While classic Christmas TV specials like A Charlie Brown Christmas (streaming on Apple TV+) and the original How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (available on VOD platforms) are annual viewing traditions for many, a few recent Christmas TV episodes should be added to your holiday viewing schedule to mix things up.
These are one-off Christmas-themed episodes of popular shows that you can enjoy even if you never watched the show they’re from.
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Here are five of the best Christmas TV episodes you should watch this year.
Community – ‘Abed’s Uncontrollable Christmas’ (2010)
‘Abed’s Uncontrollable Christmas’ is episode eleven of the second season of Community. It’s all done in stop motion animation as Abed (Danny Pudi) is seeing the world that way. It’s one of the more sweet episodes of the show while also being funny and Community-style weird. You can watch ‘Abed’s Uncontrollable Christmas’ on Netflix Canada or Prime Video Canada.
Black Mirror – ‘White Christmas’ (2014)
Between season two and three of Black Mirror this Christmas special aired. Starring Jon Hamm and Rafe Spall, the extended ‘White Christmas’ episode (it’s 74 minutes long) has the two telling stories to each other in a remote cabin on Christmas Day. It’s very much a Black Mirror episode so don’t expect much cheeriness out of it. The episode is listed as part of season two on Netflix Canada.
Ted Lasso – ‘Carol of the Bells’ (2021)
‘Carol of the Bells’ is episode four of the second season of Ted Lasso and shows how Ted and members of the AFC Richmond team are celebrating the holidays. In typical Ted Lasso fashion, it’s funny while also being sweet, touching and a even a bit sad at times. Watch ‘Carol of the Bells’ on Apple TV+.
Big Mouth ‘A Very Big Mouth Christmas’ (2021)
‘A Very Big Mouth Christmas’ is the eighth episode of season five and it is just as raunchy as the rest of the series. There’s puppet versions of the characters to make it feel like a Christmas special, but the stories they tell are all a bit twisted and naughty (do not watch this around any children). You can watch ‘A Very Big Mouth Christmas’ on Netflix Canada.
The Bear – ‘Fishes’ (2023)
‘Fishes’ is episode six of the second season of The Bear and it is one of the best episodes of a television show ever. It’s a flashback to a chaotic family Christmas dinner and if you grew up in a household like this you will feel the realism in it. Jamie Lee Curtis, John Mulaney, Sarah Paulson, Jon Bernthal, Gillian Jacobs and Bob Odenkirk guest star, and each one adds to the drama perfectly. ‘Fishes’ is available to watch on Disney+ Canada.
Do you have a favourite Christmas TV episode? Tell us in the comments below or on our Facebook page.
Featured photo: A scene from Ted Lasso’s ‘Carol of the Bells’. Courtesy Apple TV+.
