Top 5 Christmas Episodes
Catherine Hughes / Emertainment Monthly Staff Writer
You’ll find that most shows will take the holidays as a time to deviate from their main plots and add one or two festive and fun episodes to celebrate the holiday season. However not all holiday episodes are worth watching, sometimes it seems like there is a complete character shift just to make the plot of the episode. I think some of the best holiday episodes out there are ones that keep the integrity of the show while also incorporating the idea of togetherness and holiday spirit. The following list are some examples of shows that follow this criteria.
Glee Christmas
Glee has been known to have some appalling episodes, especially their holiday related ones, but this episode is one that I feel warms the hearts of gays across the world. In episode nine season three of Glee, titled “Extraordinary Merry Christmas,” the glee club celebrates the holiday season. As this is the first Christmas since her sister’s passing, Sue (Jane Lynch) recruits the glee club to volunteer their time at a homeless shelter to distract from the reminder of loss. Finn (Cory Monteith) and Rachel (Lea Michele) discuss gifts for each other, and while Rachel’s Jewish heritage is persistently mentioned throughout the series she still chooses to participate in Christmas traditions with Finn. While Finn states he’d be happy just being with Rachel for the holidays, Rachel gives Finn a long list of material items, though, in the spirit of Christmas, she only needs five of the items listed. Rory, the Irish exchange student, is feeling homesick. In an attempt to include him in the holiday, Sam (Chord Overstreet) invites Rory to join him and his family for the “American Christmas” experience. Glee club director Will Schuester (Matthew Morrison) procures a PBS special for the members of New Directions directed by Artie (Kevin McHale). When Artie wants to save the sad ending to Frosty the Snowman, Sam drops out, opting to go with Quinn (Diana Agron) to help out at the homeless shelter. The rest of the glee club arrives late, making up for this by singing to the homeless. Ultimately everyone is content, even Rachel has a change of heart exchanging her gift from Finn for money and donating to the local salvation army.
Glee might not be what you think of when asked to list good Christmas episodes, but I think that there is more to a “good” Christmas episode than just the plot. A level of cultural significance and the ability to remain relevant are also important to making this list. While Glee might not be the best piece of media out there, it holds great cultural value. Glee is something you can always start a conversation about. Glee brings people together, whether that be through its chaotic and ridiculous plots or its covers. A familiar and unserious show that is meant to inspire joy and holiday spirit for the season cancels out any concerns of quality or prestige other shows and movies may hold over it. Glee is nostalgic and also actively and consistently gains new young viewers each day. Glee is everlasting, and so this Christmas episode makes the list.
Gilmore Girls
Gilmore Girls season two episode ten titled “The Bracebridge Dinner” follows Rory (Alexis Bledel) and Lorelai (Lauren Graham) as they prepare to host a dinner for their friends in Stars Hollow. When a pre-planned holiday convention is canceled at the last minute due to snow, and with all the preparations already handled, the residents of Stars Hallow are invited to indulge in an Elizabethan inspired night. The event includes a large dinner with actors playing the parts of medieval characters eating alongside the guests. There were also sleigh rides around town drawn by large white horses. This episode contains almost every major and minor character in the show so far, and follows each of their own minor plots. One of the main plots of this episode centers around Jess (Milo Ventimiglia) and Rory, as Jess actively pursues her despite her boyfriend Dean’s (Jared Padalecki) presence. Other plots include the status of Richard (Edward Herrmann) and Emily’s (Kelly Bishop) marriage, which coincides with Lorelai wanting to impress and include her parents. It also shows the rest of the characters like Suki (Melissa McCarthy), Jackson (Jackson Douglas), Taylor (Michael Winters) and Luke (Scott Patterson) as they set up and enjoy the experience.
While this might not be a Christmas themed episode, it still emphasizes the ideas of community, family, and utilizes the aesthetics of a New England winter. The episode shows each character and the way they interact and care for each other. It centers around the community and has beautiful visuals of the winter setting. It may not be Christmas, but it hits all the other points of a heartwarming and visually pleasing Christmas themed episode.
Suite Life on Deck
Season three episode fifteen is a parody of the Christmas classic, A Christmas Carol. It follows London (Brenda Song) as her talking mirror takes on the role of the hosts of Christmas past, present and future, and allows her to visit her Christmas mornings from each point in her life. Throughout the night London sees herself as a young girl left alone on Christmas by her absent father. Spending the holidays with only her caretaker Mr. Moseby (Phill Lewis), London loses her sense of charitability. The Christmas’ of both present and future show London the effects of her attitude towards the holidays. London watches as everyone around her abandons her on Christmas, unwilling to tolerate her during the holiday. London not only discovers that she once used to be a kind and charitable little girl, but also that her selfishness will ultimately leave her old and alone during the holidays. By the end of the episode London reverts back to her childhood ways, opting to give back to those around her all in the spirit of Christmas.
Retellings of classic Christmas stories aren’t unheard, but some are certainly better than others. “A London Carol” captures the nostalgia most people long to feel during the holiday season. I always love going back and rewatching childhood holiday specials, the feeling of holidays from the past always make current holidays feel like they used to. Going back to watch a part of your childhood is a good reminder of everything to be grateful for, and the message of this retelling certainly furthers this theme.
The Office
You can always count on a popular sitcom to produce some of the best and most enjoyable holiday episodes. Season two episode ten, “Christmas Party,” follows the daily events of the employees at Dunder Mifflin Paper Company during their Christmas party. The office decided on a secret santa event which then gets turned into an intense yankee swap. Jim Halpert (John Krasinksi), one of the salesmen at the company, becomes frustrated with the yankee swap when his gift gets passed around the office. The gift was a bunch of small inside jokes and gags between him and receptionist Pam (Jenna Fischer), ones that would only be understood and appreciated by her. The rest of the office fights over the iPod Micheal Scott (Steve Carell), manager of the office, got for his secret santa. The episode ends with Pam getting her gift, and the office celebrating the holidays together.
A classic Christmas sitcom. The Office is one of those shows that can be enjoyed with the whole family and can be watched with full enjoyment even without having seen any other episode. Everyone loves a good and lighthearted Christmas episode and this is just that. “Christmas Party” is such a funny and entertaining episode and always has my entire family gathered by the TV laughing. “The Office” is just one of those shows that everyone can enjoy, perfect for the holidays.
New Girl
Another popular sitcom that did the holiday episode right is season two episode 11 of New Girl. This episode surrounds the main cast going from party to party, trying to attend them all. When Jess (Zooey Deschanel) realizes that this is the last opportunity to hang out with the rest of her friends before they all go home for the holidays she suggests that they all go with each other to their respective events and spend one more day together before they all head back home. Jess spends the rest of the episode trying to avoid interacting with Sam (David Walton), her potential love interest as she’s scared he wouldn’t want to see her after events of previous episodes. Schmidt (Max Greenfield) and Cece (Hannah Simone) spend the episode going back and forth over the idea of being just friends, while Nick (Jake Johnson) tries to put himself out there for his new girlfriend. Winston (Lamorne Morris) spends the whole episode out of the loop with a cranberry lodged in his ear making him unable to hear anything.
New Girl, much like The Office, has a wide appeal and can be enjoyed by pretty much everyone. The episode is another lighthearted and entertaining watch that leaves you smiling by the end. Christmas is about appreciating your family, that includes found family too, and the whole episode stresses the importance of having those around you who love and care for you. One of the perfect watches for Christmas time.