"The Dundies" is The Office's Most Important Episode

This video is sponsored by Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy, special thanks to Square Einx! Get it here: bit.ly/GuardiansoftheMidnight
The Office's season 2 premiere "The Dundies" set the stage for the rest of the show in an important and interesting way. I get into it here.
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Music by Epidemic Sound (www.epidemicsound.com)
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Special thanks to Andrew Elliott (Stalli111: / stalli111 ) for editing this video!

[@captainmidnight]

What's your favorite episode of The Office season 2? Get Guardians of the Galaxy on PC here: bit.ly/GuardiansoftheMidnight

[@brittasnow64]

The Injury

[@1973Ganesh]

You need to review no way home!!!

[@austinwilwayco]

Casino Night

[@computersocsci]

I never noticed before how Dwight nods solemnly when Pam says "I feel God in this Chili's tonight" 🤣

[@mr.moviemafia]

He’s like “Damn right there is”

[@jonathanstubbs8158]

Fantastic catch

[@thawhiteazn]

According to Jenna Fischer in her and Angela Kinsey’s podcast the Chili’s employee that made the statement about Pam being over served was an actual Chili’s employee and not an actor. Which is even more impressive because he absolutely killed it with his delivery of that line.

[@eileensnow6153]

I used to work at Chili’s and this kind of thing was seriously annoying. He’s probably not even acting, the poor man has just seen too much lol

[@agayactornamedmichaeldougl6289]

People that aren't in the screen actors guild can't have lines in TV or movies bro, something about her story sounds fishy.

[@Tonyhouse1168]

@@agayactornamedmichaeldougl6289 they can if they sign a waiver and are offered scale pay

[@user-bm7mo2ck6r]

he’s not even acting he just has to do his job but on camera now lol

[@justanothermortal1373]

That doesn't make any sense. So did the crew just randomly pick a Chili's to do an episode at without asking the restaurant?

[@jimbo3860]

This episode marked the real departure from the British version of the show. Michael Scott is depicted as a man who truly cares about his employees and goes out of his way to put on an elaborate - if cringeworthy - spectacle to honour the workers. It shows he really cares. In contrast, David Brent was never shown to be benevolent in this way and was only ever interested in self-promotion. This is one reason that the American version of the show was ultimately more successful than the original. The characters were more fleshed out and likable. This was something that Gervais encouraged the American writers to do.

[@WhiteChocolate74]

But the British Office is still better, at least imo

[@Hikayuhuy]

@@WhiteChocolate74 they’re essentially 2 different shows by season 2. I find the need to compare them incessant. They might have started with the same premise, but premise alone doesn’t make a story. There are millions of books, comics, movies and shows released with not very many different premises every year. That don’t make them any more or less worth telling.

[@WhiteChocolate74]

@@Hikayuhuy true, and maybe what I said is irrelevant, but it's still a better piece of art (Wait, it's not irrelevant. When I said that I was responding to OP's last paragraph)

[@gailcbull]

You have to remember that The Office is social satire. In order for it to work, it has to reflect the society it is satirizing. You can't just transfer a social satire to a different country without changing the social dynamics. David Brent isn't benevolent because the majority of corporate bosses in Britain don't care if their employees like them. So it works. Michael Scott had to be desperate to be liked by his employees because that is very true to North American culture. As someone who has worked in the corporate world in Canada, I can attest that "the boss who wants to win the office popularity contest" is absolutely a thing. That people-pleasing desperation that usually goes horribly wrong is so recognizable in North American culture that it absolutely hurts.

[@sathesh4019]

I wouldn't say better, teh British version was more dark and bleak because that reflects British sensibilities. I don't think American audiences would buy into that in teh same way, so they had to give this series for warmth

[@sasha-dt5vk]

seasons 2 and 3 are absolute powerhouses, almost every episode is fantastic and the jim and pam dynamic is peak. they are the greatest seasons of the office

[@BrendanJSmith]

Just like the Simpsons and Parks & Rec, season 1 of the Office feels like a long pilot episode as opposed to a cohesive season of TV.

[@KennethSee]

ST:TNG as well.

[@Vivi_9]

I love Parks and Rec season 1!! Has some of my favourite Andy moments. The Office (US) Season 1 genuinely can be skipped.

[@milkeywilkie]

@@Vivi_9 although basketball is one of my favorite episodes! I love that one.

[@dangerdan79]

People who talk about the Michael Scott reboot always mention the hair, but I always notice how s1 Michael almost always has his jacket off and sleeves rolled up awkwardly, but from s2 on you can probably count on one hand the number of times he has his jacket off unprompted. It's almost cartoonish (in a good way).

[@carlrood4457]

He also goes for more color in shirts with a slightly looser collar.

[@CarnivoreMomma]

@@carlrood4457 the overtly tight colar just made him look fat in the face.

[@AqueleRod]

Fun fact: Rainn Wilson improvised the sound effects during the Dundies ceremony, according to Jena and Angela's podcast.

[@slaybomb96]

Makes me wonder how much of the show was improvised. They obviously got more freedom later on when John, Jenna and Steve joined the writers and producers. Paul Liberstien, Mindy and BJ Novak where pretty much there from the start which I think helped.

[@SlamBolts]

Season 2 added one key ingredient at the end of each episode, which is what makes The Office special: a little bit of hope.

[@carlrood4457]

I think one of the shows strengths is in how it portrays relationships. TV & movies tend to go with volatile, "opposites attract" relationships. In The Office, the major relationships that endure are the ones built on common interests and personality traits. Jim and Pam share a sense of humor and have and usually find it easy to relate. Michael and Holly have their quirky sense of humor and odd worldview. Holly's a little more grounded, probably due to an apparently more stable and loving family growing up, so she can help stabilize Michael who always needed those things. Dwight and Angela are both old fashioned, nearly 19th century in attitude. They actually appreciate a lot of the traits that most others find off putting about them.

[@chuckiebrownbfly]

Not jus romantic relationships. Like they mentioned two and a half men or think of sheldon/lenord or jerry/kramer, Michael and Dwight or dwight/Andy feel realistic. All quirky with a "big bro" side where one degrades the other to an extent

[@dash_r_media]

Holly is the more grounded one because to be successful, one of them would have to be. One of the reasons I love her character is that she is grounded exactly as long as she needs to be, then goes back to Planet Michael

[@NTWoo95]

The office was the first show I “binge watched” on Netflix in like 2015-16, and I didn’t know the next season would just carry on after you finished the previous one. So for me, going from seeing Michael in season 1 and the next episode he looks 20 years younger I was really confused

[@CinnamonGrrlErin1]

I used to work at this busy cafe years ago, and because we had to watch our language due to the open kitchen, my coworkers and I resorted to bad puns and Office quotes to blow off steam. And we ended up coming up with our own version of the Dundies called the "Golden Kettle Award" that we'd randomly give to someone if it had been extra busy or if they had a cranky customer.

[@spiderman110990]

I don't like to think about the alternate reality where The Office was canceled after 1 season.

[@jaydiemusik]

The darkest Timeline…

[@TBombz]

I'm still amazed how much they had the show nailed from the very start of S2. There was such a magic to this episode, especially near the end. It was the same feeling I got watching those early Simpsons episodes. It was one of those moments where you're like, 'ok I'm prepared to watch this show for years now.

[@williamjones7592]

I think I heard on the office ladies podcast that the guy that says pam is banned from chillis is not an actor and is actually a chillis employee

[@matthewsawczyn6592]

That episode did so much for Chili's, they should've been grateful lol

[@chumanimtwebana6321]

This episode was actually so wholesome in the weidest way

[@aidanshea5942]

I remember when I finally stopped thinking I was cool for not watching The Office, and I sat down and watched the show after season 1 I was considering just not watching any further, but this episode changed my mind on that, and the show only got better from there... Until it got worse and I stopped watching.

[@sasha-dt5vk]

season 7, right? that’s when my interest started dropping off. i went from being desperately obsessed with the show, not being able to do anything other than watch as many episodes as i could from seasons 2-6, to occasionally watching chunks of episodes at a time

[@crimson232]

@@sasha-dt5vk broo I legit was bringing the office from season 1 - 7 for like 7 days then I took a break for a week after the shift of Micheal dipping but then I binged the rest overall it was great

[@thetrickster9885]

I stopped in between season 8 when andy was stopped being manager

[@austinwilwayco]

This is actually one of my favorite episodes of the show. This is a turning point in the show, Pam clapping for Michael changes these characters, This episode changes Michael by giving him hope that he can be funny, It gives Jim hope that he can be with Pam, and Pam, well, we see her break out of her shell and become her true self, “Drunk Pam” is foreshadowing for the person Pam becomes in this series, so ya, Great Episode, Whooo!!!!

[@jerryschramm4399]

"Cheers" in its first season was the least watched show on TV. And why on Earth did anyone ever watch "Two and a Half Men"? Seriously.

[@donkeysaurusrex7881]

Filmes in front of a live studio ostrich.

[@raegangarlitz5313]

The Dundies is one of my favorite episodes and one I go back to all the time. "THE DUNDIES, HOW DO I EXPLAIN IT..."

[@mahz1ful]

Awards you like to hate it. I'm psyched you all made it. You never had to work so hard and feel that no one notices you. You're just a name and number and no one even says hello." Card!

[@Football__Junkie]

It was an episode concept that gave you more of an idea of who each character was. Adding a layer of depth to each character in the office because their award reflected who they were at work.

[@NasonJPR]

I think Casino Night is my favourite episode of the show and, to me, it feels very similar to this episode. Season 2 is season 1 for me, if only in my mind.

[@highwind1991]

The peak of The Office truly starts here. As well as a perfect season of television

[@Sadeshking]

It's great to see a new video about the office!

[@tbone6704]

This is the episode I start with on a rewatch

[@owainmcdonald1230]

Not the greatest episode in the whole series but one of the most significant and seminal. Creates so many character archs that continue throughout the series and this episode is the sole reason and foundation of it.

[@Eidlones]

When I started showing my parents The Office during the pandemic, I started on season 2. I was worried they'd wanna drop it if i started on 1.

[@ghostophelia2245]

When the employee comes out, clicks his tongue, and says pam beasely of all people isnt welcome back is the funniest part of the episode

[@fulltriflo]

I start watching the office because of you. Thank a lot it's so funny

[@momom9547]

loved this episode. this was when i knew i was gonna love The Office

[@vitsboy46]

I love your thought process ♥️♥️

[@BugsyFoga]

Neat how you got such a cool sponsor.

[@SaheelsCorner]

i'm literally playing the gaurdians game while watching this video, it's actually really good, good sponsor!

[@bennyfavela6237]

Another great office video! Keep them coming but Can we get some 30 rock up in this channel?

[@sdlstr91]

Love your videos. I notice you stay within the limits of a ten minute video. I think I know why, but if you did make a longer video essay, what would you like to talk about?

[@gilblackbeard922]

The problem with watching the spiderman premiere is having to wait a week for captain midnight's video Great video btw

[@Justakidthatrantsisapimp]

Why _____ is The Office's most _____ Episode

[@johnchandler271]

I found God in this Chili's tonight, Woo!!

[@skiprockjr.6881]

Robert California's wrestling partner Stu was the Scranton Strangler.

[@abdelali9279]

So in 2019 I was getting odd jobs to save money to enter college again and, I ended up working as a receptionist for a company, it was located in a business commercial park with a Denny's and a Chili's hell, the building we were has a shopping mall in the first 3 floors, point being yes I went to a couple of company meals to Denny's but also the Chirstmas party was in Chili's and I could't help myselft to say when we had to say our thanks "I can feel God in this Chili's tonight", it was surreal, good thing it was only a temp job tho. 😅

[@AndrewWilsonStooshie]

The first series feels like an entire pilot series.

[@closeredge5198]

Intro rap to the dundies was 🤣

[@firelionnadavcretzo9114]

My personal favourite episode

[@user-wf3oc6wy2b]

If you're on a Greg Daniels kick, "Upload" has a full season out there and is also great.

[@crispyyfit]

Sir Midnight, will you do a NWH review? If so I look forward to it!

[@captainmidnight]

It's going live on Monday!

[@fuosdi64]

Love this episode!!😊

[@ajwillay6888]

So most of what you said about the episode is pretty accurate.. except the comments you made about the chili employee at the end being an actor... If you listen to the office lady's podcast for this particular episode, Jenna and Angela state that the guy that did this line was not an actor, but an ACTUAL Chili's employee. And they were going on about how impressed they were with how well he delivered it And how he was not an actor. Just FYI. :-)

[@One.Zero.One101]

This video is weird. It says this is the episode that Michael Scott did a total departure from David Brent by citing these examples: "He's just a dopey guy who mostly means well and just doesn't understand how embarrassing he can be." "His desperate need to feel included and be part of the family." Those are the exact characteristics that define David Brent.

[@jordansweet8054]

I gotta go with Casino Night. Would you do a worst season of the office like with Community Season 4.

[@tedioussugar384]

My pick is on Broke from Season 5. It just shows so much about Michael not as the awkward bumbling boss, but as a salesman. He instantly knows how to put pressure on David into getting his job back, and he managed to get Pam and even Ryan jobs as well because he cares about them instead of the money. It showed how good he was as a salesman and why he would become manager, even if he’s totally unqualified for it.

[@electricbluetiramisu3713]

The Day The Office Was Born but it’s by Captain Midnight

[@johnathandupree4690]

Love it!

[@fluffy13bondjames92]

I never realized that chili’s was fricking product placement like the Subaru later on. Omg i thought it was just like “off course Michael goes to damn chili’s”

[@Lukas-bg4yn]

I'm not from the US, I didn't even know it's a real place. It seemed so generic lol

[@aissaaissa3080]

My Hero Accademia thoughts next

[@Bob-fj7lr]

One thing about hosting them at a Chilis: if you know about the geography of the northeast of America, like... That's what's there. Those sort of restaurant chains are peppered all over the rural/suburban parts of Pennsylvania and Connecticut and upstate NY. Its hosted at a Chilis because that's just what's off the interstate, probably in a mall, probably across a parking lot with a Target and a Gamestop and a Subway and a Banana Republic and a candle store and a Grocery store chain. They serve pretty much all American food, they serve drinks. Its just so NORMAL for people who live in areas similar to Scranton in the Northeast to do this sort of get together at the local Chilis.

[@cherylhulting1301]

I love that detailing too, because the context in which the show occurs is really important thematically. It illuminates the ideas of the series that it takes place against the backdrop of our mall-ized, chain store landscape. I STILL lose it when Michael and Christian break into song about wanting their "Chili's baby back ribs!" 😄😄

[@Tonyhouse1168]

It’s like that in north Texas too

[@writwikishmam]

Office always had the potential of being owned by internet... since the beginning

[@OliverTheRicketts]

For all the flack this show takes for being overplayed, its seriously a master class on writing relatable comedy. Thanks for the inspiration, I'm gonna have to start looking back on the office now- both for entertainment and for my writing!

[@connie4334]

best sponsor ever. go play it! its fucking amazing.

[@Lummmlee]

Dundee award for most milk toast video

[@captainmidnight]

*milquetoast

[@Jack-ot3oo]

fax

[@Tim_the_Enchanter]

Drunk Pam is my favorite Pam.

[@ryeinc]

CM: “…I wouldn’t claim that The Dundies was like the best episode in the show ever…” Me, who would claim that The Dundies was like the best episode in the show ever: ☹️

[@unavoidablycanadian397]

The Dundies is an epic episode.

[@scruffd0g193]

This when Micheal is no longer that dark cynical boss, he turns into that loveable goof head

[@ronaldwilson9525]

I agree. It was this episode that made me an Office fan.

[@Kriae]

I didn't know Chili's was a real place

[@Supremepie]

I can NOT wait for your video on no way home.

[@GweiTheLeafChild]

The Chili's not endorsing Pam's drunkedness makes sense, since it implies that Chili's would serve someone to such a dangerously inebriated state, rather than limiting how many drinks a patron could be served.

[@popenashe4767]

This is the episode I started liking pam

[@MFran248]

Just realized Dwight keeps his phone locked in his desk after Jim put the coins in it lol

[@bartomiejjedlikowski280]

I watched the office 7 times. It's the first time i hear the Chilli's are product placement.

[@Ancor_Vantian]

Apologies, Captain Midnight. But every time I see you re-using/uploading shows/themes you have already talked about I can't help but to think about the Daniel Day-Lewis 'Nine' scene, where a journalist asks his Italian Director character: "Have you ran out of things say?"

[@bradsmith8297]

When I re-watch the office, I literally skip season 1 for all these reasons.

[@johnchandler271]

I only like the season 1 because the Amy Adams episode were Dwight buys a purse.

[@Shimmy-xg9xu]

The chili's manager was not an actor. He was an actual Chilis manager.

[@FanDanGo86]

I'm rewatching it now and I always skip the first season. I think when it stops trying to be like the UK version and does it's own thing it really shines.

[@TheDanishGuyReviews]

"Feeling God in this Chili's tonight" is the actual line, and this is where it came from? Wow. I never knew that.

[@isabellaearnhardt6380]

❤️

[@luizsergiomdeccurado]

Man, i just binged all of your videos, please make more. KKK, And some of then i just watched three times, i love the office, and when im found your chanell i just watched all your videos, keep with the awesome work,

[@jessehill9422]

Huge question, why haven't you posted your thoughts on spiderman no way home? Like to hear what you have to say about it.

[@captainmidnight]

that's my next video!

[@theshoeboxghost3633]

UK version I can’t even get through one episode

[@alexcova20]

"I feel God on this comment section tonight"

[@planescaped]

I tend to skip season 1 of The Office when I rewatch it and start with this episode.

[@rodbelding9523]

Wait...so Chili's got offended that Pam got wasted in their restaurant and made an actual employee make a disclaimer? Haha wtf. I mean, it's a TV show, why did Chili's take it so seriously?

[@LaneyStudios5]

The Dundies with DeAngelo was the most important episode, man, DeAngelo was like the show's best character, gutting he was only in it for four episodes

[@maxelmendorf]

This is the dumbest comment I have ever seen and I can’t tell if you are joking

[@LaneyStudios5]

@@maxelmendorf actually it was either DeAngelo or Andy before he went to anger management and became unlikable

[@johnchandler271]

DeAngelo was the worst character other than the woman that tried to seduce Jim. her name is forgettable.

[@LaneyStudios5]

@@johnchandler271 aww I liked Cathy, I thought her and Jim would have been good together

[@Chris-mc2dt]

@@LaneyStudios5 Can’t forget Brian the camera guy!

[@jablinski_time]

For me personally I liked the office U.S version, though the TV show slowly went down in quality. But I was there the entire time.

[@jablinski_time]

8/10

[@bugsyproductions3140]

S1Ep2 is.

[@yannickvandervenne5270]

You mean 'da dunndeess' right?

[@heroforhire6921]

Where’s that NWH video my g

[@lrlong1285]

Great video. But this can’t be The Office’s best episode when the Dinner Party Episode exists...

[@cherylhulting1301]

That isn't what he said. He made a good case for why it's the most influential in terms of the direction of the show.

[@Housewarmin]

So we all agree that the end of The Office is when Michael left? We don’t acknowledge the rest of whatever that was. Right?

[@gameb9oy]

Except for the actual ending where he came back

[@grouchypuff570]

Gotta come back for when Michael gets to see all of his kids grow up... and marry each other

[@TakittixD]

No

[@spiderman110990]

I think season 8 and 9 had its moments, but yeah, there was a noticeable decline in the overall fun of the show after Steve left.

[@slospop1125]

@@gameb9oy and Asian Jim

[@arashabdullahdawudcharlton5548]

The Dundee for best office review video,.......goes to ......

[@GodBless423]

What About Ping ??

[@onni5302]

Jim is the main character.

[@cherylhulting1301]

He is, but the most significant actions for characters in the episode are for Michael, Pam and Dwight.

[@vins1979]

The problem with The Office: through the seasons, the cartoonish Michael become more and more human and realistic, while the human and realistic characters become more and more cartoonish.

[@GweiTheLeafChild]

Kelly pretty much became an entirely different person when Mindy Kaling was allowed to do what she wanted with her.

[@willotoole4282]

No way home review soon?

[@captainmidnight]

Monday :)

[@jacobhman4363]

Can't wait for Monday for once

[@jacobhman4363]

Hey I love your videos can you do a review on the new spider man movie

[@captainmidnight]

You can expect it on Monday:)

[@drivewayhero]

Could you do Dune, for me it was a let down. Beautiful, but a let down because i really didnt care for any characters.. it was just bland

[@akashjojisreactions580]

Hey or hi Captain midnight, can you review or react to X-men or Spider-Man homecoming 3/ no way home or homecoming, you seen Spider-Man no way home

[@degotas]

It was Chili's, because Bennagins is dead

[@donkeysaurusrex7881]

South Park still does Bennigans

[@andrewramirz1865]

Chilis imployee was NOT an actor lol. He is the real deal