Not Suitable for Work (S1, Ep. 8-9) "Denver Is for Lovers"/"A Birthday Party for the Whole World" Season Finale

The two-part season finale of Not Suitable for Work delivers plenty of chaotic comedy, but it ultimately leaves us with some heartbreaking moments. Here’s my recap and review. 

 

Episode 8: “Denver Is for Lovers” 

The penultimate episode centers on career struggles and devastating heartbreak just before Christmas.

AJ learns from Josh that her boss and secret lover, Bill, is taking his girlfriend to Aspen. When a sobbing AJ and her roommate, Abby, confront him, Bill coldly admits he is back with his ex, Catherine. He claims he needs a “non-challenging” partner to cope with the world of finance, leaving AJ completely devastated.

Abby attempts to land Jack McBrayer as a high-profile styling client. She secures a pristine Prada jacket for his fitting, but her plans are derailed by Kel. As punishment for skipping classes to attend acting auditions, Principal Kate (Ego Nwodim) forces Kel to chaperone the winter formal. When a student named Beth cries because her dress does not fit, Kel calls Abby for an emergency assist. Abby rushes in and saves the student’s night, but accidentally leaves her client’s expensive Prada jacket behind on the subway. Losing the jacket costs Abby the client, and she furiously blames Kel for the disaster. 

Meanwhile, Davis learns about AJ and Bill’s past relationship. By the end of the episode, Davis admits he is nowhere near over his crush on AJ, putting a potential romance squarely back on the table.

Episode 9: “A Birthday Party for the Whole World”

The finale jumps to New Year’s Eve, where career pressure and romantic tension finally boil over.

Bill returns from Aspen and demands the finance team work through the holiday on a major MrBeast pitch. Fed up with his toxic behavior, AJ tells him off and leaves to take her PTO. When Bill later calls her “unhinged,” Davis snaps, defends AJ, and gets into a full office fistfight with him. Bill fires Davis, but Davis only cares that he stood up for her.

Meanwhile, Josh, newly cut off by his wealthy father, pulls off a win by securing his journalist idol, Wes (Victor Garber), a spot on Hannah and Paige Drop the Ball. With Josh feeding him lines through a teleprompter, the broadcast becomes a success.

Kel also faces a major setback when Kate notices the chemistry between him and Abby and hires a permanent replacement for his class. Still, his students show up to support his play. Abby gets a second chance, too, when Vanessa (Constance Wu) agrees to rehire her on a trial basis.

The final minutes bring the biggest emotional gut punch. AJ and Davis seem to be sharing a romantic moment, only for Josh to appear behind them with champagne, expecting to spend midnight with AJ. After a season of quiet chemistry between Josh and AJ, his heartbreak lands hard. Add in the sudden twist with Abby and Kel, and Mindy Kaling leaves the Murray Hill crew messy, fractured, and perfectly set up for Season 2.

The two-part Season 1 finale brings the chaotic holiday season in Manhattan’s Murray Hill to a dramatic close. Long-hidden office secrets explode, career trajectories shift, and a massive romantic cliffhanger completely reshapes the core group’s dynamics. While the series frequently plays with familiar sitcom tropes, the characters become deeply likable and impossible not to root for by the end of the season. The finale delivers an excellent balance of chaotic comedy and genuine stakes, even as it leaves us with an absolutely heartbreaking cliffhanger. 

Are you Team Davis or Team Josh after that brutal final scene? And how do you think Abby will bounce back from that Kel misunderstanding? Drop your thoughts, theories, and Season 2 predictions in the comments.

You can catch Not Suitable for Work on Hulu.