For better or for worse, a LOT of TV shows have a [Christmas] special (or two). While some stick to a tried-and-tested formula of awkward dinners revolving around long-lost family members, often with any upset resolved before the episode’s end, some pave their own way with unique offerings that become instant classics.
Here are the eight festive eps that we rate the highest: from the belly-aching laughs of Friends, to bleaker-than-bleak Black Mirror. Basically, the ones that we’d be just as happy watching in July.
A version of this story originally appeared on UK [Grazia].
The Big Bang Theory – ‘The Bath Item Gift Hypothesis’
Penny gives Sheldon the greatest Christmas present he could ever receive – a napkin signed by Leonard Nemoy. He’s so touched he even breaks his ‘no hug’ rule to thank her – a Christmas miracle in itself.
The O.C. – ‘The Best Chrismukkah Ever’
The first season’s Christmas special of ’00s teen drama The O.C. saw the introduction of one of our favourite motifs in the series: Chrismukkah. An amalgamation of the Christian and Jewish holidays, it is the brainchild of resident sexy-geek Seth Cohen. In the first installment, it’s all business as usual for our favourite Orange County residents, with Seth disastrously attempting to juggle his two romantic interests Summer and Anna, Ryan dealing with a drunk shop-lifting Marissa and Kirsten fighting with her dad, Caleb.
Doctor Who – ‘A Christmas Carol’
This 2010 ep takes on the Dickens classic in the special sci-fi way that Doctor Who is best at. The Doctor attempts to use time travel to make Kazran Sardick a kinder person in order to save a spaceship from destruction. The ep features singing, flying sharks and some Christmas cheer – what more could you want?
Downton Abbey – ‘Christmas At Downton Abbey’
The first season’s festive offering had several important storylines, including most predominantly the resolution of the heir issue, with Lady Mary finally succumbing to Matthew’s rakish upper middle class charms. It also showed the blossoming romance between Lady Sybil and Branson, including a hand-holding scene (!), and the introduction of a telephone to the house, which was handled with the usual raised eyebrow. Minus points for the much-maligned storyline of Cora miscarrying, but no Christmas special is perfect.
Black Mirror – ‘White Christmas’
Be warned, this ep isn’t exactly festive – in fact, this might be one to recommend to the Grinch in your life. It opens with two men – Jon Hamm and Rafe Spall – spending Christmas day together at a remote, wintery outpost. The two begin telling each other the story of how they ended up there, which are predictably bleak, involving the questionable effects that advanced technology has had on their lives, from augmented reality ‘eyes’ to personal assistants cloned from conscious beings.
Friends – ‘The One With The Holiday Armadillo’
As far as Christmas specials go, this one of Friends is a classic. Ross Gellar truly shines in this episode, showcasing his wackier, weirder side. When he decides to teach his son Ben more about their Jewish heritage – thereby enforcing a Santa ban – he soon realises that he has upset him and attempts to redeem himself by dressing up as Father Christmas. When he can’t buy a red suit because they’re all sold out, he resorts to the next best thing – the ‘holiday armadillo’ – an instantly memorable farcical moment. The real zinger though? When Chandler turns up dressed as Santa and Monica is totally into it.
How I Met Your Mother – ‘How Lily Stole Christmas’
A year after Lily dumped Marshall (they got back together soon after), Lily finds an old voice message from Ted, calling her a ‘grinch’ (although he used a nastier word). A huge fight erupts between the gang and the Christmas spirit seems to be broken. But the friends can’t stay mad at each other for long and end up coming together with carols and cookie dough.
Dawson’s Creek – ‘Merry Mayhem’
In one of those entirely plausible ‘everyone miraculously ends up having to change their plans last-minute’ situations that only happens on TV, the entire cast end up at Dawson’s family home for the holidays. This is the catalyst for what must be the worst Christmas dinner ever, with Dawson and Joey’s new partners predictably becoming jealous of them, Dawson’s unbearably rude boss Todd getting drunk and insulting everyone, and finally, as the piece de la resistance, Audrey crashing Pacey’s BMW into the house. Merry Christmas.
