Ah, the post-Christmas lull. Those magical days between the holiday frenzy and the New Year's Eve rush. It's a time for relaxation, reflection, and maybe a little too much holiday cheer.
From December 26th to the 30th, most of us forego setting alarms and finally catch up on all the sleep we owe ourselves. Instead of Zoom calls with colleagues, we video chat with friends and family who are celebrating the holidays elsewhere. While our email autoresponders work overtime, we bask in the bliss of unfinished business being January’s problem. For the lucky few, this is a time to breathe—and binge.
To help you savor these precious moments, here’s a list of the best TV episodes to enjoy during this quiet period:
TV Shows
Modern Family S03 E10, Express Christmas - Modern Family's best seasons are from seasons 1 to 4. And while the 11-season show has had several Christmas episodes, Express Christmas is THE BEST.
The episode starts off with the three families hanging out in Jay's house where they discover that they won't be able to see each other until after New Year's. The ever-innovative, Phil, the inventor of the real head-scratcherTM and the dad we all wish we had, convinces everyone to celebrate an impromptu holiday on December 16th—cue pure pre-Christmas chaos.
It was a mess, to say the least, but in true Modern Family fashion, it was a fun-filled chaotic 'Christmas.'
Favorite Moment: An electrocuted Phil turning a mint-condition baseball card into something worth less than a gas station reindeer antlers for a dog.
Ted Lasso S02 E04, Carol of the Bells - Season 2 of the beloved comedy was originally ordered for 10 episodes when it was renewed but it was later on tasked to fill a total of 12 episodes. This allowed the writers to give us two stand-alone episodes that didn't quite interfere with the full storyline. One was Episode 9, Beard After Hours, and the other was one of the most heartwarming Christmas Episodes on TV yet.
The episode itself was sweet and saccharine and very much what you expect from the show. It follows how each of the cast of characters are spending their holidays: Rebecca rescuing Ted from a lonely holiday alone, Roy and Keeley in search of a dentist for Phoebe, and Higgins hosting the team members who can't spend the holiday with their families.
Our one complaint is that this episode was released on August 13, 2021--more than four months before Christmas. But to the episode's defense, it did make us look forward to the holidays even if it's months away. As Filipinos, we are no strangers to celebrating Christmas early. We as a people put up decorations as early as September so watching a Christmas episode in August isn't as jarring.
It may often seem that Ted and the world he lives in is too unreal. Life doesn't always reward the 'nice' and most people get away with being 'naughty.' Ted Lasso, both the show and the person, can be very unrealistically ideal which is precisely why we need it. This holiday will be rough for many of us, what with inflation squeezing our budgets tight this season, so a happy holiday watch should be treated as a respite, no matter how unrealistic it may be.
Favorite Moment: The Higginses, realizing they'll be unable to comfortably sit all their guests solve their seating dilemma with an adorable make-shift solution.
Bonus: AppleTV+ also released a bonus Christmas stop-motion short on a more appropriate date: December 16th.
Community S02 E11, Abed's Uncontrollable Christmas - Speaking of stop-motion, this list wouldn't be complete without this episode from Community. This Christmas special may perhaps be the benchmark for any stop-motion special episode for any TV comedy.
Community is known for its meta-humor. It's a show that isn't afraid to reference itself and the universe in which it exists. So this episode is expected in an unexpected way. This stop-motion masterpiece dives into Abed’s mind as he processes holiday distress. It’s inventive, deeply emotional, and showcases the study group’s bond in a uniquely "Community" way. Despite Jeff being a sarcastic douche or Pierce being detached and aloof, they all show moments of vulnerability and affection towards Abed.
Favorite Moment: The characters’ Christmas personas—puns and all—perfectly reflecting their personalities.
The Big Bang Theory S02 E11, The Bath Item Gift Hypothesis - There must be something about this eleventh episode of the early seasons of the show that despite the many holiday episodes of TBBT, this one's our favorite.
The episode doesn't start by indicating that it is a holiday episode outright. Unless you take note of the shiny garlands and red poinsettias that decorate the familiar Caltech cafeteria, you wouldn't think this was a Christmas episode. The topic of the holidays doesn't come up until mark 5:18 when Penny asks about Sheldon and Leonard's Christmas tree and she was answered with a lecture on the ancient pagan festival of Saturnalia.
Favorite Moment: Sheldon’s neurotic gift-reciprocation system meets its match in Penny’s heartfelt present: a napkin signed by Leonard Nimoy. Sheldon, in an ecstatic state of panic, ends up giving Penny all the gift baskets and backups he bought with a bonus of an ever-rare Sheldon Cooper hug.
Abbott Elementary S04 E07, The Winter Show - You can trust the writers of Abbott Elementary to come up with one of the most heartwarming Christmas episodes of this era of TV. Known for its smart quips and unserious playfulness, this show knows how to mix sweetness with comedic savviness.
The episode revolves around the Abbott Elementary Christmas show led by Barbara as she rethinks the show's theme to ensure all students feel included.
Favorite Moment: Barbara, overhearing kids bullying her student Khadija for not being able to participate in the Christmas show because of her religion, defends the young girl and decides to change the show into a Winter theme so all kids can enjoy and be part of the show.
BONUS: The full Dash and Lily limited series - This show revolves around the whirlwind Christmas romance between the cynical Dash and optimistic Lily where they trade dares, dreams, and desires in the notebook they pass back and forth at locations around New York City.
Favorite Moment: Dash’s mochi-making session with Japanese grandmothers and Lily’s cathartic "art break" class—where both characters leave with a profound lesson about slowing down and finding beauty in the chaos of letting go.
What are your favorite holiday TV episodes? Share your recommendations in the comments below! We’d love to hear what you're watching this season and we might just update our list before 2025!
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