 Travis Fickett from IGN retroactively gave the episode an 8.0 out of 10, signifying a "great" episode.Fickett wrote that "Hot Girl" helped to establish what type of character Michael would eventually become in the subsequent seasons, noting the character's "deep and desperate loneliness" which would eventually become a main conceit in the series.He concluded that the episode ended with a "classic "Office" moment"—Michael realizing that Jim will be giving Katy a ride home—that "captures the desperation and loneliness of [Pam, Jim, and Michael] – and does a great job of setting the stage for the show's terrific second season."