12 Christmas TV Episodes
Written by Andreas Babiolakis
Merry Christmas! Well, Christmas is tomorrow, but I wanted to make sure that you were all set for the festive weekend. Since Films Fatale has mostly been a site catered to film (I mean, it is in our name) that is now transitioning into a hub for television reviews and content as well, I figured that it would be far more digestible to have twelve quality TV episodes than twelve films that one would have to pick from (episodes can be done in one day). Additionally, these aren’t necessarily the greatest Christmas-based episodes of all time, but rather just twelve examples for you to check out; I kind of like the idea of doing this every year, so your favourites may show up down the line. Furthermore, these have to be episodes that are at least partially — or wholly — based on Christmas, so something like Festivus in Seinfeld won’t cut it (but we celebrate Festivus as well).
Happy holidays, Merry Christmas, and enjoy the twelve episodes I have selected below!
On the twelfth day of Christmas, television gave to me:
Twelve Critters Bathing
“Woodland Critter Christmas”-South Park
We start off with arguably the most shocking Christmas episode ever. Why is Stan Marsh being graced by forest animals? To make a manger for the up coming birth of Christ, so it seems. In reality, this disturbing and blasphemous special is one way to make your holidays much spicier (plus, you gotta be there for that twist as to why this South Park tale is so particularly messed up).
Eleven Eye Pairs Rolling
“A Benihana Christmas”-The Office (U.S.)
Picking one episode of the U.S. Office is difficult for this category, and you can guarantee that more Christmas episodes will pop up on future lists. For now, there’s “A Benihana Christmas”: one of the most cringe-inducing episodes of the series, and a great purveyor of awkward warmth that only The Office can provide.
Ten Gangsters Scheming
“…To Save Us All from Satan’s Power”-The Sopranos
If there was ever a person to be haunted by the ghosts of Christmas past, it would be Tony Soprano. That’s basically what happens in “…To Save Us All from Satan’s Power”: a collection of people on the naughty list, and the weight that gifts can carry (especially after tumultuous years).
Nine Employees Scorning
“The Office Christmas specials”-The Office (U.K.)
The U.K. Office’s sole Christmas episode (a double length special) is far more cynical than its American counterpart, especially since this is how the entire series wraps up. This time of togetherness is used to emphasize the distance between David Brent and the company he thought once kneeled before him (and would continue to do so); he couldn’t be further from the truth with his delusions.
Eight Hearts Are Breaking
“B.J. and the A.C.”-The Leftovers
The holidays are placed in a weird position after a disaster as catastrophic as The Sudden Departure, and that’s what this early episode focuses on. A baby Jesus figure is stolen, and it places the town in a bit of a stir (if it wasn’t disturbed enough). Furthermore, the values of personal connections is questioned in this saddened depiction of love, particularly in the forms of gifts of all kinds.
Seven Medics Goofing
“Dear Dad”-M*A*S*H
Some of the most introspective moments of M*A*S*H are the “Dear Dad” episodes, where characters write home and confess their most candid feelings. This preliminary example indulges in the horrors of wartime, particularly around this festive season where families are meant to be together.
Six Lost Souls Hurting
“Christmas Comes But Once a Year”-Mad Men
So many celebrations are just a delusional form of advertising, or so thinks Mad Men. In this episode, a Christmas party is the cause of winning someone (and hearts) over, but we can watch the facade from a distance (especially when we can see the at-home woes of certain characters: these are dichotomies set against the assumed joys of the holidays).
Five Trapped-In Folks
“Not a Christmas Story”-The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Of course, one of the warmest holiday mix ups would come from The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Christmas is celebrated early for a taping of Sue Ann Nivens’ show, and each character — who doesn’t actually want to be there — begins to find each other grating. By the bitter end (which is only as sour as Mary Tyler Moore and her token charm can be), this Christmas from hell becomes a riot.
Four Parallel Universes
“The Night of the Meek”-The Twilight Zone
Of course, we can rely on The Twilight Zone to give us a different perspective on Christmas, and we thankfully have a kinder episode here. Art Carney plays a down-on-his-luck mall Santa who finds a new way to bring gifts to the unfortunate, and suddenly the bigger picture of fortune and fate gets put underneath a microscope. Have no fear: this is far more loving than you may assume.
Three Existential Tales
“White Christmas”-Black Mirror
The greatest episode of Black Mirror is this massive one-off episode: a triptych of stories that feel as anti-Christmas as can be. In a season of togetherness, this episode may make you feel beyond alone. Its technological horror stories will leave you feeling frigid, but at least its warnings of our future feel empathetic in ways.
Two Roasted Simpsons
“2 Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire”-The Simpsons
The very first official episode of The Simpsons is a Christmas special, with Bart gifting himself a tattoo, and Homer realizing that there may not be a happy holidays this year. Of course, this is also the origin story of how Santa’s Little Helper joined the Simpson family, and it’s a delightful ending that is guaranteed to brighten up your day.
And a Classic to Have Every Year
A Charlie Brown Christmas
It’s obvious to include the TV movie A Charlie Brown Christmas, but that’s because it’s as much of a must this time a year as other Christmas classics like It’s a Wonderful Life. I’ll be making these Christmas episode lists every year from now on, but it felt senseless to not include this gem as early as possible. Charles Schultz’s iconic wholesomeness is brought to life on the small screen, and his Peanuts gang feel like the perfect guests for any holiday festivity. If anything, this short has its own longevity and legacy even outside of the franchise.
Andreas Babiolakis has a Masters degree in Film and Photography Preservation and Collections Management from Ryerson University, as well as a Bachelors degree in Cinema Studies from York University. His favourite times of year are the Criterion Collection flash sales and the annual Toronto International Film Festival.