| "Christmas Wishes" | |||
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| The Office episode | |||
Jim pretends to call animal control in order to trick Dwight |
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| Episode no. | Season 8 Episode 10 |
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| Directed by | Ed Helms | ||
| Written by | Mindy Kaling | ||
| Production code | 810 | ||
| Original air date | December 8, 2011[1] | ||
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| Episode chronology | |||
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| List of The Office (U.S.) episodes | |||
"Christmas Wishes" is the tenth episode of the eighth season of the American comedy television series The Office, and the show's 162nd episode overall. The episode originally aired on NBC in the United States on December 8, 2011. It was written by executive producer Mindy Kaling and was directed by Ed Helms in his directorial debut. In this episode, Andy (Ed Helms) attempts to make everyone's Christmas wishes come true, including a drunken Erin. Meanwhile, Dwight (Rainn Wilson) and Jim (John Krasinski) are entangled in an escalating prank war wherein one attempts to frame the other.
"Christmas Wishes" received mostly positive reviews from critics although The A.V. Club writer Myles McNutt slightly criticized the episode for losing its focus. According to Nielsen Media Research, "Garden Party" drew 5.79 million viewers and received a 2.9 rating/8% share in the 18-49 demographic, staying even with the previous two episode, "Gettysburg" and "Mrs. California." It ranked first in its timeslot, and ranked as the highest rated NBC series on Thursday.
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Andy (Ed Helms) attempts to make everyone's Christmas wishes come true. At a conference meeting, he vows to keep his promise to make wishes and asks the office members to also be nice to his new girlfriend Jessica. An emotionally confused Erin (Ellie Kemper) tries to be nice to Jessica, but ends up drinking too much at the party. In a drunken stupor, she tells Andy that her Christmas wish is for Jessica to die. Offended, he tells her to get over their breakup before storming off. Kelly does her part as a friend of Erin's by being mean to Jessica. Andy becomes concerned about Erin's behavior, not least because Robert California has revealed that his marriage is ending and spends a good deal of the party hanging out with Erin. When Andy has to drive a drunken Meredith home, he sees Erin getting into Robert's car and he follows them with a look of panic on his face. However, he covertly witnesses Robert being a gentleman and sending Erin off to her apartment with a hug and words of encouragement, and drives away with a smile on his face.
Meanwhile, Dwight (Rainn Wilson) and Jim's (John Krasinski) pranking has caused Kathy to ask Andy to move her to a different desk. In turn, Andy sternly tells Dwight and Jim to quit their childish behavior. He tells them that the next one to pull a prank will lose their Christmas bonus, and the target of the prank will get the prankster's share. Unfortunately, Andy's plan backfires, as both Dwight and Jim attempt to frame the other. Jim loudly releases his credit card information hoping Dwight will steal it and buy something ridiculous. However, Dwight orders a $200 dollar bouquet of flowers for Pam. Dwight then proceeds to put a porcupine in his desk and blame Jim. However, a verbal slip-up causes him to inadvertently reveal his intentions. Jim, in retaliation, defaces a picture of his daughter, CeCe, and blames Dwight. After Andy mentions that defacing a picture is a fireable offense, Jim admits he staged the crime. Andy admits to Jim that he's nixing the bonus-loss plan, he just wants their behavior to not interfere with their job performances. Jim promises Andy to tone the jokes down and tells him he will tell Dwight. Meanwhile, Dwight continues to deface his own property, writing "Jim is awesome" on his car and "Idiot" on his forehead. Jim, smirking, tells the camera that he needed to tell Dwight something, but can't quite remember.
The episode was written by executive producer Mindy Kaling, who also portrays Kelly Kapoor on the series, her 24th writing credit for the series. This marks her first writing credit as an executive producer.[2] Before this, it was speculated that she might not return to the series as a writer,[3] before she confirmed that she would be writing the Christmas episode.[4] She has also written the previous two Christmas episodes: "Secret Santa" and "Classy Christmas".[5] The episode was directed by cast member Ed Helms, making his directorial debut. The episode also marks the fourth appearance of Lindsey Broad who plays Kathy, Pam's replacement during her maternity leave.[6] She is currently set to appear in a recurring role for the season and she initially appeared in "Pam's Replacement".[6] Due to Jenna Fischer's actual pregnancy, Pam does not appear in the episode.[7]
The official website for The Office included three cut scenes from "Mrs. California" within a week of the episode's release. In the first 47-second clip, several of the staff member's Christmas wishes are revealed.[8] In the second 66-second clip, Dwight and Jim's pranks start turning on Kathy.[9] In the third and final 108-second clip, Meredith hits on a newly single Robert.[10]
"Christmas Wishes" originally aired on NBC in the United States on December 8, 2011.[1] The episode was viewed by an estimated 5.79 million viewers and received a 2.9 rating/8% share among adults between the ages of 18 and 49.[11] This means that it was seen by 2.9% of all 18–49 years olds, and 8% of all 18–49 year olds watching television at the time of the broadcast. The episode matched the ratings with the previous episode, "Mrs. California."[11] Despite this, the episode ranked first in its timeslot, beating the CBS drama, Person of Interest which received a 2.8 rating/7% share in the 18-49 demographic, Fox drama series, Bones which received a 2.4 rating/6% share, ABC reality series, America's Funniest Home Videos which received a 1.9 rating/5% share although all three shows received more total viewers than "Christmas Wishes".[11] For the week of November 5 – December 11, 2011, "Christmas Wishes" placed twenty-third in the ratings among all prime-time broadcasts in the 18–49 demographic.[12]
"Christmas Wishes" received mostly positive reviews from critics. Hollywood writer Hannah Lawrence enjoyed the episode, writing, "as an episode, ['Christmas Wishes'] had that certain… 'spirit' that I enjoy from Office episodes."[13] She also complimented the Erin-Andy relationship arc.[13] IGN writer Cindy White, although noting that the episode "had some big obstacles to overcome" with the absences of both Michael Scott and Pam Halpert," concluded that the episode had a "high rewatch factor."[14] She wrote, "If my Christmas wish was to watch an episode of The Office that made me laugh a lot, consider that wish granted."[14] She ultimately gave the episode 8.0/10.[14] M. Giant of Television without Pity gave the episode a B+.[15] Margaret Lyons from New York wrote a mostly positively review, saying "'Christmas Wishes' filled me with holiday cheer, proving that there's still some juice left in this show," before noting that "There are still some issues left, too, though."[16] What Culture! reviewer Joseph Kratzer praised Mindy Kaling and Ed Helms' writing and directing work, and said, "If this is what happens when cast members […] take the reins then the writing and directing duties should be kept in house much more often."[17]
The A.V. Club reviewer Myles McNutt wrote a slightly more critical review, noting the episode's lack of structure.[18] He wrote that "['Christmas Wishes'] is not a terrible episode of television, but it’s formless to the point where it avoids having to make any sort of statement."[18] He did, however, positively comment on the Andy and Erin subplot and suggested that the episode was "positioned as a transition point," featuring an Andy-Erin-Jessica love triangle and a darker Robert California.[18] He ultimately gave the episode a B-.[18] Many reviews considered "Christmas Wishes" to be the best episode of the first part of the season.[17][19] "Christmas Wishes" is currently ranked as the highest-rated episode out of 10 from the eighth season, according to an episode poll at the fansite OfficeTally; the episode was rated 8.30 out of 10.[20]
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