This Underrated Episode of The Office Is the Best of the Series

The Office is one of television’s greatest sitcoms. From hilarious moments to its extremely likable characters to its excellent story, The Office wove a tale that will be fondly remembered for generations to come. Adapted from the original UK sitcom, also titled The Office, the American version seemed to instantly click with audiences and take on a life of its own as a fan-favorite television show. Even after many years, The Office remains one of the most popular sitcoms in the history of television.

Many fans consider the show’s greatest episodes to come from seasons two through seven, as that was when audiences had a chance to really get to know the characters and see them grow as people. And there are more than several episodes fans can cite as being the best episode of The Office throughout its nine seasons. There are so many iconic and hilarious moments fans fondly remember and return to watch again. One particular episode should be considered more highly due to its brilliance. One underrated episode in season six showcases The Office at its best.

“Murder” Sees Michael at His Best, and Jim at His Most Worried

Steve Carell’s Most Popular Character Kills It in “Murder”

“Murder” sees The Office cast at their most hilarious. With Michael and Jim as co-managers of the Dunder Mifflin Scranton branch, things have been rocky as the two comedically battle for their share of leadership. In this episode, the staff receives word that Dunder Mifflin might be filing for bankruptcy in the very near future, which, of course, worries everyone. Jim wants to continue working and avoid the problem to keep everything under control, as that’s worked for him in the past. But Michael has a different idea. As he is extremely worried, Michael comes up with the idea of playing one of his favorite games: Belles, Bourbon, and Bullets, a murder mystery party game. The episode captures the perfect blend of absurdity and depth, illustrating how humor becomes a tool for solidarity and escape.The Office cast involved in a murder mystery game is a hilarious idea that yields great results.

Michael takes on the role of the lead detective and bribes his staff into playing this game with him. Coworkers like Kevin, Pam, Phyllis and especially Dwight take their characters very seriously. Others, like Stanley and Angela, even though they’re only there for the free food, still play along with the game, creating many memorable scenes. Andy tries to ask Erin out on a date, which he hilariously fumbles throughout the episode. Even though their relationship turns sour by the bitter end of the series, it’s still nice to see the beginning stages of their lovely relationship blossom this season. The murder plot line adds a lot of fan-favorite lines, such as when Dwight accuses Angela’s character of murder, to which she responds, “It’s not my fault. I was exposed to Harry Potter.”

Another classic moment is when Creed comes into the office late, and Michael tells him there’s been a murder. Of course, the audience knows it’s just a game he’s referring to, but Creed doesn’t give any thought to it and runs out of the office. All of this hilarity comes to the forefront when Oscar tells everyone, through the worst accent imaginable, that things aren’t looking good for the company. With hope at a low, and Jim feeling more worried than ever, he takes a big step in his partnership with Michael, announcing to the office, “There has been another murder.” It’s a sweet moment in the pair’s friendship and starts back up the game the audience enjoys watching so much. And the whole episode is capped off with Pam hilariously being in a standoff between Dwight, Michael and Andy, which ends in glorious fake bloodshed.

Season Six Is an Underrated Season of The Office

Even With Tough Competition, Season 6 Is One of the Office’s Most Consistently Funny Seasons

“Murder” is only one of the many examples of underrated, perfect Office episodes, particularly in season six. Other fan-favorite episodes include “Secret Santa,” “Mafia,” “St. Patrick’s Day,” “New Leads,” “Gossip” and the infamous cringe-inducing “Scott’s Tots.” “Scott’s Tots,” in particular, remains a highlight of the entire series as one of the most heartbreaking and hilarious episodes. And while all of these episodes are classic examples of The Office, there are plenty of other episodes that lend themselves to the wider, season-spanning stories the show is expertly telling — from the beginning of the season with Jim and Pam’s wedding to the two-part “Niagara” story to Michael’s cheating arc in “The Lover.” And then there’s the massive change to the series’ story with the introduction of Sabre International and Jo Bennett, played by the amazing Kathy Bates.

This episode begins a refreshing story arc where the Dunder Mifflin company gets bought out by Sabre International, a move that shifts The Office in a whole new direction. Kathy Bates brings new life into the upper management of the company, and new life into the evolved version of the show. At the beginning of The Office’s dominant sitcom reign, the show chose realism over high comedy, even with some of its more elaborate ideas. But as the show continued on, The Office shifted into becoming a show focusing more on high-comedy along with the character moments, rather than simply maintaining the show’s realism. All three of these ideas were integral to cementing the show’s legacy as one of the greatest sitcoms of all time. The arrival of Jo Bennett added to that new era of comedy.

The Office’s sixth season is one of the show’s best. Each and every episode feels like one classic after another, each exemplifying the exciting and hilarious spirit fans know the show for, and “Murder” is no different. The season shows strength in balancing humor with genuine emotional stakes, capturing the quirks of its ensemble while layering deeper, more complex storylines. “Murder” embodies this balance beautifully, showcasing the characters’ camaraderie and resilience in the face of uncertain times. Rather than abandoning humor when faced with serious challenges, the season uses it to explore how the team supports each other, no matter how strange their methods are. This season enhances the characters’ dynamics, developing them in ways that feel both authentic and true to the show’s comedic roots. The sixth season ultimately serves as a turning point for the series, underscoring how humor can bring people together during the toughest times, with “Murder” standing as a perfect example of this nuanced and heartfelt approach.

“Murder” Is The Office’s Most Underrated Episode

This Episode Sees All The Office’s Characters at Their Best

To make the case that “Murder” is The Office’s best episode would be comparing gold to even more gold. It’s impossible to truly say with 100% certainty which episode of the hit sitcom is the best, but “Murder” is often overlooked as one of the funniest, greatest episodes of The Office. This story sees Michael and Jim attempt to distract the office’s staff from the impending bankruptcy that seems imminent for Dunder Mifflin. Michael’s way to avoid this is to play a simple murder mystery game, which drives Jim up the wall.

It’s a hilarious episode many fans often return to as it is one that feels like the classic Office. The characters have plenty of iconic lines and moments, the jokes are at their best, the upcoming Sabre storyline is brilliantly set up, and the episode feels wall-to-wall perfect. It even has one of the funniest tags to an Office episode, which fans constantly return to. It’s clear that “Murder” should be considered a fantastic episode by more fans. This is one of The Office‘s best, most underrated episodes, as it exemplifies everything that fans love about the show.