The best winter TV

Rewatching the same Christmas movies year after year grows increasingly boring. Maybe they’re classics for a reason, but in our opinion, most holiday movies feel bland after watching them several times each winter. That’s why we accumulated a list of some of the best holiday-themed TV episodes to get in the festive spirit.

Friends, Season 7, Episode 10: “The Holiday Armadillo.”

This episode of Friends – featuring Joey as Superman, Chandler as Santa Claus, and Ross as the Holiday Armadillo, of course –  will start off the holiday season with non-stop laughter and cheer. In order to teach his son, Ben, about Hanukkah, Ross dresses up as the Holiday Armadillo – Santa’s helper who delivers presents for the Southern states and Mexico. Ben is unamused by Ross’s antics, but thankfully Chandler and Joey save the day by teaching him about the importance of the holiday and dressing as characters more appreciated by a six-year-old. This memorable episode is beloved by all fans of Friends, which is why we give it 4/5 stars.

The Office, Season 2, Episode 10: “Christmas Party.”
This episode of The Office manages to capture the true sentiments and joy that Christmas brings in a comedic but genuine episode. The episode revolves around an office Secret Santa, but chaos erupts as it quickly transforms into a Yankee-Swap (also known as White Elephant). Pam is reluctant to accept Jim’s teapot, Angela loves her poster of babies in a jazz band, and everyone fights over an iPod. With heartwarming scenes that display Jim’s hidden love for Pam and Michael’s adoration of Ryan, this Christmas episode is both wholesome and hilarious. Wegive it 5/5 stars.

Gilmore Girls, Season 2, Episode 10: “The Bracebridge Dinner” 

Gilmore Girls, the ultimate fall show, can also be very fitting for a cozy winter binge. With the fresh snow and on-point winter clothing, this episode is a fun one to watch during the holidays. For the holidays, Lorelai and Sookie invite their friends and family to an extravagant feast hosted at the inn. Towards the end of the celebration, the fan-favorite characters ride on horse-drawn carriages in the snow, like perfect winter cliches. With Luke and Lorelai and Jess and Rory being paired together, could anything be more perfect? This enjoyable episode definitely deserves more recognition. Therefore, we rank it a solid 4/5 stars. 

Gossip Girl, Season 2, Episode 12: “It’s a Wonderful Lie” 

Hey Upper Eastsiders! As we dive into the holiday season, Gossip Girl is an absolute must-watch. The snow-topped trees of Manhattan and the breathtaking city lights make New York a picturesque place to spend the winter. Drama unfolds in this episode as  Jenny finds out Vanessa is secretly dating golden boy Nate Archibald. To get Nate back, Jenny devises a plan to send Vanessato the Snowball Dance in a see-through dress, which eventually backfires when Nate finds out that Jenny deliberately sabotaged Vanessa but Meanwhile, Serena and Dan face relationship complications, and Chuck and Blair set each other up on dates. Overall, this episode was extremely entertaining, and the fashion coupled with the city skyline just added to the winter ambience. We rank this episode a 5/5 stars. XOXO, Gossip Girl.

The holidays are soon to come, and these seasonal episodes are perfect for getting in the festive mood.