The best Christmas episodes of your favourite TV shows to rewatch this festive season

Gossip Girl (Netflix)

Season 1, episode 11 – Roman Holiday

If not to bask in the fantasy of rich people Christmases, the original Gossip Girl’s season one Christmas episode has plenty of entertaining drama. Blair’s trying to keep her dalliances with Chuck hidden from Nate plus, her dad returns to New York with his new boyfriend, who she, of course, hates.

Serena and Dan are in love and are trying to find surprising and heartfelt gifts for each other, which is, as usual, a struggle for S.

However, the real winner of this seasonal treat is, as always, the fashion!

New Girl (Disney+)

Season 1, episode 9 – The 23rd

This episode is jam-packed with cringe and hilarity in all its awkward glory. Jess says ‘thank you’ when Paul tells her that he loves her, and Nick steals the show with his hilarious half-drunk comments.

The episode, which includes the song Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, sexy Santa costumes, a festive wrestling match, and a final trip to Candy Cane Lane to admire the fairy lights, will leave you in stitches.

Stream New Girl now on Disney Plus with a mth-to-mth no lock-in contract. Subscribe here.

Ted Lasso (Apple TV +)

Season 2, Episode 4 – Carols of the Bells

The wholesome series caught the hearts of many audiences this year, and its Christmas episode stood out because it broke away from the show’s regular storyline. The always optimistic lead Ted is in an emotional funk enduring the holidays away from his family, and he turns to drinking.

However, he receives some pure friendship from Rebecca, who is on her journey to become a better person and takes him to listen to carols and bring toys to children. There is also a Christmas miracle, a festive party, and plenty of touching moments to inspire some merry feels.

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The Office (Stan)

Season 2, Episode 10 – “Christmas Party”

Michael decides to turn the office’s Secret Santa into a “Yankee Swap” after he exceeds the $20 limit by buying Ryan a $400 video iPod. Chaos ensues.

This episode features classic Jim and Pam awkwardness, after he buys her a thoughtful gift and she ruthlessly swaps it for the iPod.

After the Yankee Swap ends in excruciating awkwardness, Michael tries to lighten the mood by buying alcohol for the Christmas party which quickly gets out of control. Even more chaos ensues and we can’t help but love it.

Friends (Netflix)

Season 7, Episode 10 – “The One With The Holiday Armadillo”

Name a more iconic Christmas figure than the very well-known and not at all fake Holiday Armadillo. I’ll wait.

In an attempt to teach his son Ben about their Jewish heritage, Ross decides to celebrate Hanukah by dressing up as Santa Claus to talk to him about the holiday. When the costume store runs out of Santa outfits, he dresses up as the ‘Holiday Armadillo’ instead.

Meanwhile, Phoebe is busy trying to sabotage Rachel and Joey’s apartment with extravagant gifts so that Rachel will move back in with her.

Friends (Netflix)

Season 2, Episode 9 – “The One With Phoebe’s Dad”

This one scores an honourable mention, because it’s kind of hard to pick just one Friends episode out of 10 seasons.

Who could forget Chandler and Joey helping Phoebe through the emotional turmoil of meeting her real father? Or when they returned to the group just in time to deliver them awful Christmas presents like wiper blades and condoms?

Not to mention, the rest of the crew had an uncomfortably tropical Christmas party in Monica and Rachel’s apartment when the heating broke, while Ross desperately tried to win Rachel over after writing a nasty list about her. An A++ episode all around.

Brooklyn Nine Nine (Netflix)

Season 2, Episode 10 – “The Pontiac Bandit Returns”

This festive episode kicks off with an epic cold open, as Rosa and Jake arrest the Pontiac Bandit AKA Doug Judy and set a Christmas tree sale ablaze. The episode sees the beginning of Jake and Doug’s hilarious friendship kick off, after first meeting in season one.

The episode also features classic Gina and Boyle shenanigans, with the pair’s parents revealing they’re in love and moving in together.

Plus, Captain Holt invites everyone to a Christmas celebration and finds out (through Amy’s gift) that he incorrectly “solved” an old case With Amy’s help, he sets out to fix his mistake.

Will & Grace (Stan)

Season 5, Episode 11 – “All About Christmas Eve”

When Grace and her new husband Leo decide to spend Christmas Eve at The Nutcracker, Will decides to join Jack and Karen in her penthouse eating an extravagant feast and singing Christmas carols.

True to form, a selfish Grace invites Will to join her when Leo has to cancel, making him ditch Jack and Karen. But when Leo turns up, Will is sent packing. After repeating the circle over again, eventually the entire gang end up at the penthouse in bath robes.

Parks and Recreation (Binge)

Season 2, Episode 12 – “Christmas Scandal”

After delivering a satirical take on disgraced councilman Dexhart’s adulterous ways (which turns out to be accurate), Leslie has to go in to hiding from the press.

Ron and the rest of the gang offer to cover for her and pull off a spectacular Christmas Village event!

Stream Parks and Recreation now on BINGE with a 7-day free trial. Subscribe here.

Schitt’s Creek (Netflix)

Season 4, Episode 13 – “Merry Christmas, Johnny Rose

This holiday special featured a hilarious throwback to when the Schitt family were still flushed with cash.

As he was brought back down to reality from his fond memories of their extravagant Christmases, Johnny tried to gather the family and lift their holiday spirits with his own party at the motel.

Seinfeld (Netflix)

Season 9, Episode 10 – “The Strike”

Along with Elaine’s misadventures in giving a man a fake phone number, the gang are introduced to the Costanza family holiday tradition of celebrating “Festivus.”

Invented by George’s dad Frank, Festivus is a secular holiday celebrated on December 23 as an alternative to the pressures and commercialism of the Christmas season.

In this episode, their Festivus celebrations are thrown off track by rogue girlfriends, the attendance of George’s boss and random men from a betting parlour who have a thing for Elaine. It’s glorious madness.

Gilmore Girls (Netflix)

Season 7, Episode 11 – “Santa’s Secret Stuff”

After missing the real Christmas to spend time with Logan in London, Rory returns home to find Lorelai has saved the magic of the holidays for her. From decorating the tree, to making their own candy cane coffee, the girls enjoy being festive in Stars Hollow.

But as they recreate the snowy season, it becomes even more clear that Chris and Lorelai’s relationship is on the rocks.

How I Met Your Mother (Disney)

Season 2, Episode 11 – “How Lily Stole Christmas”

After returning home to reunite with her fiancé Marshall, Lily discovers that Ted called her a cruel name when she left for San Francisco.

Taking Christmas hostage and bringing all the decorations to her daggy apartment, Lily refuses to celebrate with the boys unless he apologises.

Stream How I Met Your Mother now on Disney Plus with a mth-to-mth no lock-in contract. Subscribe here.

The O.C. (Stan)

Season 2, Episode 6 – “The Chrismukkah That Almost Wasn’t”

After first finding out about Seth Cohen’s combined holiday of Christmas and Hanukkah in season one, the second season shows us the magic of this invented holiday… after a little drama, of course.

It’s revealed that the gang’s new friend, and Ryan’s new girlfriend, Lindsay, is actually the love child of Caleb and Renee.

When this revelation ruins Christmas, friendly exes Seth and Summer unite to help Lindsay see that she’s welcome in the Cohen family.