Happy Holidays Everyone! Last year I made a post talking about some Christmas episodes and specials that you needed to add to your Christmas watch-list. Since so many TV shows do at least one Christmas episode, I just knew I'd have enough fodder for another post this year (hell, I'll be able to do a third post next December!). So while you're planning out what to watch this year, definitely consider adding some of these episodes into the rotation, especially if you've only got half an hour or an hour to spare. Starting our journey in the UK we have a hilariously weird parody, The Windsors, which follows the comedic stereotypical lives of the royal family - a bumbling Charles with his eyes only on the crown, an evil Camilla, a stupid Harry, and weird sisters Beatrice and Eugenie who always wear silly hats. The series itself takes a bit of getting into as you get used to all the charactertisation, but it's a fun one nonetheless, and the Christmas Special (season 1, episode 7) brings all the characters together for a shenanigan-filled Christmas. The family descends on Sandringham where Kate has offered to cook Christmas lunch, Wills is stressing about Brexit, Charles has to give the Christmas Speech, Fergie reunites with Andrew, and Harry takes a fancy to Ellie Goulding. It's a wild ride from start to finish, and anyone who loves the royal family is sure to get a laugh out of this episode. One of my absolute all-time favourites UK comedies is Are You Being Served?, which focuses on the staff on the Gentlemen's and Ladies' departments at Grace Brothers department store. In general, I totally recommend watching this series, but in terms of festivities, there's three episode you definitely need to watch. Of the five 'Christmas Specials', only two really focus on Christmas. The first is Christmas Crackers (season 3, episode 9), in which we see the staff celebrate their Christmas lunch, which, in true Grace Brothers catering, isn't all it's cracked up to be. My favourite Christmas episode is definitely The Father Christmas Affair (season 4, episode 7), which sees Grace Brothers try to bring a bit of festive cheer into the store with an animatronic Santa, which naturally backfires. With the offer of £50 on the table, all the staff dress up as Santa in the hopes of being chosen to fill the role. The final special, while not Christmas-y, is still a fun one to watch this time of year, is The Punch and Judy Affair (season 7, episode 8), with the staff attempting to put on a life-size performance of Punch and Judy. Without a doubt a series you NEED to watch! Rounding out the UK festivities is the ICON that is Gavin & Stacey. The 2008 Christmas Special brings both Welsh and Essex characters together for a cracking Christmas that everyone is excited for. That is until Gavin goes and starts World War Three when he reveals he's moving to Wales. And we are tempted with a teaser about Bryn and Jason's fateful fishing trip. It's got everything we love about Gavin & Stacey and more, rounding out with everyone singing 'Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas'. What makes this episode even more exciting is the knowledge that we're getting another Christmas special this year! Gavin & Stacey is such a fun series, and this special really highlights great it is, especially when all the characters come together. Plus, who doesn't love Nessa playing Santa? Heading over to the bright lights of Hollywood, there are naturally a LOT of shows with must-watch Christmas specials. First up we have How The 'A' Stole Christmas (Pretty Little Liars: season 5, episode 13), which marks the only Christmas special for the show, having usually focused on Halloween episodes. A lot is happening in this episode in regards to the plot - Mona is dead and haunting Ali from beyond the grave, Ali is throwing a grand Ice Ball which the Liars are planning to use as a cover to snoop around her house, CeCe/Charlotte makes a return, and we start delving more into one of the many twin theories/storylines of the show. Topping it all off is the iconic shot of Caleb, Toby, Ezra and Paige on the staircase for the Liars, and closing it all off with the trademark 'A' ending. The Rosewood drama is wrapped up with a nice festive bow, and dipping back into the series for this episode is sure to make you want to start a binge rewatch over the new year. Another Christmas episode that added some festivities to it's otherwise ridiculously drama-filled town is Chapter Twenty-Two: Silent Night, Deadly Night (Riverdale: season 2, episode 9). There's a lot happening in this episode as well - Fred receives a ridiculous hospital bill, Cheryl brings Christmas cheer to the dreary Thistlehouse, Veronica wants to do something good for Christmas, the younger Serpents take matters into their own hands, and of course, the terror of the Black Hood is still casting a shadow over Riverdale. One of the most iconic, and somewhat terrifying, moments of the episode is Betty's nightmare which sees the Black Hood dressed as Santa. Like the Christmas episode of Pretty Little Liars, this isn't extremely festive, but there's a nice little Christmas spin on the regular OTT drama of Riverdale. In my post last year I talked about a majority of the Friends Christmas episodes, but there are a few more that I just had to cover - I think there's only like two that I've not mentioned at all. First up is The One With The Routine (season 6, episode 10), which is more of a New Years episode, although it technically still doesn't take place over New Years. There is nothing more iconic than Ross and Monica performing their 'routine' in an attempt to be featured in the New Years Eve countdown footage. On top of that, Rachel, Phoebe and Chandler attempt to find Monica's Christmas presents for everyone. Next is The One With All The Candy (season 7, episode 9), which is actually the first of two Christmas episodes to feature in season 7 (the second I talked about last year). Here, Monica slaves away making candy to share with the neighbours and Phoebe finally rides a bike, with hilarious results. Finally is the final Christmas episode, The One With The Christmas In Tulsa (season 9, episode 10), which alternates between Chander's working Christmas in Tulsa and the gang's Christmas at Monica's, with flashbacks to previous moments in the series. You really can't go wrong with a Friends Christmas episode during December... For a family show that spanned eleven seasons and followed the lives of a Protestant minsiter-led family, 7th Heaven only ever aired one Christmas episode. But, Here Comes Santa Claus (season 3, episode 10), is such a great festive episode that showcases what we love about each member of the Camden family. Eric hands out jobs to Matt (Mall Santa), Mary (soup kitchen) and Lucy (Church nativity), while Simon attempts to hang the Christmas lights (inside the house, since he's not allowed to hang them outside by himself). All the while, everyone is working on their Christmas presents, which sees Eric and Annie give up something they love and treasure in order to purchase a gift for each other. It's a wholesome episode which focuses on being with family and loved one as opposed to the materialism of the holiday. You can't not love this family. As a 90s baby, Lizzie McGuire was my childhood! And when I think of Christmas episodes, I immediately think of Here Comes Aaron Carter (season 1, episode 7), because how can you forget that mistletoe kiss between Lizzie and Aaron? When Aaron Carter comes to town to film his holiday music video for 'I Want Candy', Lizzie, Gordon, Miranda and Matt sneak into the studio to try and interview him, which results in them eventually appearing in the festive video. The other Christmas episode, Xtreme Xmas (season 2, episode 12) is also iconic because, for some reason, Steven Tyler plays a rocking Santa. An unlikely Santa Claus aside, Lizzie is shown the true meaning of Christmas as she attempts to build her Christmas float. With Disney+ now out for most of the world, there's nothing stopping you from jumping aboard the nostalgia train for these Christmas episodes. Finally, we have another all-time favourite of mine - The Nanny! You really can't not love watching Fran Fine navigate the upper-class world of the Sheffields while fawning over her boss, re-educating the children, all the while Niles pulls the puppet strings. Not only are the three holidays about Christmas, but they also delve into Hanukkah as well, which is always great to see in holiday episodes. The first Christmas episode, Christmas Episode (season 1, episode 8), sees Fran celebrate her first proper Christmas and ultimately showing the Sheffields that Christmas comes from the heart and not the flashy gifts they get. Oy to the World (season 3, episode 14) is a fun animated episode which again sees Fran work her magic, this time having to save Christmas while showing Brighton to true meaning of holiday. For the final holiday episode, The Hanukkah Story (season 6, episode 10) we follow Fran excited the share her holiday traditions with her new family (having married Maxwell at the end of the previous season), with the episode essentially serving as a Nanny retelling of, you guessed it, the story of Hanukkah. It's hard not to love these characters and these holiday episodes really showcase everything we love about them! There are still a TONNE of Christmas episodes on my list, some of which I still need to watch, so I know I'll be back next December with another list of episodes you should check out. In the meantime, this list (and last year's) is certainly enough to give you something new to watch or revisit this month.
What Christmas episodes do you love rewatching this time of year? I'm sure there's a whole bunch more I can add to my watch-list! Happy Holidays! Victoria :) |
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