December is the time of year where you get to curl up on the sofa with your favourite TV shows., especially their Christmas episodes. Everyone has their favourite yuletide offering, be it an old classic or something more contemporary, the most important aspect of the season is to share your favourites with your friends, neighbours and enemies.
That is exactly what we’re doing here and now.
The Editorial team of We Make Movies on Weekends held a quick whip around for our writers’ favourite Christmas episodes and got them to write their reasons why they hold such vaunted positions in their hearts. Read on to see what they’ve chosen!
Sarah Cook: Crazy Ex-Girlfriend – My Mom, Greg’s Mom, and Josh’s Sweet Dance Moves!
There is no denying that I have a slight obsession with Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. It’s a black comedy musical revolving around a girl who has gone off the rails, relocated her life, and pursuing her childhood sweetheart to the other end of California. No pun intended, but it hits all the right notes and works both as an out-there comedy and a meditative realistic portray of unravelling mental illness. For its Christmas episode, it explores the tentative and taut relationship between Rebecca and her mother who has always been critical of her daughter’s behaviour. Only this time, Rebecca is trying to conceal her reason for moving whilst also gaining the approval of her daughter. With a send up of California at Christmas set to a catchy musical number, a mother’s exasperating tirade of questions set to a Jewish tune, and Rebecca struggling with her mother’s pressure, this is a fantastic episode that also includes the gruff Greg misreading his own mother’s intentions, Heather being cleverly astute, and Josh trying to relive his glory days.
It’s just a great collection of the finer points of Christmas and how Christmas changes when you are an adult.
Graham Osborne: Mystery Science Theatre 3000 – Santa Claus Conquers the Martians
The most important thing about Christmas is tradition, and mocking a cheaply made, cheesy movie is one that I picked up at university with my friends. Whilst we may not always be able to get together to take the piss like we used to, whenever I watch this wondrous show, I remember those times sat on the sofa in my house with a close knit group of (likely drunk) people who mean the world to me.
I suppose one could argue that this choice is cheating, as it technically counts as a film, but hey, it’s my segment, and I’ll decide the rules. The episode is a delight to watch, with plenty of laugh out loud moments, and a beautiful rendition of “Patrick Swayze Christmas” to help add to the festive cheer. It also helps that the film itself is utterly terrible in every aspect, and would be almost unwatchable without the snarky comments peppering the event.
Gloria Daniels-Moss: Futurama – Xmas Story
Because why not?! A killer Santa Robot, what is there not to like? Not only is this show hilariously funny, adding such a twist puts the cherry on the cake. This episode is jam packed full of laughter with a sinister tone of technology taking over the world and the selfishness of humans in general surround such a time of year.
I think we all could be a bit naughtier and a bit nicer to everyone and this episode encapsulates that to a T!
Jennifer Drewett: The Simpsons – Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire
This episode has the tough task of not only being a Christmas episode but a debut episode of a brand new animated series. It doesn’t disappoint in the slightest. The audience is taken through an exploration of the now legendary family at one of the most eventful times of the year and in the span of 20 minutes the audience falls in love with them. They adore Homer’s wish to provide for his family despite his shortcomings, Marge’s devotion to her family, Bart’s sense of adventure, Lisa’s rich and young mind and the ever cute Maggie. It’s everything a Christmas episode should be.
Robbie Jones: Peep Show – Seasonal Beatings
There aren’t many Christmas specials I prioritise every December, but Peep Show is an absolute must. Every episode of the show is 22 minutes of awkward hilarity and this Christmas episode is no exception. It takes Peep Show‘s sarky, satirical, crude, dry wit and applies it to all the traditions, like uncomfortable dinners with your family, presents, playing games and just the overall stress of the festive season. It’s an absolutely hysterical episode that somehow never fails to ignite my holiday spirit, despite its cynicism and non-picturesque depiction of Christmas day.
What’s your favourite TV Christmas Special?
Let us know in the comments!
