Louise’s Favorite Holiday Episodes

The most festive time of the year has a few special additions from the creative minds behind my favorite shows. This list avoids the episodes listed last year, mostly because what’s the fun in some holiday-themed episodes if there’s nothing new under the tree?

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

I’m all for having holiday episodes with a little angst, and this episode hits the spot nicely. Lily, having discovered some distressing news, cancels Christmas for the gang (much like my favorite green Grinch). Of course, it can’t be Christmas without a little love, but not before Barney has a less than stellar holiday himself.

“A Very Supernatural Christmas” – Supernatural

Much like the previous episode, this episode is big on the angst, but also some very bizarre moments of hilarity, as only Supernatural could do. The boys are on the hunt for the Anti-Claus and find themselves caught up with some interesting folk along the way. Throw in a very sweet moment between the brothers Winchester at the end, and you have all the makings of a slightly gory, but wonderful holiday episode.

“The Best Chrismukkah Ever” – The OC

The first and best explanation of my complicated Holiday traditions, and one of the best examples of how to watch the rich and powerful fall flat on their faces, this episode is forever one of those go-to classics for the month. It wouldn’t be Christmas in Newport Beach without a little drinking, a little deception and a party. Add some reinvented songs and the episode holds up well each and every year.

“Amends” – Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Snow in Southern California isn’t normal, unless you’re on the Hellmouth and it needs to happen for the sake of saving someone from death. Of course, all of that happens as Willow, one of the lone Jews around town, dreads the time of year. Because nothing in Sunnydale is ever simple, this holiday episode brings out some heartbreaking moments while reminding the whole town of Sunnydale about the wonder and marvel of the season.

“Undeck the Halls” – Modern Family

Yet another episode where everyone’s holiday is threatened, but this episode features Claire and Phil testing their children so that they’ll admit to messing up around the house. All the while, Jay struggles to find the appropriate way to respond to Gloria and Manny’s traditions from Columbia.

“In Excelsis Deo” – The West Wing

A dead veteran with a White House staffer’s card starts the episode off and by the end of the episode, a proper funeral is held for the veteran. Inside the White House, the staffers put on a truly elaborate show for the nation to see, and everyone’s just a little on edge while putting on the happy face.

“The Man in the Fallout Shelter” – Bones

As Tori Amos’ version of “Have Yourself A Very Little Christmas” plays, the staff of the Jeffersonian have been quarantined in the lab after discovering a body that might infect everyone else. The first of the show’s holiday episodes, this episode always puts a smile on my face with the way in which they all celebrate while in the lab, trying to make the best of their precarious situation.