Iconic series The Office has some of the most nerve-wracking and cringe-worthy moments in sitcom history. Due to its mockumentary style, there’s no laugh track to encourage the audience to giggle along. But all of the scripted moments are so awkward and dry that it’s hard not to laugh along… or at least giggle out of discomfort.
Alas, after nine seasons and some incredible characters, longtime fans of The Office can’t help but get nervous all over again when rewatching the series. Even though it’s a scripted television show, some moments are so embarrassing or tense that they force the viewer to look away.
When Jim Expressed His Love To Pam
There’s nothing like rewatching the beginning of the Jim and Pam saga. They loved each other from afar but were unable to act on it because of Pam’s engagement. But as exciting as it is watching their love grow over the years, it’s still nerve-wracking watching Jim tell Pam he loved her. Fans know all too well that Pam turns him down, which leads to Jim transferring branches. It’s a rollercoaster of emotions for everyone.
When Pam Told Roy That She And Jim Kissed
Fans were shocked when Pam had the confidence to tell Roy that she and Jim kissed each other on casino night. In what world did she think that was going to end well? Roy was already a few beers in and had his brother as a backup. He wouldn’t have been okay with his fiancée kissing anyone — especially her best friend, Jim.
Knowing what’s to come for Pam and Roy’s relationship after this is hard to watch. And let’s not forget that this knowledge encouraged Roy to attack Jim at work and get fired for it.
When Michael Sent A Picture Of A Topless Jan Across Dunder Mifflin
Michael was so thrilled about vacationing with Jan that he couldn’t keep it a secret. Jan wanted their relationship on the down-low but secrets are not Michael’s strong suit.
When he came back from Jamacia, he tried to implement some of the things he learned on the island at work, but no one else was on board. To prove what a good time he had, he accidentally sent a picture of him and a topless Jan to the entire packaging department at Dunder Mifflin. Knowing that everyone at work was going to see such an intimate picture was unbearable to watch — especially when Jan showed up in Scranton!
Scott’s Tots
“Scott’s Tots” has to be one of the most cringe-worthy television episodes in TV history. Early in his career, Michael had the audacity to promise college tuition to an entire class of young students. By the time those students were high school seniors, it was time for Michael to pay up. But as fans know, he wasn’t the multi-millionaire he thought he’d be. In actuality, he was broke.
With Erin’s support, Michael had to tell the class and teachers that he was unable to pay for their college tuition and that all he was giving them were batteries for their laptops…
When Michael Destroyed Woody
When Holly came back to Scranton, Michael assumed they were going to pick up where they left off. Unfortunately for him, Holly was still dating A.J..
While Holly was unpacking her things, she told Michael that A.J. gave her a Woody doll from Toy Story because she had a friend in him. Michael couldn’t handle the symbolism, so what does he do? He tosses Woody in the trash and dumps his coffee on him. Seeing how upset Holly was with her destroyed Woody was heartbreaking, awkward, and everything in between.
When Andy Broke Up With Jessica
It was romantic when Andy showed up in Florida to save Erin and bring her back to Scranton. But when he told her he was still technically dating Jessica, that’s when fans lost hope. With Erin in the passenger seat, he drove to Jessica’s cabin where he tried breaking up with her in front of her closest friends… When he didn’t have the strength to tell Jessica he loved Erin, he did the unthinkable: he told her he was gay. Poor Jessica.
Andy’s Garden Party
When Andy became the regional manager of the Scranton branch, he threw a party. This unusual party was garden-themed and totally directed towards impressing his family. No one at the office knew why they were going to this garden party and thought the entire theme was weird. But when they saw Andy attempt a duet with his father, everyone knew the real reason behind the day.
There was something incredibly weird about Andy trying to make his father happy, only to get kicked out of the duet and replaced by his brother.
When Angela Found Out About Oscar And The Senator
It was shocking when Angela’s new husband, the senator, was living a double life. But it was even more shocking when the senator started dating Oscar without anyone knowing. Watching Oscar date the senator while sitting next to Angela every day was daunting. Fans were just waiting for the second that she found out. One of the more tense moments was when Angela and Oscar spied on him during his yoga class and the senator called Oscar while he was with Angela.
Darryl And The Broken Fish Tank
Darryl was nervous during his interview with Athlead — so much so that he had to have a re-do just to calm his nerves. Darryl was a great guy and fans wanted him to be happy in his next career endeavor. But just as it seemed like the job was in the bag, Darryl did one of the worst things that could ever happen during a job interview: he broke a fish tank. The basketball he shot missed the rim and cracked the fish tank. Fish and water spilled everywhere. The moment is unwatchable.
The Dojo
In the episode “The Fight,” viewers were excited to watch Michael and Dwight go head-to-head at the dojo to see who the strongest man was. But as soon as Jim and starts tickling Pam, viewers shield their eyes. They know what’s about to happen. Jim lifts Pam in the air, which prompts Meredith to see the two flirting. Pam panics when Meredith sees her so close to Jim, and a rift between the two begins.
