How to Binge TV's Best Christmas Episodes

By Michael Hein

It really is the most wonderful time of year! After gift wrapping and a pot of hot cocoa, it's time to sit in front of the TV and get your binge on! Christmas episodes are a staple of serialized TV, and with so many streaming services at our disposal, people can now watch all their favorites this holiday season.

The holiday season brings some of the most classic media back into circulation once a year. For most people, this refers to movies more than anything else. Families across the world will be sitting down this week to watch It's A Wonderful Life, How the Grinch Stole Christmas or even Die Hard as part of a yearly tradition.

These days, however, there is so much more at our disposal, including TV. For years TV shows have been producing holiday episodes every year, and now fans can binge-watch them all in one holiday season thanks to streaming services.

Some of the most nuanced Christmas stories of all time have been told in the mid-season finale of one sitcom or another. Many of them could give Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer a run for his money, yet they do not get the proper acclaim because they're buried within a 100-hour-long series.

No more. Here is how you can binge-watch all of the best Christmas episodes of TV on streaming services this year.

Friends - Netflix

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(Photo: NBC)

Friends had heart-warming Christmas episodes in nine out of its 10 seasons on the air. The show skipped only the last season since there was so much to cram into the shortened order. Thanks to Netflix's controversial renewal on its Friends license last month, fans can binge-watch all nine Christmas episodes of the show this year.

Even fans who do not celebrate Christmas itself can enjoy the show thanks to a visit from the Holiday Armadillo.

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Community - Hulu

Community Christmas - Abed Uncontrollable Christmas

All six seasons of Community are on Hulu, meaning four solid Christmas episodes are at subscribers' disposal. All of these holiday tributes are great, though the best of them is undoubtedly Season 2, Episode 11, "Abed's Uncontrollable Christmas."

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Parks and Recreation - Amazon Prime, Netflix and Hulu

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(Photo: NBC)

It seems just about anyone can watch Parks and Recreation, as the show is available on three major streaming services. There are seven seasons of the beloved show, yet only three Christmas episodes. Still, these are definitely worth the watch this winter, especially for those that identify with Leslie Knope's unique brand of awkwardness.

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New Girl - Netflix and Hulu

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(Photo: Fox / Ray Mickshaw)

New Girl provided audiences with a perfectly calibrated mixture of wholesome holiday cheer and quirky antics every holiday season. All of the show's holiday episodes are available on Netflix and Hulu. The highlights are definitely Season 2, Episode 11, Season 4, Episode 11 and Season 1, Episode 9.

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The Big Bang Theory - CBS All Access

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(Photo: CBS)

In many ways, The Big Bang Theory is perfectly suited for holiday episodes. The show is inherently materialistic, leaving lots of room for specific pop cultural references in gift-giving, and it is also poised for some high concept theories about Santa Claus' powers. All of this and more is available in the show's holiday episodes on CBS All Access.

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The Office - Netflix and Hulu

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(Photo: NBC)

Most people want to be away from work for the holidays, but The Office shows why that is not really necessary. The show puts co-workers together for cringe-worthy office parties that prove that family is where you make it, and the Christmas spirit transcends all limitations.

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Curb Your Enthusiasm - HBO Go and HBO Now

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(Photo: HBO)

Even the rule-breaking sitcom Curb Your Enthusiasm could not avoid putting one Christmas episode in its roster. It may not be one to watch with the kids, but the HBO original series' Christmas tribute is a must-see stop on the journey through streaming Christmas.

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Brooklyn Nine-Nine - Hulu

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(Photo: Vivian Zink/NBC)

Finally, Hulu has Brooklyn Nine-Nine's Christmas episodes from each year. The show has done some creative things with the holiday premise, especially considering Detective Jake Peralta's (Andy Samberg) abiding love for Die Hard.

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