15 of the Most Memorable Episodes of ‘The Office’

6. The Client

A personal favorite, “The Client” is the first real evidence of Michael Scott’s worth. You’ve seen him behave like a buffoon for more than ten episodes all while wondering how in the hell he was in charge. Then, you get to see him sell Tim Meadows and finally it’s clear. The guy is charming and persuasive. It’s a big moment on the road to loving Michael Scott. Watching the crew back at Dunder Mifflin read Michael’s script for his movie Threat Level Midnight adds another layer of joy to the proceedings.

5. Goodbye, Toby

The season four finale saw the departure (kind of) of Toby Flenderson, Dunder Mifflin’s sad sack HR guy. This news excited Michael to such a degree that he insisted on blowing out Toby’s going away party, going so far as to use his nest egg — quick note: his nest egg is a series of checks from his senile grandmother who keeps sending him birthday money several times a year; Michael cashed them all at once — to get a carousel and a band and even fireworks. Also, watching Jim almost propose to Pam before getting his thunder stolen by Andy is a treat.

4. Heavy Competition

Really, the entire “Michael Scott Paper Company” story arc is incredible, but we’ll have to go with “Heavy Competition” as the standout. Having left Dunder Mifflin (poaching Pam and Ryan in the process), Michael is now digging into his new role as company owner by stealing all of Dunder Mifflin’s clients. “Look at that old guy and his rolodex go.” Indeed, Ryan. Indeed.