Ep 13. Stress Relief

In The Office season 5 episode 13, titled "Stress Relief," the Dunder Mifflin employees are dealing with the fallout from a fire drill gone wrong. In an attempt to help the staff relax, Michael decides to host a stress relief seminar. However, his methods end up causing more chaos.

The episode opens with a fire drill that Michael has orchestrated to teach the employees about fire safety. However, things quickly spiral out of control when Dwight takes the drill too seriously and traps everyone inside the building. In the ensuing chaos, Stanley suffers a heart attack, and everyone is left shaken.

To help the staff recover, Michael decides to hold a stress relief seminar. He brings in a professional named Dr. Bratton, who proceeds to lead the group in a series of exercises designed to alleviate stress. However, Michael becomes jealous of Dr. Bratton's popularity and decides to take over the seminar himself.

Michael's methods are far from soothing, and they end up causing more stress for everyone involved. At one point, he locks all the office doors and forces the employees to watch a gory movie, thinking that it will help them release their negative energy. Instead, it terrifies everyone and causes Oscar to set off the sprinkler system.

Throughout the episode, we see various subplots unfold as the employees try to deal with their stress. Pam and Jim have a heart-to-heart conversation about their relationship, while Dwight and Angela continue their secret romance. Meanwhile, Andy tries to impress Erin by staging a fake fire, which ends up causing more harm than good.

As the stress relief seminar reaches its chaotic conclusion, the employees begin to realize that the only way to relieve their stress is to band together and support each other. They end the episode by singing a rousing rendition of "American Pie" together, proving that even in the most stressful of situations, they can find some comfort in each other's company.

Overall, "Stress Relief" is a hilarious and heartwarming episode that showcases the strength and resilience of the Dunder Mifflin staff. Despite the chaos and mayhem that surrounds them, they remain true to themselves and each other, proving that sometimes the best way to relieve stress is to lean on your friends and colleagues.