| "Branch Wars" | |
|---|---|
| The Office episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 4 Episode 10 |
| Directed by | Joss Whedon |
| Written by | Mindy Kaling |
| Cinematography by | Randall Einhorn |
| Editing by | Dean Holland |
| Production code | 410 |
| Original air date | November 1, 2007 |
| Guest appearance | |
"Branch Wars" is the tenth episode of the fourth season of the American comedy television series The Office and the show's sixty-third episode overall. Written by Mindy Kaling and directed by Joss Whedon, the episode originally aired in the United States on November 1, 2007, on NBC. The episode marks the return of season three recurring actor Rashida Jones, who plays Jim's former girlfriend Karen Filippelli, now Regional Manager of Dunder Mifflin Utica.
Karen tries to "poach" Stanley Hudson (Leslie David Baker) from Dunder Mifflin Scranton, and Stanley informs the branch that he is leaving. In revenge, Michael Scott (Steve Carell) and Dwight Schrute (Rainn Wilson) trick Jim Halpert (John Krasinski) into traveling to the company's Utica branch, where the group attempts to play a prank on Karen. Back at the office, Pam Beesly (Jenna Fischer), Oscar Martinez (Oscar Nunez), and Toby Flenderson (Paul Lieberstein) try to hold their club meeting, with disastrous results.