Geekshow

Top 10 Christmas TV Episodes

It’s that time of year again, and to celebrate, I’m bring you a Top 10 list of my favorite Christmas-related television episodes.

10. Buffy the Vampire Slayer – “Amends”

Angel is haunted by the victims of his soulless alter-ego, Angelus, who are telling him to kill Buffy and all of his pain will stop. Of course, being the stand up guy he is, Angel opts to kill himself rather than hurt a hair on Buffy’s head. He’s going to watch the sun rise, but Buffy stops him just in time. “Amends” also marks the first appearance of the First Evil, the biggest of the big bads that terrorizes the Scoobies in Season 7. This is by far the least Christmas-y on the list (therein earning the lowest spot), but it is still filled with many of the themes that one would find many other Christmas episodes. Plus, the episode ends with snow in Sunnydale, which is a Christmas miracle all on it’s own.

9. Scrubs – “My Own Personal Jesus”

Turk, who is usually full of Christmas spirit, has a crisis of faith, while JD, who is a usually a skeptic, starts to believe that sometimes it’s okay to believe in miracles. The two stories of course collide in the end, making for a touching conclusion, but it’s the series’ regular humor that makes this episode stand out. From the Janitor’s determination to not have his Christmas ruined by JD to Dr. Cox as The Grinch, this is a great episode from one of my favorite series.

8. Doctor Who – “The Christmas Invasion”

The first full episode of David Tennant’s tenure as The Doctor, also happens to be the new series’ first Christmas special. London is being invaded, and the only man who can save them, is recovering from a recent regeneration. While he eventually takes down the invaders (in his PJs no less), the standout scene for me has to be the final reveal of Tennant in his new Doctor garb standing in the snow. This episode proves to be a great introduction to Tennant as the new Doctor, as well as a great way to ring in the Christmas season.

7. Justice League – “Comfort and Joy”

Written by Timm-verse regular Paul Dini, “Comfort and Joy” tells the story of what the Justice League do when they have time off for the holidays. Clark brings J’onn (Martian Manhunter) home with him to Smallville for Christmas with his parents. These scenes are the best in the episode. Its great seeing Clark act like a little kid filled with Christmas spirit, and J’onn receiving a sweater from Ma Kent is a great moment for the character. The Flash, meanwhile, struggles to find a much sought after toy for a Central City orphanage, and ends up crossing paths with the Ultra Humanite. This is a great example of the relationship that The Flash has with most of his rogues, as they call a truce and join forces in the name of the children and Christmas. Finally, Green Lantern and Hawkgirl spend time being flirty in a snowball fight. This was setting up for their eventual romance to come later in the series. Unfortunately, Batman and Wonder Woman were absent from the episode (one would assume they had Watchtower duty together), but it doesn’t take away from an otherwise great episode.

6. Bones – “The Man in the Fallout Shelter”

This is one of the episodes that cause Bones to rise above its competition and become much more than just another procedural drama. When the lab is quarantined, the gang is forced to stay there through the holidays. What follows is a fantastic character-centric episode that proves why Bones is such a strong series. The highlight of the episode is a montage of everyone being given time to spend with their family from behind the glass doors of the lab, it’s a moving (and at points hilarious) moment that I always remember when thinking of the series.

5. How I Met Your Mother – “How Lily Stole Christmas”

Lily’s a grinch. Well, that’s not what Ted actually said, but regardless, it was enough for Lily to retaliate by taking away her Winter Wonderland Christmas display from the apartment, which could ruin Christmas for everyone. The thing I love about this episode is its focus on Lily and Ted’s relationship. The show constantly talks about them being best friends, but it wasn’t until this episode that it was really given the spotlight it deserves. It’s a memorable episode for sure. Especially with Barney spending most of the holidays in bed, but not in the way you might expect. Robin taking care of a whiney, sick Barney is one of the funniest moments of the series. It’s a great Christmas episode for a very underrated sitcom.

4. Supernatural – “A Very Supernatural Christmas”

Did you know that many Christmas traditions are the result of ancient pagan traditions? Neither did I until I watched this episode. The Brothers Winchester investigate the murders of men who are dismembered and pulled through the chimney by a possible evil Santa. Sam is seemingly anti-Christmas, the result of the brothers’ unconventional childhood, but Dean wants to celebrate his last Christmas on earth. This episode features a series of flashbacks from Christmas in 1991, where a young Dean struggles to keep a younger Sam innocent of the things that go bump in the night. It’s a great examination of these two brothers’ relationship, and how Dean has always and will always do anything to protect Sam. Nothing quite says Christmas like losing some blood and a fingernail.

3. The Office – “A Benihana Christmas”

Directed by Harold Ramis, this episode is nothing short of genius. Michael’s girlfriend dumps him just before Christmas, and to cheer him up, a few guys take him to Benihana’s (or “Asian Hooters” as Michael refers to it). Pam and Karen, meanwhile, create another office party to compete with Angela’s. These two storylines collide when Michael brings two waitresses back to the office, and subsequently forgets which one he came with. His solution? Figure out who he came with and then mark their hand with a permanent marker. This episode is not only a good Christmas episode, but a great representation of The Office at its best.

2. Smallville – “Lexmas”

It’s a Wonderful Lex! In an episode that proves to be the only Christmas episode ever in Smallville’s eight (or maybe nine?) year run, Lex is shot and is taken down almost-was lane by the ghost of his mother. What if Lex changed his ways and took the path of good rather than the one of power and greed? Apparently he would be happily married to Lana Lang, and still have a great friendship with Clark. It’s a bittersweet episode in many ways, though. As happy as Lex is in this alternate future, he eventually chooses the dark path in a moment that is as depressing as it is inevitable. Back in the real world though, Clark offers to help Chloe delivery presents to kids across Metropolis. That’s right, this episode has a Superman Santa! What could be better than that? “Lexmas” is a phenomenal Christmas episode and one of the best episodes of the entire series.

1. The OC – “The Chrismukkuh That Almost Wasn’t”

What began with season one’s “The Best Chrismukkuh Ever”, immediately became an annual tradition for The OC as well as their most anticipated episode of each year. While “The Best Chrismukkuh Ever” and “The Chrismukk-huh?” are both great episodes (season three’s “The Chrismukkuh Bar Mitz-vakkah” was a big disappointment… as was the rest of the season), it was season two’s “The Chrismukkuh That Almost Wasn’t” that scored the top spot on my list. Throughout the episode, Seth is struggling to keep his favorite time of the year afloat, but big revelations are determined to keep it down. Caleb is forced to tell his family about his illegitimate daughter, and while they are rightfully angry with him, they accept their new family member with open arms in a moment that is both touching and filled with Christmas spirit. Plus, despite all the drama, this episode is one of the funniest of the series’ four year run, with moments like Seth’s worry that Chrismukkuh was becoming too commercialized (an obvious reference to how big the previous season’s Chrismukkuh episode had become), the Chrismukkuh hymn, and the birth of the yamaclaus. All of this adds up to my #1 choice for the best Christmas episode, and really, was there any doubt? Everyone knows that Chrismukkuh has twice the strength of any other holiday.