where manager David Brent thinks he's the coolest, funniest, and most popular boss ever. He isn't. That doesn't stop him from embarrassing himself in front of the cameras on a regular basis, whether from his political sermonizing, his stand-up 'comedy', or his incredibly unique dancing. Meanwhile, long-suffering Tim longs after Dawn the engaged receptionist and keeps himself sane by playing childish practical jokes on his insufferable, army-obsessed deskmate Gareth. Will the Slough office be closed? Will the BBC give David a game show? Will Tim and Dawn end up with each other? And more importantly, will Gareth realize what a hopeless prat he is?

Highest-rated episodes all ranked

  1. 01The Office S01E02Work ExperienceS01E02 · 7.9Donna, the work experience girl, has her first day dominated by a dirty picture of her boss that's been e-mailed around the office.
  2. 02The Office S02E03PartyS02E03 · 7.9David Brent is made an offer he cannot refuse, while Gareth turns on the charm and Trudy's birthday celebrations turn a little raunchy.
  3. 03The Office S01E01DownsizeS01E01 · 7.8Brent learns that his branch of the paper merchants might be closed down, but promises he won't allow any redundancies.

Castfull cast & details

Ricky GervaisRicky GervaisDavid BrentMartin FreemanMartin FreemanTim CanterburyMackenzie CrookMackenzie CrookGareth KeenanLucy DavisLucy DavisDawn TinsleyPatrick BaladiPatrick BaladiNeil GodwinOliver ChrisOliver ChrisRicky HowardRalph InesonRalph InesonChris 'Finchy' FinchStirling GallacherStirling GallacherJennifer Taylor-Clark

Episodes by season

Season01Episode ratings across the season — the gold bar is its best episode6Episodes2001Aired 7.6Season avg
  1. S01E01The Office S01E01DownsizeJuly 9, 2001 7.8Brent learns that his branch of the paper merchants might be closed down, but promises he won't allow any redundancies.
  2. S01E02The Office S01E02Season's bestWork ExperienceJuly 16, 2001 7.9Donna, the work experience girl, has her first day dominated by a dirty picture of her boss that's been e-mailed around the office.
  3. S01E03The Office S01E03The QuizJuly 23, 2001 7.7It's Tim's birthday, but it's also the annual quiz night. Brent and Finchy vow to maintain their unbeaten record.
  4. S01E04The Office S01E04TrainingJuly 30, 2001 7.3It's staff training day. However, Brent soon starts to undermine the management consultant. It's all too much for Tim, who resigns.
  5. S01E05The Office S01E05New GirlAugust 13, 2001 7.3Though he's supposed to be making redundancies, Brent hires a new secretary. And later, it's beers all round as the team go to Slough's top
  6. S01E06The Office S01E06JudgementAugust 20, 2001 7.4It's bad news as Brent hears his Slough branch is to be merged. Though there will be job losses, his position is safe.

Season 1 ranked & reviewed

Season02Best seasonEpisode ratings across the season — the gold bar is its best episode6Episodes2002Aired 7.6Season avg
  1. S02E01The Office S02E01MergerSeptember 30, 2002 7.6Award-winning sitcom, filmed documentary-style and set in the offices of a Slough paper merchant. A group of well-trained and highly motivat
  2. S02E02The Office S02E02AppraisalsOctober 7, 2002 7.8After a disastrous fire drill, David completes the staff appraisals and then tries to improve his popularity with the ‘Swindon lot'. Gareth
  3. S02E03The Office S02E03Season's bestPartyOctober 14, 2002 7.9David Brent is made an offer he cannot refuse, while Gareth turns on the charm and Trudy's birthday celebrations turn a little raunchy.
  4. S02E04The Office S02E04MotivationOctober 21, 2002 7.6Brent finds a new string to his bow and makes some easy money moonlighting, while Gareth finds a kindred spirit in a visiting IT specialist.
  5. S02E05The Office S02E05CharityOctober 28, 2002 7.5It's Red Nose Day, and the staff are in a charitable mood, but David Brent receives some devastating news.
  6. S02E06The Office S02E06InterviewNovember 4, 2002 7.4David Brent says his goodbyes after being retrenched from Wernham-Hogg. Tim finally plucks up the courage to talk to Dawn before she leaves

Season 2 ranked & reviewed

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