7.6/102,727 votesLoading...#1 - Downsize
Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 7/9/2001
David Brent, manager of the Slough branch of Wernham Hogg paper merchants, is told that it might be closed down. He makes the rash promise of No Redundancies...
Director: Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant
Writer: Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant
7.8/102,047 votesLoading...#2 - New Girl
Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 8/13/2001
Brent decides to take on a new secretary despite the spectre of redundancies in the Slough branch. He can choose between some bloke that's turned up for interview and a pretty young blonde. The day is rounded off with a trip to Chasers nightclub...
Director: Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant
Writer: Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant
8.0/102,325 votesLoading...#3 - Work Experience
Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 7/16/2001
A new girl arrives on work experience. The day is brightened up even more by a doctored picture of David Brent that's been e-mailed around the office. Cue Gareth Keenan Special Investigator...
Director: Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant
Writer: Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant
8.0/102,216 votesLoading...#4 - The Quiz
Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 7/23/2001
Tim is 30 today and receives some special gifts. Dawn wants to organize after-work drinks for him but it's also the annual quiz night. Brent & Finchy see it as a point of honour that they win. The only real competition comes from Tim & Ricky...
Director: Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant
Writer: Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant
8.1/102,003 votesLoading...#5 - Judgement
Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 8/20/2001
Jennifer arrives to give the final decision. The Slough branch is to be merged with Swindon and some people will lose their jobs, and David has been offered Jennifer's job, which he accepts.
Director: Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant
Writer: Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant
8.1/101,873 votesLoading...#6 - Appraisals
Season 2 Episode 2 - Aired 10/7/2002
As David conducts the annual staff appraisals he discovers that the group from Swindon are less than impressed with their new boss and a lunchtime trip to the pub does little to improve the situation. The same cannot be said for Tim however, who is getting on particularly well with new girl Rachel.
Director: Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant
Writer: Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant
8.2/101,929 votesLoading...#7 - Merger
Season 2 Episode 1 - Aired 9/30/2002
As a result of the Swindon merger, a group of new staff arrive at Slough branch and David wastes no time in familiarising them with his unique style of management. Meanwhile, Tim seems to be taking his promotion very seriously.
Director: Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant
Writer: Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant
8.3/101,888 votesLoading...#8 - Party
Season 2 Episode 3 - Aired 10/14/2002
A colleague's birthday provides a welcome distraction for the employees of Wernham Hogg and leads to a series of practical jokes at the expense of David and Gareth. Meanwhile, David's growing frustrations with new boss Neil constantly looking over his shoulder are somewhat alleviated by the arrival of two representatives from a public speaking company who seem keen to recruit him.
Director: Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant
Writer: Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant
8.3/101,877 votesLoading...#9 - Motivation
Season 2 Episode 4 - Aired 10/21/2002
David's preparations for his first motivational training seminar that evening don't get off to the perfect start when he first discovers the staff's new nicknames for him that are doing the rounds and then receives another reprimand from Neil for neglecting his duties. Meanwhile, Tim and Rachel finally go public with their relationship, much to the dismay of Gareth.
Director: Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant
Writer: Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant
8.6/101,935 votesLoading...#10 - Interview
Season 2 Episode 6 - Aired 11/4/2002
Although slightly peeved that the staff seem to be taking his redundancy in their stride, David's spirits remain high as he plans his future while also being interviewed for an article in 'Inside Paper'. Tim takes drastic action when he learns that Dawn has resigned in order to move to the USA with boyfriend Lee. However, when David is told that his services as a motivational speaker are also no longer required he sinks to his lowest ebb and begs Neil to reconsider the dismissal. But is it too late?
Director: Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant
Writer: Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant
8.7/101,976 votesLoading...#11 - Charity
Season 2 Episode 5 - Aired 10/28/2002
It's Comic Relief Day and the staff of Werhnam Hogg all do their bit to raise money including Dawn, whose 'kisses for 1' stand finally provides Tim with the opportunity he's been waiting for. But when David can only produce a draft of his new gameshow concept in place of an important company report, Neil and Jennifer draw the line and inform him that he is being made redundant.
Director: Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant
Writer: Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant
8.8/102,537 votesLoading...#12 - Training
Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 7/30/2001
Wernham Hogg, Slough branch are having a training day. Rowan, an outside consultant tries his best. Dawn has other things on her mind...
Director: Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant
Writer: Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant
The Worst Episodes of The Office
Every episode of The Office ranked from worst to best. Explore the Worst Episodes of The Office!
Nightmare boss. Tedious colleagues. Pointless tasks. Welcome to Wernham Hogg. Fancy a tea break with David Brent? Classic comedy from the archive.
Genre:Comedy
Network:BBC Two
Worst Episodes Summary
"Downsize" is the worst rated episode of "The Office". It scored 7.6/10 based on 2727 votes. Directed by Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant and written by Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, it aired on 7/9/2001. This episode scored 0.2 points lower than the second lowest rated, "New Girl".