How to Binge Watch Christmas

Do you remember the days of yore, when you would wait an entire year for your favorite television show to air their Christmas special?  Thanks to the technology and instant gratification mentality of 2016, you can now spend an entire day watching all of those episodes from across many seasons.  It must be Christmas!

All I want for Christmas is a universal remote...

Here is a list of my favorite Christmas episodes.  I am sticking to things available on Netflix.  Tell me about your favorites in the comments!

The Office

Season 2, Episode 10: Christmas Party

The first in a long line of Christmas episodes from this comedy.  It's not the best but it's a good start.

Season 6, Episode 13: Secret Santa

As the company faces a buyout, Micheal demonstrates his ability to go from behaving like a petulant child to become a father figure to all.  It's a powerful, if simple, episode.

Season 9, Episode 9: Dwight Christmas

Jim has always treated Dwight like his personal punching bag.  When Jim makes the choice to return to Dwight's Christmas party, it's a touching and revealing moment.

American Dad!

Season 2, Episode 9: The Best Christmas Story Never

The first in the series' long standing tradition of stand alone holiday episodes.  They are easily the best the series has to offer even if this one isn't the top of the game.

Season 3, Episode 8: The Most Adequate Christmas Ever

One of the strongest Christmas episodes, I love the entire concept here.  One could argue that every episode after this one takes place in Heaven.

Season 5, Episode 9: Rapture's Delight

This Christmas episode is my favorite as it plays out like a film.  Fantastic writing here!

Season 6, Episode 8: For Whom the Sleigh Bell Tolls

The thought of Santa being evil is fantastic and I cannot stop singing the Donkey Kong theme like Bob Todd.

Friends

Season 2, Episode 9: The One with Phoebe's Dad

This episode is heart-wrenching in her inability to decide whether she should or shouldn't meet her dad.

Season 4, Episode 10: The One with the Girl from Poughkeepsie

All the Christmas songs!

Season 7, Episode 10: The One with the Holiday Armadillo

This is probably my favorite episode of the series.  Just watch it.  Now.

Season 9, Episode 10: The One with Christmas in Tulsa

This episode shows Chandler's commitment to his wife on multiple levels.  It's hard to be away for the holidays.

Family Guy

Season 9, Episode 7: Road to the North Pole

The music alone in this wonderful story is worth your time.

Season 11, Episode 8: Jesus, Mary and Joseph!

Family Guy's take on the Christmas Story.

Season 12, Episode 8: Christmas Guy

Brian is back baby!

How I Met Your Mother

Season 2, Episode 11: How Lily Stole Christmas

This is a beautiful tale that shows the depth of Ted as a person.  The decor is out of this world too!

Season 7, Episode 12: Symphony of Illumination

This is one of those heartbreaking, yet fun episodes that HIMYM is known for.  The ending light show is fantastic but the scene with Robin alone in the snow breaks my heart.

Season 8, Episodes 11-12: The Final Page

While technically not a Christmas episode, it's one of the greatest episodes in television history!

BONUS:

This list is no longer available on Netflix but you can catch them on Amazon Prime Video.

Doctor Who

Literally ANY of the Doctor Who Christmas Specials.  Seriously...there is not a bad one.  Go watch them all!