Since its creation, The Office has quickly become the hottest sit-com of the 21st century. With its ability to produce top-tier comedy through the most mundane situations, The Office has become a favorite of Gen Zers, Millenials, and Baby Boomers alike. Its ability to produce incredible quotes for any situation has lead to its monopolization of senior yearbook quotes and sorority girl Instagram captions. With a combined watch time of approximately 1,386 hours, expert The Office fans, Kaki and Katherine, set out to create a comprehensive power ranking of all 9 seasons. Enjoy.

9. Season 8

This one should not have to be explained. Michael is gone. Robert California? Awful. Nellie? Even worse. The only reason we watched this season is to finish the show. Honestly, season 8 doesn’t even deserve to be ranked. 

8. Season 7

Season 7 was fine I guess. Actually no… it really sucked. Not only does Michael propose to Holly, who is pretty controlling to be honest, but he leaves Scranton. There aren’t any notably good episodes in this season, and to make it worse, we have to watch Michael and Holly touch each other CONSTANTLY. This season just seems to drag on forever and Erin is just really annoying. 

7. Season 6

Season 6 was fine. Nothing really notable happened. Michael really adopts the persona of a toddler in this season with his frequent outbursts and childish behavior. Michael fell into a koi pond and crushed a fish (“Koi Pond”), he dates Pam’s mother behind her back then dumps her on her birthday (“Double Date”), he throws a fit when Phyllis is Santa at their Christmas party (“Secret Santa”), tries to take advantage of Dwight at Pam and Jim’s wedding (“Niagara”), tells kids he can’t pay for their college tuition (“Scott’s Tots”) and so much more. Perhaps this was their way of getting the viewer to hate Michael before he leaves in order to make the departure easier.

6. Season 9 

Nostalgic to say the least. While most people agree that The Office went downhill  drastically after Michael’s departure, season 9 was definitely better than 7 and 8. The final episode? Tears. If you did not cry when Michael came back, you are sick. The second to last episode, “A.A.R.M.,” is a must see. Cooperation between Jim and Dwight, during their search for an Assistant to the Assistant to the Regional Manager, is what every Office fanatic has been wanting to see since the beginning. The way the finale of the show was written was unexpected in content: it has been a year since the release of the documentary, Angela and Dwight are finally getting married and everyone is back together. Season 9, while it is the last one, is not the worst, but definitely not the best. 

5. Season 4

Season 4 had some promise. It opens with the infamous Michael Scott’s Dunder Mifflin Scranton Meredith Palmer Memorial Celebrity Rabies Awareness Fun Run Pro Am Race for the Cure. There are some classic Michael Scott moments, such as “I’m not superstitious, but I am a little stitious.” Ryan’s ego went to his head, since he was somewhat in power of Dunder Mifflin Infinity. “Money,” the 4th episode, is different, but this is definitely a good type of different. Jim and Pam go to Dwight’s farm and have a VERY interesting experience, to say the least. Perhaps Stanley’s most famous line, “Did I stutter,” was made in episode 12. Overall, the beginning of season 4 was entertaining, but the later episodes definitely lacked in content. 

4. Season 1

A short opening season, but the amount of episodes does not deter from the quality. “Diversity Day,” the best episode in this season, you are introduced to Michael Scott as a manager and human being. “Basketball” on the other hand, is a playful competition, one definitely worth watching if you need something to cheer you up. Season 1 also has many of the classic pranks Jim plays on Dwight, like putting objects in Jell-O and building a pencil fence between their desks. While the plotline of one of the best American TV shows continues to build over its 8 other seasons, season 1 provides a key backbone to the show.

3. Season 3

Season 3 starts out rocky. Jim is officially gone to Stamford and attempts his old Dwight pranks on Andy, a strange man in his new office. Dwight brings Ryan out to the farm for his initiation in an underrated episode. One memorable moment from this season is the merger with the Stamford branch, due to its manager going to Staples, a large competitor of Dunder Mifflin. Michael and Jan go to Sandals Jamaica, Phyllis gets married to Bob Vance, and in the season finale, Jim finally asks Pam on a date. The best moment of all, though, is Prison Mike. Don’t try to argue with us. All in all, season 3 has a lot going on. There are many memorable moments and episodes, but not enough to rank it in the top spot. 

2. Season 2 

 Season 2 is where the office really finds its footing in terms of comedy. Michael becomes much more likable to the viewer through his zany antics and ignorant comments. Season 2 is more tame in terms of actual events, but it makes up for this through its top-tier awkward comedy. Some of its more noteworthy episodes are “The Dundies,” “The Fight,” “Booze Cruise,” “Dwight’s Speech,” and “The Injury.” Michael clamps his foot in a George Foreman grill and as Dwight rushes to pick him up from his condo, he hits a lampost, throws up all over his car, and gets a concussion. “The Injury” truly illuminates the tumultuous nature of Dwight and Michael’s relationship. Another classic is “Casino Night.” Michael accidentally invites both of his potential lovers to an illegal casino night held in Dunder Mifflin’s warehouse for the Boy Scouts of America. Pam and Jim kiss! But she chooses Roy? So. Much. Drama.

1. Season 5

Season 5 is a fan favorite for seasoned Office viewers. We finally get to see Michael in a healthy, albeit somewhat annoying, relationship. The season starts off strong with Jim finally proposing to Pam at a rest stop in the rain in the classic episode “Weight Loss: Part 2” and ends with “Company Picnic,” where Pam rushes to the hospital and finds out she is pregnant. If you are an avid Office watcher, you should remember arguably the best 2-part episode in TV history: “Stress Relief.” Not only does Dwight fake a fire in the office, but Michael performs CPR on a dummy while singing “Stayin’ Alive” by the Bee Gees. Some other notable episodes are “Michael Scott Paper Company,” “Casual Friday” and “Cafe Disco.” We recommend rewatching season 5 if you are in need of some quality Office content.

Although this article is purely subjective, everything we have stated is correct and indisputable. Just because we were harsher with some of the later seasons does not take away from their overall quality. In order to gain a truly immersive experience, we recommend setting aside a weekend and taking off two school days to binge watch every episode as it will only take 4 days, 3 hours, and 30 minutes.