Ep 11. A Benihana Christmas, Parts 2

In The Office season 3 episode 11 titled "A Benihana Christmas, Parts 2," the Dunder Mifflin staff continues to celebrate the holiday season but with a twist - they are splitting up into two different groups based on their dating preferences. Jim, in an attempt to make things right with Pam, decides to join the Asian party with Andy, Michael, and Dwight. Meanwhile, the rest of the staff decides to stick with the original party where things take a turn for the worse.

The episode starts with Michael, Dwight, and Andy going on a double date with their respective girlfriends from the Benihana restaurant from the previous episode. After Andy gets the waitress's phone number, Michael insists that they should celebrate by going to the other party. Jim decides to join them despite his hesitation, hoping to get closer to Pam who is attending the other party.

While the Asian party begins with the guys enjoying Sake bombs and Michael offends one of their Benihana servers, the original party is struggling. Although Angela and her boyfriend are fighting, the rest of the office tries to enjoy a casual holiday gathering but with little success. Ryan is stoned, and Kevin spills his famous chili all over the carpet.

Back at the other party, Jim and Pam are chattier than ever, and things are looking good until Karen comes into the mix. She's obviously not thrilled that Pam and Jim are getting close again. It's clear that Karen doesn't want to leave without Jim, but he still can't shake off his feelings for Pam.

Things get even more complicated when Michael and Andy take the waitress and one of her friends from Benihana to the party, intending to set them up with some of the Dunder Mifflin employees. After they arrive, Michael announces that they're breaking up the party into two "survivor" style tribes, one based on their ethnicity, and the other on their dating preferences. Pam is not happy about this new plan, especially when she is placed in the singles group with Karen.

Meanwhile, Angela's boyfriend breaks up with her, and she is seen crying into her oatmeal. Dwight steps up and becomes her shoulder to cry on. At the other party, things are getting weird as Meredith is getting drunker and drunker by the minute and is starting to flirt with Michael. Andy, who has had a crush on Angela, tries his best to impress her in Dwight's absence.

As the night wears on, things start to deteriorate quickly as Michael gets drunk and does a karaoke version of "American Pie." Things come to a head when the two parties collide in a massive brawl. Amid the chaos, Jim and Pam reconcile and embrace in an iconic romantic moment.

The episode ends with Michael sitting outside in the cold with Pam stating that he's quitting his job tomorrow to start his own paper company. In the closing scene, Andy is seen singing an acoustic version of "Closing Time" to Angela as she leaves the party with Dwight.

Overall, "A Benihana Christmas, Parts 2" is an iconic episode known for its humor, drama, and romantic moments. It highlights the struggles of the Dunder Mifflin employees amidst the holiday season and provides a perfect conclusion to the "Benihana" story.