The Story of the BIGGEST Episode of the Office - Stress Relief

[@geniusfollower]

"He has no wallet, I checked." Creed has 3 lines in that entire scene and HE STEALS THE SHOW.

[@michaelmira-lopez1660]

Honestly we don't need an "Uncle Stan" Stanley spin-off, we NEED a Creed Bratton life on the run spin-off, that dude wholeheartedly steals the show everytime he's on screen 😂

[@kg7219]

@@michaelmira-lopez1660 but that exclusivity is what makes his character so compelling. he cant carry a single episode on his own let alone an entire series

[@JoshLoweSpace]

Just like he was going to steal the wallet...

[@waltuh2.3bviews3secondsago3]

What about the line about how he knew the instructor from the parking lot

[@aronthedev3074]

You were in the comment section earlier, that's how I know you!

[@bs4e]

My favourite line is when andy says "the fire is shooting at us" LMAO

[@RyCampbell911]

cool man I like that one too

[@downgrade5634]

Let's all remember he's a Cornell graduate

[@umad2292]

that’s like the least funny part of the whole scene

[@downgrade5634]

@@umad2292 to you maybe

[@taythethey]

Kinda reminds me of the jerk

[@kyleshaeffer8389]

The fire worked, Stanley was just attacked by his own heart.

[@Mulverine]

"Yeah, right. I filled him full of butter and sugar for 50 years and forced him not to exercise." - Such a good line!

[@kyleshaeffer8389]

@@Mulverine "Now, I am planning a bomb scare, that should really get the blood pumping." Another great line!

[@coglineerro730]

The cat falling out of the ceiling is my favorite joke from the whole series.

[@Chadner]

That and later when Oscar falls through the ceiling and it scares Creed always had me in tears

[@Mulverine]

Creed's face when Oscar falls through. If I made that face, *that EXACT face, people would say I was over acting. When Creed does it...oh my...it just works.

[@hilacopter4023]

@@Mulverine He thought it was a dead body he stashed

[@razkable]

stress relief has like 50 funny moments

[@SuperCaitlink]

It's hard to pick between the cat in the ceiling and when Dwight falls and grabs Jim's crotch to check if he is attracted to Pam's replacement.

[@lost4tseas]

I'm too young to have been watching The Office when it was airing, but I got pulled in when I saw a clip of the CPR training, really shows how the episode definitely did its job in re-piloting the show and is still doing it today

[@BantheBans]

Angela throwing her cat into the ceiling to Oscar is hilarious but like....she had her cat there in the filing cabinet and it's just like ok that happened 🤣

[@Gwmcmi02]

I always assumed the cameraman fall was a brilliantly-planned, creative writing decision. Turns out the brilliance was in using the take to make me believe it was planned.

[@marini11]

Kelly: I'd make out with a fridge. Bob Vance: Yeah!

[@jenm1]

i never noticed that!

[@marini11]

@@jenm1 me neither, that's why theis guys' videos are amazing.

[@patsk8872]

His wife is also fridge-sized, hmmmmmmm

[@stuppittyhed]

@@patsk8872 perish though

[@AforAwesome3604]

When I got my new job, I had to do CPR training and someone went up and started doing it like Michael Scott. Everyone else in the room went along with it, and we all just reenacted the scene and it was amazing!

[@calebalwayswill7423]

That's sounds really fun lol

[@hiscountrigal1764]

That's awesome lol

[@djCatScanRL]

(*gibberish gibberish gibberish*) Stayin’ Alive, Stayin’ Alive 🕺🏻 😭

[@happiness4812]

❤❤❤❤❤❤😂😂😂😂

[@Dulnaivi]

I would've LOVED to be there for that lol

[@hilacopter4023]

I just realized that the reason the intro is different is to introduce the new viewers! not only by crediting all of the actors, but take a look at the shots they chose to show after introducing the cast: Dwight and Michael dancing around, informing the viewer that Dwight is always close to Michael. Jim kissing Pam, informing the viewer that they are together. It's so the viewers have basic knowledge before officially starting the episode!

[@fatalbert2055]

Dwight blow torching the doorknob to show he’s a fucking psycho.

[@hilacopter4023]

@@fatalbert2055 also true

[@alZiiHardstylez]

I think the CPR dummy scene might be favourite bit in TV. What an episode though, forgot how much was packed in.

[@bbrandonh]

My favorite episode, and you still managed to find things I hadn't seen before. Awesome!

[@Mulverine]

Glad you enjoyed!

[@ischemic2115]

@@Mulverine g

[@pacshiesty]

Literally!!!

[@zachnunya8749]

Creed’s “you were in the parking lot earlier that’s how I know you” is my favorite line of all of the office for some reason cracks me up every time.

[@rachelholzman1785]

Angela’s lines at the roast are so good. “If you’ve ever put sunscreen on a window, you might be Michael Scott.”

[@kabyashreepathak4798]

Can’t believe Toby of all people wrote this iconic episode lmao

[@maatartemis]

I had no idea this was a Super Bowl ep, I didn't get into the series until I watched it on Netflix, this explains a LOT! It's very fun, but it definitely feels way over the top compared to almost everything else. One thing I noticed: in the episode Oscar says he's going to make Michael cry and then later says he feels he was too hard on Michael. But he just yelled at him in Spanish, so that didn't really track. Turns out there is a deleted scene of Oscar saying mean things in English too and it makes much more sense. Glad they cut the part with Jan out, that was hatefully mean rather than Office-mean.

[@padude_]

LOL I NEVER NOTICED BOB VANCE'S "YEAH" AT KELLY'S ROAST

[@lilycastle9926]

At the time this season of The Office came out, I was living overseas and watching the seasons on DVD. I literally had no idea this originally aired after the Super Bowl. Honestly, it makes so much more sense now.

[@TheLEGOZora]

"aahh the city" I use that line the same way, everytime.

[@TheLEGOZora]

Sometimes I use it even when I'm just in a one story house.

[@MrSqurk]

@@TheLEGOZora bonus points if you do it in a bungalow.

[@jesuscerezo9956]

My favorite episode ever. I feel like this is the peak of the entire series.

[@jjonahjameson8934]

I love the sound effects Dwight makes with his mouth when he cuts off the dummies face

[@hiscountrigal1764]

Awww, you must be really young... go watch Silence of the Lambs so you can have context of the reference🤭

[@timparker5570]

Reviewing the episode with the longest cold opening, meanwhile creating your own longest cold opening lol

[@hilacopter4023]

Stress Relief is probably the most iconic episode of the office. I think they tried to represent what the office is in one episode, and they nailed it while still making a new experience for the fans. It wouldn't have worked if they went for a "the office in a nutshell" kind of approach because the fans wouldn't find that enjoyable, I think they looked at the episodes they did before, and boiled them down to an average formula: a main plot, focusing on Michael and a sub plot focusing on others, mostly Jim and Pam. They then decided to script an episode using this formula, which fans will very much enjoy, but non fans also will be able to without knowing anything about the office. The most surprising thing is, it resulted in one of the best episodes of the office, even in the opinion of diehard fans. also, among the many ACNH recreations of the office I found clips from this episode were recreated the most. I also found that not many people talk much about the Jim and Pam subplot, although it's fantastic! They handle it in a very clever way. someone on the wiki also found something very interesting, Pam is putting her hand on her stomach for a brief moment in the cold open, possibly foreshadowing her pregnancy. I can't get enough of this episode.

[@brianj4090]

“This city” is my fav office quote and glad to hear another person appreciates it too

[@jenjarrell9973]

I give this video a 5 out of 5. By far, your best field guide! Great job! I LOVE all the back stories and tid-bits you provided. Thank you so much for making this series. I love the entire episode also, as most do. Michael's "caw-caw" to the birds will gets me every time. This episode is comedic genius.

[@Mulverine]

Glad you enjoyed it! I was just communicating with Nicholas this morning. He was delighted to see your social media posts about "The Hunted". Such a classy dude. Thanks for watching as always!

[@lemonlazer5687]

an absolute meme factory, genuine belly laugh moments, genius one liners and creeds face as oscar comes through the ceiling. One of the best moments TV will ever produce. It somehow gets better with the training scene as well

[@TUSMBOX]

9:04 never noticed Andy holding back laughter here.

[@cassie5174]

“Hi, Bob Vance. Vance Refrigeration”. *handshake* “Hi, Bob Vance. Vance Refrigeration”. *handshake* “Hi, Bob Vance. Vance Refrigeration”. *handshake* “Hi, Bob Vance. Vance Refrigeration”. *handshake* “Bob Vance” *handshake* Ryan: Vance Refrigeration? Bob: How you know? classic 😂😂

[@MalloryNewcomb]

I have a bit of a story with this cold open: My fall semester, junior year of college was a nightmare. Biochemistry and Microbiology plus two labs that were extremely demanding in the outside work requirements. I frequently turned to this cold open and would listen to it as I ate my lunch praying this food would give me enough energy to get through class. Something about being so on-edge makes this open ridiculously funny. USE the surge of fear and adrenaline to sharpen your decision making!

[@NostalJackMusic]

That's so interesting, I never thought of this episode as a "re-pilot" that changed the direction of the series to an extent. But I totally see it now that you've explained it. I think in a lot ways this could be one of the episodes you could point to as "the day the series died." Not that the show got bad after this episode or anything, but it did begin it's downward trajectory right around this time.

[@innitheotaku3883]

That cold open was the point in the show where my entire family whom I’d been watching with laughed the most out of the entire series and I love it to this day

[@hilacopter4023]

Stress Relief in my opinion is THE BEST episode of the office ever. The first part of the A plot with Dwight being chaotic is nothing short of brilliant, The second part of it with Michael trying to relieve everyone's stress is pure cringey goodness, and the B plot, while I wasn't a fan of the fake movie, Jim and Pam are still ABSOLUTELY ADORABLE AND THE GREATEST THING THAT HAS HAPPENED ON THIS EARTH. This episode is just iconic and one of the best episodes of any show ever.

[@jordansweet8054]

Agreed.

[@zerocool1884]

The low viewer count on your videos troubles me. These are fantastically done and worthy of millions of eyes.

[@onawal931]

The music is obnoxious.

[@briantidwell651]

If I'm ever having a bad day, I can always watch Michael just floppin' out those whole slices of bread 😆🤣 ...best thing ever 😆

[@theprotagonist6057]

one of the best hours of television conceived

[@MeghanBelhumeur]

My husband sometimes will look out the door of our back porch and say, “the city…” The funny part is, the our back yard points to a dense woodland 😂

[@curiotimetv]

Everytime I'm beyond a 2nd floor, I look out the window, sigh and say "The City..."

[@robomonkey1018]

Man always thought the camreraman stumbling was a genius move. Blew my mind it was accidental.

[@jennifers1040]

This episode was the very first one I saw and I was hooked! I laughed so hard.

[@aloe8078]

I think one of my favorite parts of the episode is that it had accurate CPR advice and has definitely helped save lives- sure Michael and the crew did it wrong, but the instructor was absolutely correct and the CPR scene always plays in my head when I need to think of cpr. It helped me pass a test on cpr when I was in high school, at least

[@InternetFad]

I had no interest in The Office until I happened to see this episode on my roommate's TV. I laughed SO hard and decided it was worth a shot. I'd say this was an effectively written episode for non-fans

[@XZAVIER-DAA-GOD]

My favorite roast will always be Dwight's

[@razkable]

i love how dwight is honest to mike and shits on him for petty reasons then mike says hes a kiss ass as his roast on dwight..perfect way to humble dwight and show him that mike is nice and an idiot..dwight legit has been anything but a kiss ass this episode yet mike sees his biggest flaw that he needs to roast as that...ironic....

[@ezinnenwadeyi7569]

I remember in early 2018 my senior year of hs, my health class teacher showed the cpr scene cause we were learning about it, and i was hooked completely, i got home and started the office and ran thru all the seasons lol

[@croshico]

I can't believe that all of this is just one episode!

[@jonvia]

By far my favorite cold open. "Have you ever seen a burn victim?" - Dwide Shrude

[@Chadner]

Awesome review, this is one of your best analysis yet. I always knew about the superbowl opportunity but never made the connection with the fact that the whole staff were probably really stressed out to pull it off. I also never realized how much of a repilot it actually was. Or maybe not a pilot, just a checkpoint mid way through the series to cement the characters and their development to this point.

[@ProvencaLeGaulois]

I am rewatching this episode right now and my god do I agree with your point about how Jim and Pam being lovey dovey gets old >

[@AgathaMontoto]

Stress Relief is one of the best episodes ever made in TV HISTORY! I have shown this episode to some many people no! Every time that someone tells me that don't like the office or don't understand it, I always tells them to what this episode. It's just pure genius!

[@superjackster0165]

I hate this episode because of how inconsistent the story is. The beginning of the episode is focused on Dwight and how his fire drill caused the office to go through CPR training. But then the episode abruptly shifts to focusing to Michael and him learning that he stresses everyone out, which leads the roasting session with everyone talking about how much they despise Michael's mere existence. Dwight's fire drill storyline is then forgotten about and never mentioned again. What happened? It's like the writers just randomly decided to change the plot of the episode for no reason when they were halfway through writing it.

[@Sele1908]

The CPR scene is the best of the show. Pure genius

[@eld6134]

Stress relief is my very favourite of all time. The scene with the cpr dummy is the funniest for me of any episodes. 5/5 material for me

[@harley6948]

This is definitely the episode that made me watch this show. I never saw The Office on TV - I saw the clip of them in the safety training on Facebook around 2018 or 2019. I realized the entire series was on Netflix and I've been hooked every since then.

[@carolinaconcha3788]

I knew the office existed but never watched it until youtube algorithm show me that cold open. The best

[@pendragon2012]

The roast is one of the best scenes in the whole series!

[@lobstepgaming249]

The best episodes of The Office, don’t @ me

[@TexasNationalist1836]

Dinner party need I say more

[@purplewine7362]

@@TexasNationalist1836 dinner party doesn't have the cpr scene

[@bigtasty2767]

4:58 I'm so sorry was not ready for that, I got jump scared, I audible said "oh Jesus"

[@ahleahhook9791]

this episode was the first one my friend showed me years after it aired and I had never laughed so hard in my life. I was hooked since

[@BadVibesStoryTelling]

Just found your channel, you deserve way more subs!

[@draliene9640]

I am watching the office together with my boyfriend. I had to take a first aid class the same day I watched this episode. What a coincidence. It was hard not to laugh in the class.

[@MrKsam221]

Bruh I say this city anytime I’m near a window 🤣

[@Fobius]

The peak of The office was this episode

[@findlesplurb]

This is my favorite episode of the whole series. I remember when it first aired, the part where Dwight turns around and he's wearing the dummy's face made me laugh so hard I literally almost fell on the floor. To this day one of the funniest things I've ever seen!

[@abselluf226]

The first time i saw the CPR scene i laughed so hard i fell off my chair

[@nspector]

The way Steve Carrell portrays Michael's emotional, and partly physical collapse after he is roasted, is another example of Carrell's unbelievably nuanced acting. He goes from typical Michael Scott happiness at being the center of attention, to laughing through denial of the roast being as cutting as it is, to trying to keep up that laughter when the denial disappears, to his pain and physical shutting down when it's his turn to speak and he just cannot and finally has to leave.

[@varun009]

This is my favorite episode!! It always has me dying. Can never watch it without pausing.

[@Maverick_682]

This was the first episode of The Office that I ever seen. It wasn't live as I didn't start the series until well after it went off the air. It immediately hooked me. I know I'm a lightweight but I've watched it 4 times. That's a lot for me.

[@bigwilly43729]

This is roughly the point that many sitcoms face that point of lasting “too” long. It’s a great show, but after this, it’s not so much the slapstick comedy, but the characters eventually become caricatures of themselves, or leave before it can fully happen (Michael). That’s why I always chuckle when people say the show fell off after Michael left. The wheels were turning well before that happened & those ratings bear it out. And this is the case for nearly every sitcom.

[@gbrow1604]

IMO season 6 is when the show started going downhill.

[@bigwilly43729]

@@gbrow1604 Often in conversations about the show's decline, it's boiled down to a little bit of either/or. Season 6 is still really good and much better than the efforts of many shows that reach that point in their run. It's just not quite as good as Seasons 2/3/4. But usually after about 5 seasons, these shows start getting shaky. Better written ones can string it out a little bit longer than others.

[@gbrow1604]

@@bigwilly43729 Yeah seasons 6-7 were still decent but they just weren't nearly as good as seasons 2-5. Seasons 8-9 were officially past the point of being good television.

[@Mibbitmaker]

For me, the decline did start with season 6, but some of that season was still good. And season 7 had 3-4 great ones - the one when Michael got lost (the ending on the roof was essentially Michael and Holly's "theeen it's a date" moment), Michael's proposal one, and his goodbye. Arguably the finale, if only for the promising introduction of Robert California (promise broken by s.8) and one more peak at David Brent on the US Office.

[@Mulverine]

I made that theory video about in-universe reasons for why everything starts getting crazier the deeper into the series it goes, but those are all just fan theories. I do think that Stress Relief is one of the defining episodes for the humor type that gets criticized later. I struggle with saying it's the "Day the Office Died", because (call me "basic") I still love the Office all the way through. So I wouldn't say it died. I also don't know if it really "Jumped the Shark" either. I think instead the writers/showrunners were rewarded for going so far above and beyond with this episode, I think that's the carrot they were always chasing after this. Every season has a theme and a feeling with it. The California Season 8 is it's own thing. I see what they were going for, and I don't think it worked the way they really wanted. The Jim/Pam drama stuff in Season 9 seemed like an attempt to recapture the Jim/Pam will they-won't they stuff from the early seasons, and I don't think it worked the way they wanted. I'm curious how my views will be when I get to the dark ages of the Office. Thanks for watching and talking about this series! It's very cathartic!

[@jpeters1734]

reviewing every episode of the office? SUBSCRIBED!

[@kdburner7356]

1:15 … hold up, so wtf was that MASSIVE spike?!😂😂

[@kite.a1231]

Too many iconic scenes in this episode hahahaha didn’t know this was aired after the super bowl! Just right! 😄

[@The_FactoidVoid]

This is the first episode I ever saw because my guests wanted to watch it after the game.

[@terrancelord5185]

I remember first watching this show on Netflix and I when I got to this episode I was laughing for so long it was crazy.

[@fromthesnow1529]

I tell everyone who’s watching the office for the first time to watch this episode to see if they like it, cause it’s got so many good scenes and you really get to see the dynamic of the cast

[@superjackster0165]

I hate this episode because of how inconsistent the story is. The beginning of the episode is focused on Dwight and how his fire drill caused the office to go through CPR training. But then the episode abruptly shifts to focusing to Michael and him learning that he stresses everyone out, which leads the roasting session with everyone talking about how much they despise Michael's mere existence. Dwight's fire drill storyline is then forgotten about and never mentioned again. What happened? It's like the writers just randomly decided to change the plot of the episode for no reason when they were halfway through writing it.

[@misslittledove]

“You’ve slept with so many guys you’re starting to look like one.” One of Michael’s best/overlooked jokes in the series.

[@djCatScanRL]

Who does he say that to, Meredith? 😭

[@grizzlyadams8277]

I say “This City” any time I look out a window! First floor or 50th floor, big city or small town it doesn’t matter. I’ll commiserate about my location. All thanks to this episode.

[@PorkShark]

I didn't know who Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, etc. were when I watched Stress Relief for the first time, so I just thought it was a random movie

[@fae206]

lol, Stress Relief Part One is my favorite episode of The Office :)

[@pot8oking565]

3 amazing scenes

[@jacobwhite1360]

Great video man, really well put together and now I really wanna rewatch the office again! I totally agree though, this is truly one of the funniest tv episodes of all time it’s class 🤣

[@IndigoBellyDance]

The CPR scene is Sooooooooooo my favorite of this show !!! Laugh so hard every time

[@knirpsling5946]

Again, a great video and really awsome and interesting analysis. There are so many things I didn't pick up on and you provide a new perspective on this great show!

[@keymaster430]

my favorite roast was Oscar's when he basically just yells at Michael in Spanish all the things he yells in his car on the way home from work everyday.

[@alext8244]

geez this makes me feel old cant believe this is 14 years ago

[@xanderodle2721]

Trivia: The movie they watch is Mrs. Albert Hannaday

[@therealgretzki]

this channel just got blessed by the algorithm

[@slangoognals]

What does "lose Pam in a game of poker" even mean? Like they have a big fight over it?

[@irunthepeg]

I have a longstanding opinion that the show could have ended perfectly after season three. Jim asks Pam out, you know the rest works out. That said, if there were two reasons I enjoyed the show going on longer it would be Dinner Party and THIS opener. Perhaps my favourite all-time intro, followed closely by Jim impersonating Dwight.

[@thelittleorangefriend393]

Idk why but Dwight’s “Or and LAND” kills me every time

[@mournblade1066]

Hands down, the funniest television episode of all time.

[@taylerrenee9710]

Micheal talking about the dumby was the funniest thing ever !!!

[@SamanthaMann]

I like The Office. Not a super fan but it’s cool. Just like I like shoes. I’m not a shoe fanatic but they are cool. This preface is to say I like watching shoe fanatic channels cause I love seeing someone so into something. So I love watching you break down an episode like this. It’s fun and fascinating especially for me with a degree in creative writing and want to be a show runner. Not for The Office but for your work and details….you got my sub.

[@ehhhokay3289]

What’s funny is Dwight had his face cut off and worn in rob zombie movie

[@g_trots7374]

The Michael and Holly gif can be seen at the 15:03 mark. Never did one of these before so I thought I’d try it!

[@NotADoctor330]

Damn, beat me to it

[@zachnunya8749]

This is my favorite episode

[@HalfKort]

The movie is called Mrs Hanaday I think

[@sheilamartinez7532]

finally, some good culture. My absolute favorite opening.

[@natebenetard5100]

Lol Creeds face is hilarious in slow motion

[@wordplay1527]

13:53 Song name? That remix is smooth 🔥🔥

[@techyougo]

I would argue stress relief is in my top 3 but i personally like Dinner Party and Jim and Pams wedding episode better

[@csmith9573]

"We're trapped, everyone for themselves!"

[@at2398]

The best part of this is you weren't even on set and know more then Jenna and Angela.