DMV Episode 9 recap: The Big Sac holiday party gives Colette a chance and takes it away

DMV Episode 9 is titled The Next Window.

It is the midseason holiday episode of the show. The show airs on CBS on Monday nights at 8:30 p.m. It streams the next day on Paramount+.

DMV is a workplace comedy set at the East Hollywood DMV. Season 1 first premiered on October 13, 2025. Episode 9 is the Christmas-themed Big Sac holiday party episode. The story centers on Colette. She is desperate to act on Noa’s new single status. She wants to make a move before that “single window” closes again.

DMV Episode 9 also features guest star Leslie Jones. She appears at the Sacramento-area DMV holiday event. Her role adds to the show's chaotic group energy. The series is known for being an offbeat, slightly sad workplace sitcom.

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DMV Episode 9 recap — The Next Window

DMV Episode 9 begins right after the emotional events of Episode 8. The East Hollywood DMV is already decorated for the holidays. But the office feels heavy with loneliness and tension. Relationships are fragile. The staff looks like they are in the holiday spirit. But emotionally, everyone feels lost and distant.

Colette is still hurting from her many social embarrassments. Gregg has formed a strong bond with someone he believes is real online. Vic is struggling with simple friendship. The bright holiday decorations only make it clearer how disconnected everyone truly feels.

As DMV Episode 9 begins, the DMV is working like normal. Customers are angry. The staff is tired. The holiday tinsel does not help anyone feel better. Then quiet news spreads through the office. Noa and Mary have broken up.

For most people, it is just awkward gossip. For Colette, it feels like a rare chance from the universe. Instead of asking Noa out directly, Colette creates a complicated plan.

Soon, the staff learns that some workers will travel to Sacramento. They will attend the regional DMV holiday party. The party is hosted by the Big Sac office. Colette sees this as her perfect chance.

She wants alone time with Noa. She begins to change the plans and schedules, and pretends it is for work reasons. But her real goal is to create a private moment with Noa.

Colette plans to turn the long drive into a six-hour driving lesson for Noa. This gives them hours alone together. She wants quiet time on the highway, personal talks, and a work excuse for being close.

On paper, the plan seems perfect. In real life, the DMV never travels with just two people. Gregg, Vic, and Barbara all join the trip. Colette’s romantic road plan turns into a loud group drive. There is no privacy at all.

Inside the car, old problems return. Barbara controls everyone. She worries about how the branch will look at Big Sac. Gregg is emotionally distant and distracted. Vic switches between feeling insecure and being suddenly loyal.

Colette keeps pushing the talk toward Noa’s breakup. She is desperate for an emotional opening. She searches for any small chance to connect with him.

Halfway through the drive, the group stops at a mall in DMV Episode 9. They stop to get ready for the party. Colette uses this moment on purpose. She changes into a new outfit. The outfit makes her feel confident. For the first time all day, it clearly catches Noa’s attention.

The change is small but important. This is the first time Noa truly sees her as more than just an awkward coworker. From here on, Colette becomes more careful and focused. With Mary gone for now, she knows this holiday chance may end fast.

She looks for chances to sit next to Noa. She offers to help him with party tasks. She gently asks him to talk about his feelings after the breakup.

At the same time as the romance, Gregg’s emotions fall apart. He learns the truth about “Kevin.”Kevin is not a real coworker and is actually an AI chatbot. The truth gets worse. Vic has been pretending to be Kevin using a burner phone. Vic thought he was protecting Gregg from being lonely.

When Gregg learns all of this, he is deeply embarrassed and very angry. His anger is not only personal. It becomes about his beliefs. To Gregg, this proves something bigger. He believes the DMV replaces real people with machines. But the DMV still expects real emotional work from tired employees.

In a very dramatic Gregg moment, he makes a bold announcement. He says he will sue the DMV. He turns his heartbreak into a fight for worker dignity.

When the group arrives in Sacramento, the story turns into full group chaos. The holiday party is crowded and flashy. A huge Christmas tree stands over the whole room. It feels ominous and heavy.

In DMV Episode 9, Leslie Jones appears as Sally. Sally is the sharp and energetic assistant to the scary Big Sac director. Her presence raises the pressure for the East Hollywood staff right away.

Barbara is desperate to protect her branch. She wants to make the team look good and important. She tries to control every detail of their behavior. She handles complaints, tries to calm tension, and pushes everyone to act professionally. Her control soon spins out of hand.

She accidentally knocks over the huge Christmas tree. The tree falls straight onto the Big Sac director. The moment becomes a perfect symbol of Barbara’s leadership. She means well. But her actions often make things worse instead of better.

Amid all the chaos in DMV Episode 9, the emotional center of the episode stays with Colette and Noa. After the Christmas tree accident, the party slowly continues. Colette finally gets the alone time she wanted all season. She and Noa share a slow dance. The moment feels quiet, close, and emotional.

For the first time, Noa opens up about his breakup with Mary. He talks about what went wrong. He admits he feels lost afterward. Colette responds in a calm and honest way. She talks about self-respect, boundaries, and warns him about repeating unhealthy habits. She even jokes that she does not always take her own advice.

For one brief moment, everything feels possible in DMV Episode 9. Noa sees depth in Colette beyond her awkward side. Colette feels truly seen for who she is. Their long-teased romance finally feels like it could become real.

But DMV is never that kind. When the staff returns to East Hollywood, Colette feels cautiously hopeful. Then reality hits hard. Mary is waiting at the DMV. She is ready to get back together with Noa. They reconcile quickly and in public. This happens right in front of Colette.

In one moment, all her hope disappears. The “single window” slams shut without warning. The moment she worked so hard for is gone. Her small victory from Sacramento becomes a painful memory. Her moment of growth is crushed by bad timing.

Still, DMV Episode 9 mixes sadness with humor. The moment hurts. But it does not become completely tragic. By the end of the episode:

Colette understands herself more than ever. But she feels emotionally defeated.

Noa and Mary are back together. At least for now.

Gregg is spiraling toward a lawsuit against the DMV. This happens after the AI betrayal.

Vic is left struggling with the results of his bad choices. His loyalty was misguided.

Barbara’s efforts to fix her reputation fail. Instead of saving the branch, she creates a public disaster.