The Office: Every Christmas Episode Ranked From Worst To Best

Christmas Party was the first Christmas episode of The Office and looking back it reflected everything that the show was during the early days. Michael was more of a jackass, Dwight was much more servile toward him, and Jim's slacking attitude was far more prominent.

When The Office play secret Santa for the year with a $20 limit, Michael, who has received a huge bonus, buys a $400 iPod for Ryan. Michael's own emotions get the better of him once again as he is left disappointed by the gift he receives from Phyllis, so he insists on swapping the presents in a game called 'Yankee Swap'.

This goes as well as could be expected with most people fighting for the iPod and ignoring the other gifts. This hits a sore spot with Jim, as he has bought Pam a teapot and filled it with mementoes of their time together.

All this ends up with Michael eventually realising that he has wrecked the party and buying an enormous amount of booze to compensate. Pam realises that Jim's teapot was a very personal gift from him to her and trades her iPod to Dwight post-game so she can have it. Meanwhile, the whole office gets drunk and Meredith flashes Michael.

The episode has a much more realistic humour to it than some later editions of the Christmas outings, and because of that it gives it an authentic tone that is unique in this list.