Top Five: Best Christmas Episodes
What is it about Christmas that inspires so many TV tie-ins? Aside from Halloween, it seems like Christmas is the most popular holiday to use as a narrative prop, and the episodes below are some of the best for the way they've weaved their stories around the holiday. It was tough, as always, to pick just five, so sound off in the comments with your favorites. (And before you ask, yes, I remembered the weird Saved by the Bell where the gang gets charitable for 22 minutes, but it didn't make the cut. C'est la vie.)
5. "Noel," The West Wing
The West Wing's pitch-perfect second season deals in part with the emotional fallout from the assassination attempt that ended the first one, which is where the stellar "Noel" comes in. Josh spends the episode talking with a therapist (a great guest turn from Adam Arkin), and he reveals via flashbacks just how badly he's been suffering from PTSD. A well-written episode about the series' best character, and one that ends on a wonderful note of seasonal forgiveness and help.
Email to Friend
Write to Editor
Print Article
