Although The Office is regarded as one of the most successful sitcoms ever, its first season leaves much to be desired, but that doesn’t mean viewers should skip over it. The NBC mockumentary comedy series, developed by Greg Daniels, is based on Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant’s British show of the same name. It revolves around the Scranton branch of the Dunder Mifflin Paper Company, where Steve Carell’s Michael Scott is the regional manager. Michael and many other funny characters in The Office are among the most memorable fictional figures in TV history, which is partly why the show was such a triumph.
Unfortunately, The Office‘s defining moments don’t come until after season 1. Whether it’s Jim confessing his feelings for Pam on Casino Night or Dwight lighting a fire to teach his colleagues about fire safety, almost every memorable scene in the NBC mockumentary sitcom happens from season 2 on. Nevertheless, The Office season 1 is still important for different reasons and fans should watch it (despite the fact it’s objectively the worst season).
The Office Season 1 Sets Up Many Of The Show’s Most Important Character Dynamics
Jim & Dwight’s Iconic Feud Is Introduced
Part of why all six episodes of The Office season 1 are so important is because they set up many character arcs and dynamics. For example, Jim’s crush on Pam is teased, Jim and Dwight’s feud is introduced, and so on. If it weren’t for The Office season 1, many of the storylines featured in season 2 wouldn’t make sense. Of course, viewers might be able to pick up on the relationship dynamics, the characters’ personalities, and more as time went on. But, it would just be easier to watch the show’s first six episodes, which establish this fictional universe quite well.
Almost every main character in The Office is properly introduced in season 1 (aside from the ones who arrive afterward or Michael, whose personality changes significantly in season 2). The audience gets first impressions of Dwight, Jim, Pam, Stanley, Kelly, Ryan, Phyllis, Oscar, Meredith, Angela, Kevin, Darryl, and so on. First impressions can be critical to understanding fictional characters, after all.
The Office Gets Much Better As It Goes On, But Season 1 Still Had Some Great Moments
The Office Season 1 Has The Infamous Basketball Episode
If you ask anyone who has watched all nine seasons of The Office, they would likely all admit that the sitcom’s first season is among the weakest. The later seasons after Carell left the show also aren’t regarded as The Office‘s best. However, it’s much easier to skip over season 1’s six episodes than 24 or 25 episodes. Despite this, The Office season 1 has its fair share of memorable moments worth watching.
| The Office Season 1 Episode # | Episode Title | Director | Writer | Release Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | “Pilot” | Ken Kwapis | Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, and Greg Daniels | March 24, 2005 |
| 2 | “Diversity Day” | Ken Kwapis | B.J. Novak | March 29, 2005 |
| 3 | “Health Care” | Ken Whittingham | Paul Lieberstein | April 5, 2005 |
| 4 | “The Alliance” | Bryan Gordon | Michael Schur | April 12, 2005 |
| 5 | “Basketball” | Greg Daniels | Greg Daniels | April 19, 2005 |
| 6 | “Hot Girl” | Amy Heckerling | Mindy Kaling | April 26, 2005 |
One of the best running jokes in The Office relates to Jim pranking Dwight, and season 1 features the first one. No one can forget when Jim encased Dwight’s stapler in jello in the pilot (partly because the scene is in the sitcom’s opening title sequences). The Office season 1 is also the beginning of Jim and Pam’s will-they-won’t-they relationship, one of the best slow-burn romances on TV. Plus, season 1 contains “Basketball,” the episode featuring the iconic basketball game between the office workers and the warehouse workers.
The Office’s First Six Episodes Are Worth Sitting Through For What Comes Next
Season 2 & On Is Peak TV
Yes, The Office season 1 might be tough to get through for some. However, that just makes viewers appreciate how much superior season 2 is. The NBC show’s quality gets infinitely better after season 1, and sitting through six not-so-great episodes can make the audience enjoy the greatness that follows so much more than they would if they just started with season 2. Ultimately, it’s not worth it to skip The Office season 1 for multiple reasons, making it required viewing for new and old fans alike.
