S03E14 · EP 42
season 3 · 2007-01-18
The Return
written by ? · directed by Greg Daniels · 9.32M viewers · image The Office Wiki (CC BY-SA)

Episode DNA

19 scenes · 4 threads
awkward 22%social rule violation 9%misunderstanding 8%tender 8%confession 6%scheme 6%violence 5%cheerful 4%absurd 4%humiliation 4%

Story threads over runtime

click a block to open the scene
0:005:0010:0015:0020:00
A · Andy's Annoying Antics
B · Oscar's Return
C · Jim and Pam's Prank
D · Michael Retrieves Dwight
01

Every scene

19 scenes · our breakdown
1 · Dunder Mifflin office · cold_openAndy's obnoxious introduction

Andy annoys coworkers with his loud personality and ringtone.

00:00–00:48social_rule_violation · humiliation
2 · Dunder Mifflin office · act1Andy's relentless badgering

Andy continues to irritate Jim and Ryan with his antics.

00:48–02:00social_rule_violation · escalation
3 · Dunder Mifflin office · act1Michael Announces Oscar's Return

Michael tells the office about Oscar's return and plans a party.

02:00–02:46misunderstanding · scheme
4 · Dunder Mifflin office · act1Oscar's return and Kevin's joke

Oscar returns and Kevin jokes about his 'gay-cation'.

02:46–02:59social_rule_violation · petty_grievance
6 · Dunder Mifflin office · act1Angela invites Oscar to committee

Angela tearfully invites Oscar to join the party planning committee.

03:40–04:19confession · secret_exposed
8 · Dunder Mifflin office · act1Pam Reveals Dwight's Kindness

Pam tells Michael that Dwight used to arrange his desk toys.

04:31–05:23misunderstanding
9 · Dunder Mifflin office · act1Michael complains about Andy

Michael expresses his annoyance with Andy's behavior.

05:23–06:03avoidance · petty_grievance
10 · Dunder Mifflin office · act1Michael plans Mexican-themed party

Michael plans a Mexican-themed party for Oscar, offending him.

06:03–06:59misunderstanding · humiliation
11 · Dunder Mifflin office · act2Andy's fishing prank on Jim

Andy pretends to fish for Jim with an imaginary rod.

06:59–07:33social_rule_violation · humiliation
12 · Dunder Mifflin office · act2Jim tries to recruit prank helpers

Jim asks Karen and Ryan to help prank Andy, but they refuse.

07:33–08:09scheme
13 · Dunder Mifflin office · act2Jim asks others about Dwight

Jim asks coworkers if they've talked to Dwight.

08:09–09:27investigation · avoidance
14 ▸ 09:27
14 · Staples · act2Dwight works at Staples

Dwight works at Staples and is unrecognized by a coworker.

09:27–10:30humiliation · rivalry
16 · Dunder Mifflin office · act2Andy's phone goes missing

Andy searches for his missing phone while Jim and Pam call it.

11:33–12:01scheme · humiliation
17 · Dunder Mifflin office · act2Angela Reveals Dwight's Favor

Angela tells Michael that Dwight drove to corporate for her.

12:01–12:27secret_exposed · misunderstanding
18 · Dunder Mifflin office · act2Michael rejects Andy's friendship

Michael rejects Andy's offer to hang out, pushing Andy over the edge.

12:27–14:29violence · humiliation
20 · Staples · act3Michael retrieves Dwight from Staples

Michael finds Dwight at Staples and apologizes, asking him to return.

14:58–16:44confession · deal
21 · Dunder Mifflin office · act3Dwight returns to the party

Dwight returns to the office and thinks the party is for him.

16:44–17:27misunderstanding · coincidence
22 ▸ 17:27
22 · Dunder Mifflin office · act3Karen Asks Jim About Pam

Karen asks Jim if he still has feelings for Pam.

17:27–17:43confession · breakup
23 · Dunder Mifflin office · act3Dwight destroys piñatas

Dwight destroys the piñatas in a rage.

17:43–17:58violence · escalation
03

Same DNA

nearest episodes by gene profile

Episode facts

Wikipedia · Wikidata
Aired
2007-01-18
Overall
#42
Writers
Director
Greg Daniels
Viewers
9.32M (US)
Pace
98 words/min · 64 questions

Where to watch

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In this episode

AB
Andy Bernard151 episodes · drives 333 scenes
JH
Jim Halpert184 episodes · drives 443 scenes
RH
Ryan Howard166 episodes · drives 46 scenes
MS
Michael Scott152 episodes · drives 1262 scenes
PL
Phyllis Lapin17 episodes · drives 15 scenes
SH
Stanley Hudson184 episodes · drives 16 scenes
OM
Oscar Martinez173 episodes · drives 47 scenes
KM
Kevin Malone184 episodes · drives 56 scenes